Spotify and Netflix are teaming up for video podcasts

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Spotify is sliding into Netflix’s DMs, professionally speaking. Starting early 2026, your next streaming rabbit hole might not be a drama series or stand-up special but a video podcast. 

Yep, Spotify’s bringing some of its biggest shows to Netflix in a first-of-its-kind partnership that feels like the content world’s version of a crossover episode.

At launch, Netflix will host a curated batch of Spotify’s sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime podcasts, from The Bill Simmons Podcast to Serial Killers. 

Over time, Spotify says even more of its video podcasts will join the party, including picks from The Ringer and other studios. Think of it as “Netflix, but make it podcasty.”

This move caps off Spotify’s long-running attempt to prove it’s not just a music app with opinions. 

After years of billion-dollar bets on exclusive podcast deals (Joe Rogan, Alex Cooper, and that brief era of “Spotify Originals”), the company has been rethinking its strategy. 

When profits didn’t quite follow the hype, Spotify pivoted into video. 

And so far, it’s working: over 430,000 video podcasts are now live on the platform, with video views growing 20x faster than audio streams since 2024.

Gen Z, of course, loves it. Turns out people like seeing their podcasters sip iced coffee while explaining conspiracies. 

Spotify’s been cashing in on that with new social tools like polls, comments, and Q&As, plus a Partner Program that lets creators make money off their face time (take that, YouTube).

Still, Spotify’s ad revenue hasn’t quite matched its user growth, and investors are watching closely. The Netflix deal could be a way to change that: more eyeballs, more ads, more money.

While neither company is spilling details about ad splits or monetization, Spotify’s Head of Podcasts Roman Wasenmüller calls it “a new chapter for podcasting.” 

Your Netflix algorithm’s about to start recommending The Rewatchables between episodes of Love Is Blind.

Move over, true crime documentaries and true crime podcasts are moving in.