Netflix in talks with Obamas for show series

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

Obama is said to be in advanced talks with the streaming service to produce a series of high-profile shows, The New York Times reported.

The NYT reported Netflix would pay the former president and his wife, Michelle, for exclusive content, but the format and the number of shows has not yet been decided.

CNN, which cited its own source, said the former president could appear on camera as a moderator or stay behind the scenes as a producer.

According to NYT report, Obama would not use the shows to respond to president Trump or conservative critics but would instead focus on programmes that "highlight inspirational stories."

According to one proposal, the shows could focus on significant public-policy topics, including health care, voting rights, immigration, foreign policy and climate change. The report added that topics of interest to Michelle Obama during the couple's time in the White House, such as nutrition, also could be programme topics.

According to commentators, with this deal, Obama would get a new channel to communicate with the public. Obama already has 101 million followers on Twitter.