Obama talking to Netflix about program deal, reports say

Bill Keveney | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Barack Obama in talks to create shows for Netflix Former U.S. president Barack Obama is in advanced talks with Netflix Inc to produce a series of high-profile shows, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Former president Barack Obama may be getting his own Netflix program deal.

A little more than a year after leaving office, Obama reportedly is in advanced talks with the streaming service to produce a series of high-profile shows, according to The New York Times and CNN.

Netflix declined to comment on the matter to USA TODAY.

According to the Times, Netflix would pay the former president and his wife, Michelle, for exclusive content. Neither the format nor the number of shows has been decided.

CNN, citing its own source but crediting the Times with breaking the story, says the former president could appear on camera as a moderator or stay behind the scenes as a producer.

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The Times story, citing sources with knowledge of the discussions, says Obama would not use the shows to respond to President Trump or conservative critics but would instead focus on programs that "highlight inspirational stories."

Under one proposal, the shows could focus on significant public-policy topics, including health care, voting rights, immigration, foreign policy and climate change. Topics of interest to Michelle Obama during the couple's time in the White House, such as nutrition, also could be program topics, the Times story says.

A Netflix deal would give Obama a new, filter-free way to communicate with the public. The former president already has 101 million followers on Twitter.

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