Netflix Sees Early Momentum In Video Podcasts; Signals More Deals Ahead.

Netflix has only begun offering video podcasts to its subscribers, but co-CEO Ted Sarandos says he is encouraged by what they are seeing. And executives expect more content deals to be announced as the company develops a portfolio of podcast options for viewers.

“It’s still very, very early, but we’re super pleased by the early results that we’re seeing,” Sarandos said late Tuesday on a conference call with analysts.

During the past several months Netflix has announced a “co-exclusive partnership” with Spotify that will see a selection of shows produced by Spotify Studios and The Ringer make video episodes available on Netflix. It has also announced it has inked a deal with iHeartMedia to make more than 15 of its leading series available to viewers, including “The Breakfast Club,” “My Favorite Murder,” and a trio of its “Stuff” branded series.

Netflix has also signed a new multiyear partnership with Barstool Sports that will see video episodes of podcasts including “Pardon My Take,” “The Ryen Russillo Podcast” and “Spittin’ Chiclets” all becoming exclusives to Netflix.

“We have a lot more to come, and some new originals,” Sarandos said. “Members love them. We’re excited to broaden the investment to include them.”

Netflix isn’t just signing video podcast distribution deals. It is also creating more of its own shows. The streamer will launch a new weekly video series with comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum Pete Davidson beginning Jan. 30. And this week it launched the sports talk series “The White House” with NFL legend Michael Irvin. In the quarterly letter to shareholders, management also noted that Netflix’s new television user interface capabilities have allowed it to more seamlessly integrate an expanding entertainment offering, which includes supporting its launch of video podcasts.

“We think about video podcasts like a modern talk show. But instead of having a single brand defined show, you have hundreds of them so it’s a broad offering vs. a single broad show or format,” Sarandos said. “But it does generate a lot of very passionate engagement, lots of variety. And we are looking forward to the types of things we’re going to add — the things that our members already love.” He said they will use podcasting to build on Netflix’s growing sports content lineup, but also add comedy, entertainment, and true crime podcasts. “You may have heard we’ve got some true crime stuff on Netflix,” Sarandos joked.

The podcast comments came as Netflix reported fourth-quarter results. It says subscriptions topped 325 million in Q4 as shows like “Stranger Things” lifted viewership 2% from a year earlier as members watched 96 billion hours on Netflix during the second half of 2025.

Netflix revenue increased 18% on a year-over-year basis to $12.05 billion. And advertising revenue rose more than 2.5 times to more than $1.5 billion.