Netflix to stream Spotify’s ‘curated’ video podcasts by 2026
The Bill Simmons Podcast will be one of six Spotify shows aired on Netflix from 2026
Netflix has inked a landmark deal with Spotify as it looks to capitalise on the surging demand for video-based podcasting content.
The partnership will see the streaming giant host 16 Spotify-created video podcasts on its US platform by early 2026, although plans for a global rollout remain unclear.
As a caveat, Netflix’s main rival Youtube will be unable to host the shows in their entirety, The New York Times reported.
In a statement, Netflix VP of content licensing and programming strategy Lauren Smith pointed to video podcasts’ growing popularity, notably around sport, culture and true crime.
She added that the “curated” selection of video podcasts “adds fresh voices and new perspectives to Netflix”.
The 16 shows included in the deal will be produced by Spotify Studios and its Bill Simmons-founded division, The Ringer, which it acquired in 2020.
The line-up includes two popular true crime podcasts, Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers; The Bill Simmons Podcast and film-focused series Rewatchables.
Spotify has built a major footprint in the podcast market in recent years, reportedly spending about A$1.5 billion (US$1 billion) on podcasts and related content in 2022. At the centre of this expansion is its exclusive deal with The Joe Rogan Experience, which attracts around 14.5 million followers.
However, despite strong audience growth, Spotify remains unprofitable. The company posted a net loss of A$153 million for the second quarter of 2025, even as paid and ad-supported user numbers climbed.
At the time, CEO Daniel Ek attributed the result to a drop in advertising revenue, describing it as “really an execution challenge, not a problem with the strategy.”
Indicating an effort to rebuild advertiser confidence, Spotify last week rolled out a series of songs walking marketers through how to use its advertising tools.
