Netflix is widening its lane beyond scripted hits, this time stepping directly into the fast-growing world of sports podcasts.
The streaming giant has launched a new feature called “podcasts to watch,” bringing popular sports shows onto the Netflix platform at no extra cost to subscribers. Early additions include programs tied to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take,” and “The Ryen Russillo Show,” signaling a clear push into video-based podcast distribution.
While the shows themselves are not new, Netflix’s move is. The company has spent recent quarters ramping up its sports footprint, and this feature adds another layer to that strategy. As part of the rollout, Netflix reportedly agreed to pay Barstool Sports $10 million annually. That deal follows its recent agreement with the NFL to stream Christmas Day games, which delivered strong ratings and reinforced Netflix’s confidence in live and sports-adjacent content.
Beyond sports, Netflix has also made waves with a blockbuster agreement involving Warner Bros. Discovery, expanding its access to major film and television libraries. That rapid expansion has not gone unnoticed in Washington. Antitrust concerns have surfaced among lawmakers, prompting Donald Trump to comment on Netflix’s growing influence, saying its aggressive posture “could be a problem” for regulators to examine.
Industry watchers see the podcast move as a direct challenge to YouTube, long the dominant home for sports talk and internet shows. For Netflix, it is another calculated bet that audiences want more than just shows to watch. They want conversations, too.
