Streaming Giants Collide: Spotify x Netflix

You're listening to Podcasting by the Numbers, your daily source for facts and stats from the podcasting industry. Each episode will provide you four key insights and indicators that will help maneuver you through the ever-changing podcasting landscape.

Today is November 6th. I'm Gary Spurgeon, podcasting from Jacksonville, Florida. Did you know that YouTube is rolling out AI-powered tools to help podcasters turn episodes into clips? I'll have the details in just a minute. Today, I'm here with your daily four minutes of stats, tips, insights, and numbers to help you better understand what's happening in the podcasting world. So let's get into the numbers.

Our first number is 713 million. Spotify has just hit a whopping 713 million active users, and video podcasts are becoming a big part of that success. The platform now hosts a half a million video podcasts with 390 million users streaming them, an impressive 54% increase from last year. But that's not all. Spotify is teaming up with Netflix to start syndicating video podcasts in 2026. Why? Because Spotify wants to be more than just a listening app. They aim to be the go-to hub for creators to distribute their content. With new monetization tools and programmatic ad access, it's clear that Spotify is betting on big video.

Our next number is 100 million. YouTube is rolling out an AI-powered tools to help podcasters turn episodes into clips and shorts. Even audio-only creators can generate custom video content to promote their show. It's part of YouTube's push to compete with TikTok and Reels while giving podcasters more ways to grow. With 100 million hours of podcast content streaming daily, YouTube's not only playing catch up, it's building a full podcast ecosystem.

Our next is an insight. Apple's latest iOS update brings automatic chapters, transcripts, and linked previews to podcast apps. That means listeners can jump to specific segments, search within episodes, and even follow mentioned shows, all without creators lifting a finger. For podcasters, it's a win for discoverability, accessibility, and SEO. And yes, you can still upload your own transcript if you want full control. Apple's making podcasts more bingeable.

And finally today, Apple's transcript feature will now support 13 languages and cover over 125 million episodes, including full back catalogs. Listeners can search, skim, and jump to any part of an episode, making podcasts more accessible and easier to repurpose. For creators, it's a goldmine for content. Think blog posts, quotes, newsletters, all pulled straight from your transcript. And yes, you can host it on your site for SEO juice.

And there you have them, the numbers for Thursday, November 6th. Do you know how many people tune in to podcasts every month? I'll have those numbers for you tomorrow. And recommend our podcast to everyone, friends, families, and colleagues. Also, you can hear us on Apple, Spotify, and every major podcasting platform. And remember, you're just one day away from changing your world. Make it a great day.