Betting on Podcasts – Fox, Netflix, and YouTube Want a Piece of Podcasting’s Power

The Media Roundtable Industry Edition is back! This week, we’re rounding up the biggest trending news stories in podcasting as Netflix, Fox, and YouTube all make moves that could reshape the industry.

James Ingrassia (EVP of Client Service, Oxford Road) hosts fellow Oxford Road luminaries Neal Lucey (EVP of Strategy & Product), Spencer Semonson (Media Supervisor), and Kyle Jelinek (VP of Client Services).

The team is talking: Fox’s Podcast Deal, YouTube’s Year of Discovery, Netflix’s interest in podcasts, and more. Let’s dig in.

“If you're a marketer, what you're trying to do is evoke a memory, you're evoking an emotion. And music is one of the most effective ways to do that.”

Fox Bets on Podcasts 💰 - Fox is bringing some familiar faces back into the fold by acquiring Red Seat Ventures. This includes former Fox News stars Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Bill O’Reilly. The move allows Fox to profit from these personalities without directly employing them, like a hedge reminiscent of when podcasting held great relevance during the 2024 election not so long ago—at the expense of traditional media.

Now Streaming on Netflix… Podcasts? 📺 - “Former DVD mail business” Netflix is reportedly interested in getting into the Podcast game. Here’s why it makes sense: lower production costs, a chance at ad revenue, and because TV is the YouTube platform’s primary viewing device in the US, so it’s a proven win. Time will tell if this involves the acquisition of a popular show or something totally original.

Next Up: Discovery 🔎 - YouTube has dominated podcast consumption without even trying. BIG question: What happens when they do try? YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says new features to aid podcast discovery are coming soon, along with an auto-dubbing feature for greater global reach. On our wishlist: RSS feeds to make it easier for creators to post videos (and yes, to help with host-read ad attribution too). 


For industry insights you won’t find anywhere else, tune into the full episode by clicking below.

Bianca Gorodinsky