Podcast Summary: The War Between Netflix & YouTube – How Podcasting & Content is Being Reshaped

Earn Your Leisure (Jan 13, 2026) – With Ian Schwartzman

Overview

This episode explores seismic shifts in the podcasting and content worlds, focusing on the emerging battle between Netflix and YouTube. With Netflix’s entry into podcast distribution—buying up suites of video podcasts (vodcasts)—the hosts and guest Ian Schwartzman debate what this means for content creators, business models, audience habits, and industry power dynamics. The conversation also touches on the evolution of podcast contracts and ownership, laying bare how digital media’s business side is transforming in real time.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Netflix’s Foray into Podcasting—Industry Shakeup

• Netflix acquires podcast suites

  • Netflix’s move echoes its previous innovations, now licensing whole suites of podcasts (e.g., from iHeartMedia) for its platform rather than developing original talk shows one at a time.
  • This provides an alternative for creators frustrated with YouTube’s dominance, but also interrupts audience habits.
  • Joel: "YouTube has been taking advantage of creators for a long time and...there’s no alternative to YouTube. Netflix obviously [offers] a higher level of production.” (04:12)

• Impact on viewership habits

  • YouTube is "always-on" and mobile-friendly, ideal for casual consumption; Netflix is more of an intentional, sit-down experience.
  • Joel: “I’m going to be watching a lot less Breakfast Club content. Not because I don’t like the Breakfast Club, but I’m not on Netflix that like I’m on YouTube all day on my phone.” (04:23)
  • Netflix content can become viral (e.g., documentaries with billions of streams) but requires different user engagement.

The Content Monopoly Question

• Multiple distribution options are generally seen as positive, breaking YouTube’s effective monopoly but drawing concerns about fragmentation and shifting creator economics.

• Ian Schwartzman (Podcast Industry Analyst):
  “Netflix and YouTube are at war...trying to figure out how to take over the most listened to and watched content in the world, which is podcasting.” (09:32)

Business Model & Profit Motives

• Netflix is emulating Spotify’s strategy: original podcast/audio content is a way to reduce licensing fees paid to music and video studios, increasing margins.
• Ian Schwartzman:
  “We’re putting out two episodes a week, three hours each...The Joe Budden podcast gives you six hours of free public and then another six to eight hours paywalled. So we’re talking about between 12 and 20 hours a week. We own the market share. Netflix looks now and goes what Spotify did back in 2018.” (08:54)
• These changes are about quarter-by-quarter profit: owning the content, not just distributing studio projects.

Who Benefits from Deals—Creator vs. Platform Ownership

• Recent licensing deals (Netflix/iHeart, Spotify/The Ringer) rarely go directly to the show creators; networks/parent companies usually reap the biggest rewards.
• Ian Schwartzman:
  “I’m sure Spotify gets all the upside of the Netflix deal. I’m sure iHeart gets all the upside of the iHeart situation with all their shows.” (11:35)
  • Creators, in many cases, are not negotiating directly with platforms like Netflix.

Evolution of Podcast Contracts—Audio vs. Video Rights

• Old vs. New Contracts

  • Early podcast deals were audio-only; video rights were rarely considered.
  • Now, any major deal will include comprehensive video ("YouTube rights") clauses.
  • Matt:
    “In the original contracts, there is nothing for the video. Right...So now they’ve actually started putting...YouTube rights inside of the language of their contract.” (12:59–13:12)

• Ownership Among New Creators

  • New entrants often give up audio and video rights upfront, in exchange for larger checks—without understanding full long-term value.
  • Joel:
    “We’re talking about people that’s coming into the game right now in the past three or four years that they’re signing deals off the rip that’s giving up [their rights].” (14:33)

• Value Judgments

  • If networks/offers are high, creators should ask what they're really worth, referencing past music industry mistakes.
  • Matt:
    “If they offer you 1.2 and Master P said this 30 years ago, if they offered me one, I must be worth 100.” (15:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Streaming Wars:

  • “Netflix and YouTube are at war...trying to figure out how to take over the most listened to and watched content in the world, which is podcasting.”
    — Ian Schwartzman (09:32)

• On Consumption Habits:

  • “Netflix is something I have to actually take time, sit down...I’ve never really watched Netflix on my phone...if I’m watching just a random interview, I’m in the spur of the moment. I just want to listen to it on my car [on YouTube].”
    — Joel (04:23)

• On Platform Economics:

  • “What Spotify did back in 2018...‘Holy shit. We’re paying the labels all this money for...music licenses...but what if we enter the podcast market space...we don’t have to pay the labels their share because we’re doing original audio.’”
    — Ian Schwartzman (09:21)

• On Ownership and Contracts:

  • “In the original contracts, there is nothing for the video...now they’ve actually started putting YouTube rights...inside the language.”
    — Matt (12:59–13:12)
  • “If they offer you 2 million or 10 million for your video rights...they know they’re going to make 30 off of it.”
    — Matt (15:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:04 – Netflix’s suite acquisition of iHeart podcasts & creator impact
• 04:23 – YouTube vs. Netflix: How user habits differ
• 08:54 – Why podcast output matters for platforms; business model insights
• 09:32 – The streaming/content/cable war explained
• 11:35 – Creators vs. Parent company: Who profits from deals?
• 12:59 – Evolution from audio-only to video rights in podcast contracts
• 14:33 – New creators and quick rights sell-offs
• 15:07-15:19 – The “what’s your content truly worth?” question

Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is candid, analytical, and laced with industry insider banter. Hosts and guest frequently refer to real-time changes in the business landscape, speak from personal contract experience, and caution creators to read the fine print as podcasting’s “gold rush” era gives way to more corporate control.

Conclusion

The convergence of Netflix and YouTube on podcasting signals a new era—one where creator leverage, business models, and user consumption habits are all up for grabs. The hosts stress that while more big platforms can mean more opportunities, the true winners are often networks and distributors, not the creators themselves, unless they hold on to their rights and understand streaming economics. The advice: creators need to think long-term, scrutinize contracts, and pay attention to where industry tides are heading.