Spotify hits half a million video podcasts as viewing surges
Spotify’s video podcasts hit half a million shows, with watch time doubling and partnerships extending their reach across platforms.
Spotify’s video podcast expansion shows no sign of slowing down. According to TechCrunch, the streaming platform now hosts nearly half a million video podcasts, with more than 390 million users having watched at least one. That’s a 54% increase compared to last year, highlighting just how popular video content has become on Spotify.
Just over a year ago, Spotify counted around 250,000 video podcasts. Since then, it has introduced tools allowing non-hosted podcast creators to upload their own video episodes directly to the platform, removing barriers that previously kept smaller podcasters out. With the addition of features like comments, Q&As, and polls, Spotify has become a more interactive space where audiences can connect directly with creators, helping transform the service into something that feels more like a social network.
Spotify’s focus on interactivity and accessibility has sparked a major rise in engagement. Time spent watching video content has more than doubled in the past year, largely thanks to the success of video podcasts. The launch of the Spotify Partner Program (SPP) has played a big part, allowing eligible creators to earn payouts based on engagement from Spotify Premium listeners – helping video podcast consumption grow by over 80% since its rollout.
The platform is also expanding beyond its own app. A new partnership with Netflix will bring Spotify’s video podcasts to the streaming service in 2026, starting in the US. Incoming co-CEO Alex Norström said, “We think … that when the creator wins, we win,” adding that the aim is to help creators reach audiences everywhere. Co-CEO Gustav Söderström described the partnership as part of Spotify’s “ubiquity strategy,” creating new “revenue opportunities” and strengthening its creator-first approach.
This move builds on the video podcast boom on Spotify, as the company continues investing in visual content and improving access across devices, including a recent Apple TV app upgrade. Broader accessibility not only boosts engagement but also supports Spotify’s growing ad business, which now offers programmatic access to audio and video formats.
Spotify’s expansion across platforms highlights its vision of making content available everywhere – signalling that the future of podcasting is as much about visuals as sound, and that opportunities for creators continue to grow.