Netflix enters the world of video podcasts: alliance with Spotify for 16 new titles
Netflix is officially opening its doors to the world of video podcasts, marking one of its boldest moves in recent years. The streaming giant has announced a partnership with Spotify to bring to its catalog a selection of 16 video podcasts produced by Spotify Studios and The Ringer, the network founded by Bill Simmons. The titles will debut on Netflix in the United States in early 2026, before gradually expanding to other markets.
The collaboration marks Netflix’s entry into a rapidly growing sector, one that has so far been dominated by YouTube. The agreement includes content ranging from sports to culture, lifestyle, and true crime, featuring popular shows such as The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables, and Conspiracy Theories. Each show will be available in full video format — a choice that reflects the increasing preference among audiences for visual content, even within the podcasting space.
Lauren Smith, Netflix’s Vice President of Content Strategy, stated that the goal is “to offer our subscribers new ways of entertainment, allowing them to discover fresh voices and perspectives.” From Spotify’s side, Roman Wasenmüller, Head of Podcasts, described the partnership as “a new chapter in the evolution of podcasting,” emphasizing that the synergy with Netflix provides creators with “greater opportunities to reach diverse audiences and expand their global distribution.”
The strategy also reflects both platforms’ efforts to diversify content and strengthen their position in the creator economy, where reliance on costly formats or traditional advertisers is increasingly risky. For Netflix — which in recent months has invested in live comedy and sports programming — video podcasts represent a low-cost, high-engagement form of content. For Spotify, the deal marks an important step toward solidifying its identity as a video as well as audio platform.
With this joint move, Netflix and Spotify appear to be inaugurating a new phase in the landscape of digital entertainment — a hybrid space where the languages of video on demand and podcasting converge, redefining how viewers — and listeners — engage with stories, conversations, and culture.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
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Netflix is officially opening its doors to the world of video podcasts, marking one of its boldest moves in recent years. The streaming giant has announced a partnership with Spotify to bring to its catalog a selection of 16 video podcasts produced by Spotify Studios and The Ringer, the network founded by Bill Simmons. The titles will debut on Netflix in the United States in early 2026, before gradually expanding to other markets.
The collaboration marks Netflix’s entry into a rapidly growing sector, one that has so far been dominated by YouTube. The agreement includes content ranging from sports to culture, lifestyle, and true crime, featuring popular shows such as The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables, and Conspiracy Theories. Each show will be available in full video format — a choice that reflects the increasing preference among audiences for visual content, even within the podcasting space.
Lauren Smith, Netflix’s Vice President of Content Strategy, stated that the goal is “to offer our subscribers new ways of entertainment, allowing them to discover fresh voices and perspectives.” From Spotify’s side, Roman Wasenmüller, Head of Podcasts, described the partnership as “a new chapter in the evolution of podcasting,” emphasizing that the synergy with Netflix provides creators with “greater opportunities to reach diverse audiences and expand their global distribution.”
The strategy also reflects both platforms’ efforts to diversify content and strengthen their position in the creator economy, where reliance on costly formats or traditional advertisers is increasingly risky. For Netflix — which in recent months has invested in live comedy and sports programming — video podcasts represent a low-cost, high-engagement form of content. For Spotify, the deal marks an important step toward solidifying its identity as a video as well as audio platform.
With this joint move, Netflix and Spotify appear to be inaugurating a new phase in the landscape of digital entertainment — a hybrid space where the languages of video on demand and podcasting converge, redefining how viewers — and listeners — engage with stories, conversations, and culture.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Share:
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