OBAMA/OBAMA FAMILY: “Former President Barack Obama is in advanced negotiations with Netflix to produce a series of high-profile shows that will provide him a global platform after his departure from the White House, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Under terms of a proposed deal, which is not yet final, Netflix would pay Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, for exclusive content that would be available only on the streaming service, which has nearly 118 million subscribers around the world. The number of episodes and the formats for the shows have not been decided.
Mr. Obama does not intend to use his Netflix shows to directly respond to President Trump or conservative critics, according to people familiar with discussions about the programming. They said the Obamas had talked about producing shows that highlight inspirational stories… It is unclear how much money the Obamas will be paid, given their lack of experience in the media business… Mr. Obama has long expressed concerns about how the flow of information — and misinformation — has the power to shape public opinion…
He has seethed privately and publicly, about what he says is the manipulation of news by conservative outlets and the fractured delivery of information in the internet age. In several recent public appearances during the last several months, the former president hinted at his frustration with the way conservative news outlets have shaped people’s perceptions about the divisive 2016 campaign and the issues he cares about.”
-Michael D. Shear, Katie Benner, and John Koblin, “Obama in Talks to Provide Shows for Netflix,” The New York Times online, Mar. 8, 2018