Netflix Star-Studded Podcast Push: Can It Out-Youtube YouTube?

Netflix is betting big on celebrity charm to flip the podcast script—and the race to out-Youtube YouTube just got a new contender.

The streaming giant announced two new video podcasts: Michael Irvin’s The White House (Jan 19) and Pete Davidson’s The Pete Davidson Show (Jan 30).

Both series are exclusive to Netflix, leveraging A-list personalities—Davidson already has two comedy specials on the platform, while Irvin was central to Netflix’s America’s Team docuseries. Irvin’s show will feature NFL legends like Brandon Marshall.

Netflix claims 700 million monthly hours of podcast consumption on living room devices by 2025, positioning itself as a challenger to YouTube and Spotify.

However, platforms like YouTube face fewer restrictions from licensors such as iHeartMedia, which often block full episodes from appearing on competing services. TechCrunch reporter Lauren Forristal noted:

"Netflix’s podcast library remains nascent compared to rival platforms."

This creates a paradox: while Netflix can offer polished, star-powered exclusives, it lacks access to unlicensed shows that dominate YouTube’s long-tail content.

For example, full episodes of My Favorite Murder remain unavailable on YouTube despite its massive following.