Netflix is adding a new format: video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer network will appear on the platform starting in early 2026. Sports, cultural, and true crime shows are promised at launch.
Netflix is adding a new format: video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer network will appear on the platform starting in early 2026. Sports, cultural, and true crime shows are promised at launch.
According to the official Netflix blog, the deal covers 16 titles. Among the sports ones: The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Ringer NFL Show, The Ringer NBA Show, The Ringer Fantasy Football Show, The Ringer F1 Show, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, Fairway Rollin', The Mismatch. In the «cultural» block — The Rewatchables, The Big Picture, The Dave Chang Show, Recipe Club, Dissect. In true crime — Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers. Video versions of these podcasts will be released simultaneously on Netflix and in the Spotify application; the first releases on Netflix will be ad-free, but Spotify’s built-in ads will remain.
For sports, there will be weekly breakdowns of the NFL, NBA, Formula 1 and fantasy leagues with the hosts of The Ringer. For pop culture, there will be discussions of movies and TV series in The Rewatchables and The Big Picture; for music, there will be a series of album breakdowns called Dissect; for crime story lovers, there will be Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers. Netflix specifically emphasizes that full video versions will not move to YouTube — the main platforms for them will be Netflix and Spotify.
How the release will work. The launch will start in the US in early 2026, then the partnership will be expanded to other countries. The format is a full-fledged video with timecodes, guest episodes and a regular schedule. For Netflix, this is additional content between major premieres, for creators — new ways to monetize and access to the platform’s audience.
Video podcasts are a fast-growing segment, still dominated by YouTube. The Spotify partnership gives Netflix a ready-made «lineup» of hits without a long wait and expands what the service can offer in the evening «in the background.» And for Spotify, it’s a way to give creators another showcase without abandoning their own app.
In recent years, Netflix has systematically diversified its offering: documentary formats, live events, interactive content and games on TV. In turn, Spotify has been investing in video and large production brands (The Ringer, Parcast, etc.) after a wave of cuts and cost reviews. The joint launch of video podcasts is a logical step at the intersection of interests: Netflix gets a daily «rhythm» of content with recognizable hosts, and Spotify gets an additional outreach channel and a new distribution model for authors. For the audience, this is another item on the «what to watch today» list that does not require a long immersion, but has familiar faces and topics.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Spotify is updating its rules for working with AI: the platform will add notes about the use of artificial intelligence in song metadata according to the DDEX standard and in the fall will enable a filter that will filter out massive duplicates and cheating schemes. Separately, the service bans tracks with fake artist voices and promises to delete such recordings.
