Netflix and iHeartMedia have announced a new partnership that will bring more than 15 of iHeartMedia’s top video podcasts exclusively to Netflix’s streaming platform beginning in early 2026. This deal — detailed in an official Podnews press release — represents a significant step in Netflix’s effort to diversify beyond traditional TV and film content into the fast‑growing video podcast arena.
The agreement covers flagship shows such as The Breakfast Club, My Favorite Murder, Dear Chelsea, Bobby Bones Presents: The Bobbycast, and The Psychology of Your 20s. While Netflix will have exclusive rights to stream video versions of these podcasts, iHeartMedia will retain all audio‑only rights, meaning listeners can still access the audio on iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms.
Industry observers note this partnership is part of a broader strategy by Netflix to compete more directly with YouTube, which currently dominates video podcast distribution. According to The Verge, the shows moving to Netflix will no longer be fully available on YouTube, redirecting significant podcast traffic to a subscription‑based service.
This move follows a similar video podcast initiative Netflix announced earlier with Spotify that will bring selected Spotify Studios and The Ringer shows to its platform. Business Insider reports that Netflix is aiming for a broad slate of video podcasts — potentially dozens more — to deepen engagement and attract new audiences beyond its traditional scripted and unscripted content.
For iHeartMedia, the partnership opens a new premium distribution channel for its most popular content and reflects the industry shift toward video‑centric podcast experiences.
For Netflix, the deal is a bold play in the competitive digital media landscape, positioning the platform as a destination not just for movies and TV, but also for long‑form conversational content that keeps subscribers engaged daily.
