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Friend of Tortoise Exclusive

Does Netflix have a political agenda?

Does Netflix have a political agenda?

This event is exclusive to Friends of Tortoise

This is a digital ThinkIn.

With a rapidly growing global membership base of over 215 million in more than 190 countries, huge sums of money, and a maturing recommendation system, Netflix has significant political and social force. But recent data from YouGov indicates that Netflix’s positive-impression rating among Republicans in the U.S. is falling, down 16% from the beginning of 2018. 

This comes as a result of the commissioning of left-leaning content, some hires of senior Obama staff, as well as a deal with Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions for original programming. On the other hand, despite public protests and staff walkouts, the streaming giant stood by comedian David Chappelle. 

Until recently, it appeared Netflix successfully walked a political tightrope, but could a tumbling share price and a slowdown in new subscribers signal a change of direction? Does profit mean more than politics or social change? 

editor and invited experts

James Harding
Co-founder and Editor

Gina Keating
Author of “Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America’s Eyeballs.” She has written about media, law, and government as a staff writer for Reuters and United Press International for more than a decade

Karen McNally
Reader in American Film, Television and Cultural History at London Metropolitan University

Lucas Shaw
Reporter for Bloomberg, Leader of for media, telecom, entertainment team, and author of newsletter on Hollywood called “Screentime: A front-row seat to the collision of Hollywood and Silicon Valley.”

Micheal Flaherty
Co-founder and president of Walden Media, Producer of Netflix vs. The World