Netflix and Spotify announced a major partnership on October 14, 2025, that will bring 16 curated video podcasts to the streaming service. This multi-year licensing deal marks Netflix’s first significant move into the podcasting space, with a planned launch in the United States in early 2026. The selected lineup features popular shows from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, spanning sports, culture, and true crime.
As part of the agreement, these video podcasts will be removed from YouTube, allowing the two companies to compete directly with the platform’s dominance in video podcasting.
Netflix and Spotify Challenge YouTube’s Video Podcast Dominance
The partnership reflects Netflix’s ongoing content diversification strategy. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos signaled the company’s interest during an April 2025 earnings call (according to Hollywood Reporter), noting that podcasting is becoming video-forward. The move follows Netflix’s recent investments in unscripted entertainment, stand-up comedy, live sports programming with the WWE and NFL, and gaming.
For Spotify, the deal addresses monetization difficulties following disappointing earnings in July 2025 that caused its stock price to decline. Video content offers greater advertising opportunities than audio-only formats, particularly among Gen Z audiences. As of the second quarter of 2025, Spotify reported over 430,000 available video podcasts, with more than 350 million users streaming video content (data from Spotify).
The decision to remove these 16 podcasts from YouTube directly challenges its market leadership. According to Zebracat research, YouTube currently accounts for 81% of video podcast viewership, while Spotify holds 12%. In the U.S., 33% of monthly podcast listeners prefer YouTube, compared to 27% for Spotify and 15% for Apple Podcasts (via Emarketer). Market research from Edison Research shows that 51% of the U.S. population aged 12 and older has watched a video podcast.
Netflix will not add advertisement breaks for any of its subscribers, including those on its ad-supported plan. However, ads sold by Spotify that are already integrated into the podcast episodes will remain (via The New York Times). The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the multi-year agreement.
Complete Lineup of Podcasts Coming to Netflix
This curated selection features 16 shows from Spotify Studios and The Ringer.
Sports
Nine sports-focused podcasts from The Ringer will cover professional basketball, football, golf, and Formula 1 racing, featuring expert analysts and insider commentary.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Ringer’s founder, Bill Simmons, hosts one of the most downloaded sports podcasts, featuring conversations with celebrities, athletes, and media figures. The show covers a wide range of topics from sports analysis to pop culture. Recent episodes have included NFL breakdowns with Cousin Sal, NBA discussions with Zach Lowe and Joe House, and interviews with Ariel Helwani and Wesley Morris. The format allows for thorough explorations of both professional sports and the entertainment industry.
The Zach Lowe Show
Veteran NBA analyst Zach Lowe provides detailed basketball analysis twice a week. Since joining The Ringer, Lowe has continued his approach to the game, a style he developed since starting his full-time NBA coverage in 2010. The show features NBA news, game breakdowns, and conversations with league insiders and personalities, offering a comprehensive look at the sport.
The McShay Show
Former ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay offers insider views on NFL talent evaluation, draft prospects, and college football. With his extensive experience in player scouting, McShay provides behind-the-scenes insights into the sport. The show’s content ranges from quarterback assessments to detailed discussions on NFL draft strategies, giving listeners a professional scout’s perspective on the game.
Fairway Rollin’
Hosts Joe House and Nathan Hubbard discuss golf headlines, major championships, PGA Tour events, and the Ryder Cup (via Spotify). The show often includes special guests from the golf community. Recent topics have covered the TGL matches, previews of upcoming tournaments, and the business aspects of professional golf. The podcast delivers timely analysis for golf fans, covering all major developments within the sport.
The Mismatch
Hosts Chris Vernon and David Jacoby deliver NBA analysis twice weekly, discussing league news, player trends, and transactions. The show is known for the hosts’ on-air chemistry and occasional spirited debates. They provide on-court analysis and reactions to breaking news, covering topics that range from individual player performances to significant front office decisions affecting the league.
The Ringer F1 Show
Megan Schuster and expert guests provide comprehensive Formula 1 coverage every Wednesday and Sunday. The show follows all 22 Grand Prix events throughout the season, examining driver performances, team strategies, and race analysis. It also covers breaking F1 news, offering fans a consistent and detailed source for everything happening in the world of Formula 1.
