Today Fox News is reporting that Ted Sarandos is the Netflix executive responsible for brokering the deal between the Obamas and Netflix, and points out a government Shadow Tie that I posted on six days ago:
Fox News, 5/30:
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos celebrated Barack and Michelle Obama as “among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures” in announcing a deal last week for the Obama family to produce films and series for the streaming service.
“We are incredibly proud they have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities,” Sarandos said in a news release.
What Sarandos didn’t mention: He and his wife have long been donors and friends to the Obamas, having raised more than a half-million dollars as bundlers for the president’s campaign in 2012. His wife, Nicole Avant, also was appointed by Obama as ambassador to the Bahamas, serving from 2009 to 2011.
GekeVenn, 5/24:
A Shadow Tie not included on this venn is Netflix's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, who is also the husband of Nicole Avant, ambassador to the Bahamas during the Obama administration.
The State Department released a report in 2012, after her resignation, that raised concerns about the Ambassador Avant's frequent travel. I should have produced a Shadow Tie venn at the time I posted the updated Netflix venn, but have now corrected the oversight.