Barack and Michelle Obama sign multi-year production deal with Netflix

[Shawn Knight]

Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, have signed a multi-year agreement to produce movies and television shows for Netflix. Financial terms of the agreement were not published.

Netflix, which reported 125 million paying subscribers as of the most recent quarter, said projects produced by the Obamas will be available to households in 190 countries around the globe.

The New York Times reported in March that the Obamas were in talks with Netflix to produce content for the streaming service.

Netflix said in announcing the partnership that the Obamas have established a company called High Ground Productions to produce a diverse mix of content including the potential for scripted and unscripted series, docu-series, features and documentaries. Sources in March said the platform won’t be used for political purposes.

The nation’s 44^th President said one of the simple joys of their time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience. By partnering with Netflix, he said they hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples and help them share their stories with the entire world.

Michelle Obama echoed similar sentiments, adding that Netflix’s unparalleled service is a natural fit for the kinds of stories they want to share.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos had nothing but positive things to say about the Obamas.

“Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures and are uniquely positioned to discover and highlight stories of people who make a difference in their communities and strive to change the world for the better. We are incredibly proud they have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities.”

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/74734-barack-michelle-obama-sign-multi-year-production-deal.html

 

[Dimitrios]

NETFLIX was charging me $18.65 a month on my older CAPITALONE credit card (have two) which I never knew for a few years. I was knowingly paying $10.65 or whatever the minimum plan was through my bank account. I cancelled NETFLIX on both! Anyone that can chime in can I get my money back on that weird NETFLIX charge of $18.65 should I get a lawyer?

 

[p51d007]

Glad I don't subscribe to Netflix!

 

[treetops]

Sounds boring, id say that no matter who the politician was and or is....

 

[wiyosaya]

NETFLIX was charging me $18.65 a month on my older CAPITALONE credit card (have two) which I never knew for a few years. I was knowingly paying $10.65 or whatever the minimum plan was through my bank account. I cancelled NETFLIX on both! Anyone that can chime in can I get my money back on that weird NETFLIX charge of $18.65 should I get a lawyer?

You should really contact their customer service. It will help if you have copies of your CC statement or of any billing statements they might have sent you.

If contacting them directly, first, does not resolve things to your satisfaction, then I think you should consider getting a lawyer if it is going to cost less than what you might get back from them.

Assuming they do not resolve it and a lawyer is too expensive, I think you should complain to whatever authority might be appropriate. In the US, that would be your state attorney general or the FTC or both.

 

[drjekelmrhyde]

Glad I don't subscribe to Netflix!

Good for you. Now take this cookie and run home young child. If you're basing on your buying decision on politics, you might want to cancel Amazon Prime, Hulu, Cable, and every farking other major media distributor.

 

[Evernessince]

NETFLIX was charging me $18.65 a month on my older CAPITALONE credit card (have two) which I never knew for a few years. I was knowingly paying $10.65 or whatever the minimum plan was through my bank account. I cancelled NETFLIX on both! Anyone that can chime in can I get my money back on that weird NETFLIX charge of $18.65 should I get a lawyer?

The best you can do is complain. Otherwise a lawyer is going to cost you far more than you lost. You can do small claims but that might not even be worth the time spent.

 

[mgwerner]

Glad I don't subscribe to Netflix!

Good for you. Now take this cookie and run home young child. If you're basing on your buying decision on politics, you might want to cancel Amazon Prime, Hulu, Cable, and every farking other major media distributor.

The political bent of producers and writers inform the content that is presented on a platform. When a platform seeks high-profile and divisive producers/writers, they are signalling that their content will lean in that direction. For people who wish to be entertained the the money they are paying, and not lectured by either right or left, high-profile divisive hires are a turnoff, and thus they cancel or do not join. Some people enjoy confirmation bias, and will sign up in order to have their beliefs reinforced.

Attacking someone for their opinion is not conducive to conversation. It does, however, speak volumes of the maturity of the attacker.

 

[bohemond1099]

Glad I don't subscribe to Netflix!

Likewise.

 

[Bubbajim]

High Ground Productions. Brilliant.

 

[kombu]

They really need to start releasing ratings for their shows. I'm dying to know how many people would actually watch this.

 

[Bubbajim]

They really need to start releasing ratings for their shows. I'm dying to know how many people would actually watch this.

My bet is that an absolutely huge number would watch the first episode. Then a similarly huge drop off for episode 2 and beyond.

 

[Puiu]

They really need to start releasing ratings for their shows. I'm dying to know how many people would actually watch this.

My bet is that an absolutely huge number would watch the first episode. Then a similarly huge drop off for episode 2 and beyond.

you can't say that it will have a huge drop off, it depends on how good the show is.
also, the first episode of a hyped show generally has more views than the rest, it's not really a "prediction" that the second will have fewer.

 

[iamcts]

I'm sure the first thing people did here was read the headline and saw "Obama" and "Netflix", and then immediately got salty without reading the rest of the article.

"to produce a diverse mix of content including the potential for scripted and unscripted series, docu-series, features and documentaries."

I don't believe that automatically implies that they're pushing a political agenda no matter how hard you spin it. Go get yourself another coffee and get back on your rockers, people.