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck guide listeners through the fantasy football season. The show offers matchup analysis, waiver wire suggestions, injury updates, and strategies for winning championships. The hosts assist with draft preparation, weekly lineup choices, and identifying players who may be undervalued, providing practical advice for fantasy managers.
The Ringer NFL Show
Host Sheil Kapadia leads this daily podcast, joined by rotating colleagues from The Ringer and other NFL experts to discuss the biggest stories in football. The show includes game previews, weekly recaps, breaking news analysis, and expert commentary on players, teams, and league trends. Its daily format ensures that listeners receive current information and diverse perspectives on the NFL.
The Ringer NBA Show
The Ringer’s team of NBA experts provides reporting and analysis throughout the basketball season. Released on Mondays and Thursdays, the show covers team dynamics, player performances, trades, draft prospects, and playoff predictions. It offers a comprehensive look at the league from multiple knowledgeable voices, keeping fans informed on all key developments.
Culture and Lifestyle
Warning: Dinner Time Live with David Chang will make you want to kidnap David Chang.
A new LIVE episode starts NOW! https://t.co/XYYikm4Mhj pic.twitter.com/M95efE4Hmt
Five entertainment and food podcasts explore cinema, music analysis, and culinary topics, offering expert discussions and cultural commentary for diverse audiences.
The Rewatchables
Bill Simmons hosts a roundtable discussion with Ringer staff to revisit classic and cult favorite films. Each episode focuses on a single movie, dissecting its memorable scenes, notable performances, and lasting cultural impact. The format provides entertaining and thorough analysis for movie lovers.
The Big Picture
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review new movie releases twice a week and discuss all things related to cinema. The show features top-five lists, movie drafts, Oscar analysis, and interviews with directors and actors. They are frequently joined by Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons to provide a wide range of opinions and film commentary.
The Dave Chang Show
Celebrity chef David Chang hosts conversations that go beyond food to include sports, music, art, and film. The founder of Momofuku and creator of Netflix’s Ugly Delicious talks with guests about their creative processes, inspirations, failures, and successes (via Spotify). The show explores a wide range of topics, reflecting Chang’s own curiosity about different fields.
Recipe Club
Chef David Chang and host Chris Ying bring together culinary experts to debate the best way to make a particular dish. Each episode focuses on a single food item or meal, such as turkey, brownies, or game day dips. Guests present and compare different recipes, helping listeners navigate the many options available online to find a reliable method.
Dissect
Creator and host Cole Cuchna provides a detailed, scholarly analysis of contemporary music albums. Each season is dedicated to a single album, which Cuchna examines song by song and line by line. The podcast has analyzed works by artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Frank Ocean. The New York Times named Dissect the best podcast of 2018 for its thorough musical and lyrical exploration (via CSUS).
True Crime
Two Spotify Original podcasts examine criminal psychology and controversial theories, providing weekly investigations into historical and contemporary cases.
Serial Killers
This weekly Spotify Original podcast examines the minds and methods of murderers. Hosts Greg Polcyn and Vanessa Richardson explore the psychological profiles and criminal patterns of notorious killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy. The show also covers lesser-known cases, such as the Death House Landlady Dorothea Puente, providing listeners with a detailed look into the lives and crimes of serial killers.
Conspiracy Theories
This podcast investigates controversial events and the complex beliefs that surround them. The show examines a wide range of theories, from Bigfoot sightings to the mysteries of Bitcoin, analyzing the available evidence and the motivations behind these beliefs. It provides a balanced look at popular conspiracies throughout history and in contemporary culture, exploring why certain narratives gain traction.
Video podcasts will be available on Netflix starting in early 2026 in the United States. International markets will follow after the U.S. launch. All 16 shows will stream simultaneously on both Netflix and Spotify, though they will no longer be available on YouTube.
Let us know what you think about the Netflix-Spotify deal and the podcasts you’re looking for the most in the comments below.
