Plus: Enloe Health offers even-keeled response after backlash; Instagram adds AI-generated summaries to public posts.
Netflix and iHeartMedia announced an exclusive video podcast partnership that will bring more than 15 of iHeart’s top shows to Netflix starting in early 2026.
These include big titles such as “The Breakfast Club” and “My Favorite Murder.” The deal will include new episodes as well as select library episodes of the shows.
Creators will still present ads by reading them, but unlike on YouTube, there will not be ad breaks, the
iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman said, “Audio podcasting has been the fastest-growing medium over the past 20 years, and now we’re thrilled to expand that experience with an exciting new category — video podcasts.”
Under the agreement, Netflix will be the exclusive home for the video versions of the participating podcasts, meaning their video episodes won’t upload to platforms like YouTube anymore, though iHeartMedia will still keep all audio-only rights and distribution.
Listeners can still find the podcasts in audio form on iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms, the outlet said.
Why it matters: This deal shows that storytelling opportunities are expanding not only beyond traditional media channels, but even beyond traditional social platforms.
Podcasts are now premium content that sit alongside hit TV shows and movies on one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world. This opens the door to new audiences and expands reach.
It shows that podcasts are valuable, mainstream content that big companies are willing to pay for and protect.
Being featured in an environment like Netflix also changes how a message is perceived. It feels more credible and immersive.
For brands, the deal shows how important it is to think about where messages live as much as what’s being said and placement can help shape tone and audience perception.
In other words, distribution is now a strategic choice. Being part of a long-form, video-first environment signals more depth. It suggests the brand or spokesperson has something worth spending time with. It also allows stories to unfold naturally through conversation, emotion and personality, which can build trust faster than short quotes or headlines.
As iHeart’s Jon Kurland said, “Podcasting grew because of intimacy, authenticity, and community. Video podcasts don’t replace that — they build on it.”
Editor’s Top Reads:
- Enloe Health responded after a video that showed a heated exchange between their employee and a worker at Target went viral online. In the clip, the woman questions an employee about wearing a Charlie Kirk “Freedom” shirt at work, accusing her of supporting racist ideas while cussing and yelling. After the video spread widely, people on social media began “outing” the woman filming as an employee of Enloe Health, which led to online debate, Newsweek reports. Enloe said they were “deeply concerned about the tenor” of the video and they’re working with the police department as they investigate. They also said, “Currently, extremely high call volumes related to this post are overwhelming Enloe’s switchboard and clinic phone lines, negatively impacting our patients’ ability to reach clinical staff.” They went on to provide a phone number and email for people concerned about the incident. Enloe’s statement is cautious. The neutral, controlled response avoided taking sides in the political dispute and focused on addressing operational impacts and due process. By responding quickly and providing resources, they showed they’re not ignoring the concern, but they redirected focus and priority to their patients. In tough moments or emotionally charged scenarios, sticking to facts, maintaining neutrality and managing communications in a way that protects the organization’s core mission and capacity to serve stakeholders can ease some tension and help control reputational fallout.
- A recent McDonald’s Netherlands holiday ad was quickly pulled after it sparked widespread online outrage. The 45-second commercial used AI-generated visuals to show chaotic holiday mishaps and invited viewers to “hide out in McDonald’s until January,” flipping traditional, more cheerful Christmas messaging on its head. Many viewers found the visuals unsettling, low-quality and emotionally hollow, criticizing both the look and the tone of the ad. Inc. reports that social media reaction was so negative that McDonald’s disabled comments and removed the ad from YouTube within a few days of its release. McDonald’s then responded by saying the ad was meant to reflect holiday stress but acknowledged the backlash and called the episode a learning experience as they explore using AI in marketing. This incident provides a couple of lessons. People right now are overloaded with AI. And while AI is definitely here to stay, offering numerous benefits, this is a warning sign about the appropriate times for the tech. This is a clear example of why PR pros need to be cautious about using AI in creative processes. Audiences still expect brands to act like humans, even if AI is part of the process behind the scenes.
- Instagram recently rolled out a new AI tool that automatically generates AI-written headlines and descriptions for users’ public posts, even if there’s no caption, which are shown in Google search results. These autogenerated summaries are embedded in the metadata of the webpage version of Instagram posts to make them more search friendly, but many users found them inaccurate or misleading compared with what they originally wrote. Instagram said the goal was to improve how Instagram content ranks on external search engines, but people are upset because the AI-created text can misrepresent their posts and feels like “SEO bait” rather than something they approved. Critics see it as overreach that substitutes automated text for users’ own words, raising questions about authenticity and user control. The move underscores the importance of transparency and consent in automated content changes, especially with AI. Communicating clearly before rolling out features that affect how users’ content appears outside the platform can prevent backlash and build trust, and explaining benefits and safeguards upfront helps manage expectations.
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at courtneyb@ragan.com.
The post The Scoop: Netflix, iHeartMedia deal positions podcasts as mainstream content appeared first on PR Daily.
