Netflix is shaking up the podcast world again! Just weeks after striking a deal with Spotify, the streaming giant is reportedly eyeing another major move: licensing video podcasts from iHeartMedia. But here's where it gets controversial: Netflix wants exclusivity, which could mean saying goodbye to these shows on YouTube. According to Bloomberg, talks are underway, with iHeartMedia's impressive lineup—including hits like The Breakfast Club, Las Culturistas, and Stuff You Should Know—potentially making their way to Netflix's platform.
And this is the part most people miss: while Netflix aims to bolster its content library and compete with YouTube’s dominance in video podcasts (which recently hit 1 billion monthly viewers), the deal might not include iHeartMedia’s entire catalog. This selective approach raises questions about which shows will make the cut and how it will impact creators and viewers alike.
This move comes hot on the heels of Netflix’s Spotify deal, which brought curated sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime podcasts to the platform. Under that agreement, some podcasts were removed from YouTube but remained on Spotify—though major shows like The Joe Rogan Experience stayed put.
For Netflix, these deals are a strategic play to carve out a bigger slice of the video podcast market. But is exclusivity the right move? Will it alienate YouTube viewers, or will it drive more subscribers to Netflix? What do you think? Is Netflix’s push into video podcasts a game-changer, or a risky gamble? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take!
