Obamas enter the TV business via partnership with Netflix

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama have unveiled plans to make films and TV series with Netflix.

The Obamas have established a company called Higher Ground Productions as the entity through which they will produce content for Netflix. Under this banner, they will produce a mix of content, including scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features. These projects will be made available to the 125 million member Netflix households in 190 countries.

Commenting, the former US President said: “One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people and helping them share their experiences with a wider audience. That’s why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix – we 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.”

“Barack and I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others,” added Michelle Obama. “Netflix is a natural fit for the kinds of stories we want to share, and we look forward to starting this exciting new partnership.”

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said: “Barack and Michelle Obama 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 proud they have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities.”