 

[Bubbajim]

I don't believe that automatically implies that they're pushing a political agenda no matter how hard you spin it. Go get yourself another coffee and get back on your rockers, people.

If anything, with Netflix's model they're probably the most data-driven production studio on the planet. They get perfect data on who watches what, for how long, how frequently, what mixes of genres people watch, favourite actors etc. So really, they're able to develop shows that match what people want, rather than pushing an abstract agenda.

 

[Uncle Al]

NETFLIX was charging me $18.65 a month on my older CAPITALONE credit card (have two) which I never knew for a few years. I was knowingly paying $10.65 or whatever the minimum plan was through my bank account. I cancelled NETFLIX on both! Anyone that can chime in can I get my money back on that weird NETFLIX charge of $18.65 should I get a lawyer?

Rather than spend money on a lawyer:
1. Write a letter (not email) to Netflicks citing the error and request a refund (give them the total amount owed). Give them 30 days to reply.
2. If no reply, send a copy of the letter with a new later siting their inaction to your states Attorney General and request an investigation & prosecution. Send a copy to the AG of the state they are in.

You'll definitely hear back from both AG's advising you of what they can do. By the way, since this was on credit card you might just contact your credit card company and request a refund as well ..... you might surprisingly get the amount back!

 

[ShagnWagn]

"Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures"

LMFAO

I hope they included teleprompters in their budget otherwise he cant' form coherent sentences or thoughts. I guess when you get a nobel prize for doing absolutely nothing, you get this. I suppose he will be getting grammys for this?

 

[Bubbajim]

"Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures"

LMFAO

I hope they included teleprompters in their budget otherwise he cant' form coherent sentences or thoughts. I guess when you get a nobel prize for doing absolutely nothing, you get this. I suppose he will be getting grammys for this?

Agree with his politics or not, he's a hugely intelligent man. His speech pattern is in recognition of the weight of responsibility that goes with presidential speech. He's ultra cautious with his words.

Also, Grammy's are for music, not TV.

 

[Billy Vinson]

Good luck to them - Sitting in GUANTANAMO Bay, will not do much for their future'less careers - evil, corrupt Mother #**#*%*'s - It is Where they belong. It will happen - humanity is winning.. BYE FELECIA's!

GO, Daddy TRUMP!

 

[Teko03]

If you don't like it...don't watch it. Seems pretty silly to cancel something you like because it offers content you don't like. I'm pretty sure Netflix has been filled with trash someone doesn't like long before this announcement. People of today are morons.

 

[ShagnWagn]

Agree with his politics or not, he's a hugely intelligent man. His speech pattern is in recognition of the weight of responsibility that goes with presidential speech. He's ultra cautious with his words.

Also, Grammy's are for music, not TV.

Hugely intelligent that he can't even speak a sentence in conversation? lol. When you are so scared to speak then NO, you are far from it. Conversely, if you speak so much that stupid stuff comes out with it, then you are not so much either (Trump). As least the latter has pride in his country than trying to destroy it.

Exactly my point. They probably will give him a grammy. Kind of like getting a nobel "peace" prize for giving boatloads of cash and weapons of destruction to ISIS? I can't believe anyone can support him.

 

[iamcts]

Good luck to them - Sitting in GUANTANAMO Bay, will not do much for their future'less careers - evil, corrupt Mother #**#*%*'s - It is Where they belong. It will happen - humanity is winning.. BYE FELECIA's!

GO, Daddy TRUMP!

I think it's trying to communicate. Yikes!

 

[iamcts]

Hugely intelligent that he can't even speak a sentence in conversation? lol. When you are so scared to speak then NO, you are far from it. Conversely, if you speak so much that stupid stuff comes out with it, then you are not so much either (Trump). As least the latter has pride in his country than trying to destroy it.

Exactly my point. They probably will give him a grammy. Kind of like getting a nobel "peace" prize for giving boatloads of cash and weapons of destruction to ISIS? I can't believe anyone can support him.

The irony of what you said is hilariously sad.

I didn't know the worst stock market downturn since 2008, highest mortgage rates in the past 7 years, skyrocketing oil and gas prices, agriculture industry drying up due to trade wars, and the USA looking like a complete sh!tshow to the rest of the world aren't bad things.

Just an unfaithful p0rnstar bangin' man of Christian values, everyone.

 

[ShagnWagn]

The irony of what you said is hilariously sad.

I didn't know the worst stock market downturn since 2008, highest mortgage rates in the past 7 years, skyrocketing oil and gas prices, agriculture industry drying up due to trade wars, and the USA looking like a complete sh!tshow to the rest of the world aren't bad things.

Just an unfaithful p0rnstar bangin' man of Christian values, everyone.

I guess you need to explain the irony you think there is. Yours is quite ironic. Trump has: Largest upturn in stocks, lowest mortgage rates than I can remember, much cheaper gas than obama (which the president doesn't directly control anyway). I haven't followed agriculture though. Please cite sources if you are going to make such claims that USA is a "complete sh!tshow".

 

[p51d007]

Good for you. Now take this cookie and run home young child. If you're basing on your buying decision on politics, you might want to cancel Amazon Prime, Hulu, Cable, and every farking other major media distributor.

Yep, you can bet, if Rush Limbaugh did the same thing with Netflix, YOU would cancel in about 10 seconds.