Netflix is currently courting former President Obama for an exclusive content production deal. No deal has closed yet, but Obama is said to be in negotiations with the streaming service for a deal that would see him producing content for the service. Though the exact nature of that content has yet to be revealed, reportedly, Barack and Michelle Obama would not be using this deal to directly push any political agenda, like speaking out against President Trump. Instead, it's said that they will look to highlight inspirational stories, according to those familiar with the discussions taking place.
The terms of the deal have not yet been revealed, but it hasn't closed yet. For right now, Netflix is still in discussions with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama about the proposed deal. Should the deal close, it would be a massive win for Netflix, who are investing heavily in original content and moving away more and more from licensing content. This year the streaming service will be spending $8 billion or more on original content, so they've probably got deep enough pockets to make this deal happen. But money isn't likely going to be the sticking point when it comes to getting the Obamas to sign on the dotted line. Here's what Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, had to say.
"President and Mrs. Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire. Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories."
Barack Obama largely stays out of the public eye politically these days, but he and Michelle Obama do regular speaking engagements around the country and are also both quite active on social media. They use those platforms, along with social media, to help spread their message. With Netflix's 118 million subscribers around the world, they would have another massive platform at their disposal.
Amazon and Apple have reportedly also expressed interest in courting Obama to make content for their streaming services. But Obama has ties to Netflix that makes it much more likely he would be willing to make some sort of deal with them. Nicole A. Avant, an activist who served as Mr. Obama's ambassador to the Bahamas, is married to Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer. Reed Hastings, who serves as chief executive of Netflix, was also close to Obama while he was president. So those connections could help make this deal happen.
So, what might a deal like this cost Netflix? Both Michelle and Barack Obama are currently writing memoirs, for which they were reportedly paid $60 million. On the high-end for Netflix, they recently closed a deal with Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) for $300 million, but he's one of the most sought after talents in the industry. With that in mind, it wouldn't be tough to imagine this deal reaching $100 million or more, but again, it's tough to say without knowing the full scope of the deal being discussed. Obama recently made an appearance on David Letterman's new Netflix talk show as the comedian's first guest. So, there's already a bit of a connection there. This news comes to us courtesy of The New York Times.