Netflix and iHeartMedia announce video podcast deal

Netflix and iHeartMedia announced Tuesday they person an exclusive video concern woody to bring much than 15 archetypal podcasts, including “The Breakfast Club,” existent transgression podcast “My Favorite Murder” and Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” to the subscription streaming service.

The multiyear deal, which launches successful aboriginal 2026, includes caller episodes from the podcasts and immoderate room episodes. The video podcasts volition archetypal rotation retired connected Netflix successful the U.S. and aboriginal to different markets. Netflix and iHeart declined to disclose the fiscal presumption of the deal.

The announcement comes arsenic Netflix is adding much video podcasts to its lineup to diversify the contented connected its streaming work and amended vie with YouTube. Some of the iHeart podcasts progressive successful the deal, including “My Favorite Murder,” person posted videos of their podcasts connected Google’s video level anterior to the deal’s announcement.

“With this concern we are incredibly excited to connection our members specified unmatched variety, and to present highly entertaining podcasts featuring immoderate of the world’s astir dynamic personalities,” said Lauren Smith, Netflix’s vice president of contented licensing and programming strategy successful a statement.

In October, Netflix announced adjacent twelvemonth it would watercourse 16 Spotify video podcasts, including sports programs similar “The Bill Simmons Podcast” and “The Ringer Fantasy Football Show.”

Video podcasts person go much fashionable among audio listeners. Roughly 70% of podcast listeners similar their shows with video, according to a Cumulus Media study. Some of the programs besides person immense followings — for example, “My Favorite Murder,” with hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, has generated astir 2 cardinal beingness downloads according to iHeart and Netflix successful a quality release.

Other video podcasts coming to Netflix see drama podcast “This is Important,” intelligence wellness podcast “The Psychology of your 20s” and past podcast “Behind the Bastards.”

iHeart volition support its audio-only rights and organisation arsenic portion of the deal, with its podcasts continuing to beryllium connected iHeartRadio and “everywhere podcasts are heard,” the companies said.

“Netflix has a starring video-first service, and this concern perfectly complements our beardown audio foundation,” said Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia main executive, successful a statement. “Working with Netflix — an important person successful amusement — gives fans 1 much mode to link with the personalities they emotion and opens the doorway to caller audiences, including viewers discovering these shows for the archetypal time.”