Netflix enters the podcast wars with BBC Studios partnership and video-first strategy

The news: Netflix is co-producing a comedy podcast “The Big Pitch With Jimmy Carr” with BBC Studio’s Audio unit, marking one of Netflix’s first forays into the podcast arena through Netflix Podcasts, per The Hollywood Reporter. The show marks the first time BBC Studios Audio has been commissioned by Netflix for a podcast.

The podcast was made available globally on Wednesday and is available to listeners wherever they consume podcasts.

Netflix’s podcast bet: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently confirmed the company’s long-rumored interest in the increasingly popular video podcast format. But as it launches some of its first original video podcasts, they don’t appear to be making their way to Netflix’s main feed yet.

• “The Big Pitch” will have “fully visualized episodes,” per Netflix—but only on the “Netflix Is A Joke” YouTube Channel. Another original video podcast launching in June, “The Netflix Sports Club,” will be available on Netflix press site Tudum and other video platforms.
• However, Sarandos said in the company’s Q1 earnings call that “As the popularity of video podcasts grow, I suspect you’ll see some of them find their way to Netflix,” hinting that podcasts could become available in the Netflix app.

What Netflix is up against: While Netflix has a massive user base under its belt, the podcast space is already highly competitive.