iHeartMedia, America’s leading audio company, and global streaming giant Netflix have announced an exclusive video podcasting partnership that will see some of the nation’s biggest audio hits transition to the small screen—and they’ll only be streaming on Netflix.
Starting in early 2026, Netflix subscribers in the U.S. (with a global rollout to follow) will gain exclusive access to the video versions of more than 15 of iHeart’s most popular original podcasts, marking a significant strategic move by both companies to dominate the burgeoning video-podcast space.
For years, many of the world’s top podcasts have found a video home on platforms like YouTube. This deal changes that for iHeart’s biggest brands. While the audio-only versions of the podcasts will remain available everywhere (iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.), the full video production of new episodes—and select library content—will be exclusive to Netflix.
This split distribution strategy is a bold pivot, transforming podcasts from supplementary video clips into premium, high-value video programming.
“Audio podcasting has been the fastest-growing medium over the past 20 years, and now we’re thrilled to expand that experience with an exciting new category—video podcasts,” said iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman. “Working with Netflix gives fans one more way to connect with the personalities they love and opens the door to new audiences.”
The initial slate of podcasts heading to the streamer is a powerhouse across true crime, comedy, culture, and news:
- Culture & News: The Breakfast Club (The iconic radio show replay featuring Charlamagne tha God) and Joe and Jada (with hip-hop legends Fat Joe and Jadakiss).
- True Crime: My Favorite Murder (the true crime phenomenon with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark).
- Comedy: This Is Important (with the Workaholics stars Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Blake Anderson) and Dear Chelsea (the advice show with comedian Chelsea Handler).
- Health & History: Category-defining shows like The Psychology of Your 20s and fan-favorites like Behind the Bastards.
For Netflix, the deal is a direct injection of proven, personality-driven content that drives deep fan engagement. It’s a key chess piece in the streaming wars, leveraging a new content category to increase variety and subscriber retention.
