By Angela Palumbo
Netflix and Spotify Technology's partnership to bring video podcasts to the world's largest streaming service is good news for both companies, one Benchmark analyst says.
Netflix and Spotify said on Tuesday that in early 2026, some video podcasts normally streamed exclusively through Spotify will be available to view on Netflix in the U.S. More markets will come later.
Some of the podcasts that will be available on Netflix include The Bill Simmons Podcast, Dissect, and Conspiracy Theories.
Netflix and Spotify both told Barron's that they aren't disclosing financials details about the deal.
Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz spoke out in favor of the arrangement in a research note on Thursday.
"A win-win for both companies as Spotify video podcasts increasingly compete with YouTube eyeballs and extending Spotify creator reach opportunities to Netflix partially satisfies these competitive dynamics while perhaps opening a modest new licensing stream," Zgutowicz wrote.
As the same time, he said, Netflix is adding another genre to the content it offers, potentially making it easier to keep subscribers.
This announcement comes ahead of Netflix's third-quarter earnings, scheduled for release on Tuesday. The stock has surged 33% this year, but is down 10% from its record closing high of $1,339.13 on June 30.
Some investors are concerned that subscriber and revenue growth could slow following years of additions. Competition has intensified as fellow streamers like YouTube, Peacock, Paramount+, Hulu, and Disney+ fight for market share.
As a result, Wall Street is looking for initiatives from Netflix that could help it win customers and keep those it has from leaving.
Netflix has been pushing for growth on several fronts, offering successful new content like KPop Demon Hunters and Stranger Things, streaming live events, bringing family games to the platform, and entering partnerships such as the Spotify deal.
AMC Entertainment Holdings CEO Adam wrote in a post on X on Thursday that AMC will show Netflix's most popular movie in its history, KPop Demon Hunters, on approximately 400 AMC screens across its theaters in the U.S. and Europe over the Halloween weekend.
Shares of Netflix were down 1% Thursday, while Spotify stock declined 1.2%.
Write to Angela Palumbo at angela.palumbo@dowjones.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
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October 16, 2025 14:04 ET (18:04 GMT)
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