Netflix appoints former Apple Podcasts executive to lead acquisitions
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Netflix has confirmed that former Apple Podcasts executive Steve Wilson is joining the company to lead podcast content acquisitions, initially as a consultant. His appointment signals a deeper push into podcasts, although Netflix has not made clear how far it plans to expand the medium.
Wilson spent 15 years at Apple in editorial, partner relations and marketing, and later worked at QCODE and Daylight Media. Netflix has licensed video podcasts from Spotify, iHeartMedia and Barstool, and launched its own shows, partly to attract daytime viewers and compete with YouTube. It has not published podcast viewing figures, while also planning to cut about 1,000 jobs, or 6 per cent of its workforce, as it reviews its content strategy.
- Sources
- 2
- Outlets
- 2
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Steve Wilson will lead Netflix’s podcast acquisitions as a consultant.
- Netflix’s podcast strategy is expanding, but its viewing figures remain undisclosed.
- The appointment comes as Netflix plans to cut about 1,000 jobs.
How this story developed
- 1 hour ago Netflix hired Wilson to lead podcast acquisitions, while his later strategy role at QCODE and the company’s continued lack of viewing figures left the scale of its podcast ambitions unclear.
- 1 hour ago Netflix confirmed that former Apple Podcasts executive Steve Wilson would join as a consultant to lead podcast acquisitions, as the company explored a broader push into the medium.
Full account
Netflix has appointed Steve Wilson to lead its podcast content acquisitions, bringing in an executive with experience at Apple Podcasts and podcast production companies. The role is on a contract basis, with Wilson initially serving as a consultant, according to the reports. Netflix confirmed the appointment; Bloomberg first reported the hire.
Wilson spent 15 years at Apple, working across editorial, partner relations and marketing for Apple Podcasts. The accounts differ on the timing and sequence of his later roles: Variety says he left Apple in December 2020, spent nearly six years as chief strategy officer at QCode and then joined Daylight Media in the same position. The other report says he recently left Daylight Media and describes his QCode role as chief strategy officer.
The appointment comes as Netflix expands its video-podcast offering. Its catalogue includes licensed programmes from partners such as Spotify, iHeartMedia and Barstool, alongside originals including The Pete Davidson Show. Variety says Netflix now carries more than 60 video podcasts and lists several other originals, among them Murder With My Husband, Shut Up Evan, The Puzzle Room With David Kwong and Allegedly. The reports frame the move as part of a broader effort to build the service’s podcast presence, though Netflix has not published viewing figures for the programmes.
Wilson joins during a period of organisational change. Netflix recently announced plans to cut about 6 per cent of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 jobs. Variety says the reductions primarily affected product, technology, legal and human resources, and reports that several senior content executives also left, with Peter Rice named to replace Bela Bajaria. The other account links the staffing changes to a review of areas where Netflix considered itself overinvested and describes a wider content-strategy revamp. Both reports note that the scale and direction of Netflix’s long-term podcast ambitions remain uncertain.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Variety identifies Wilson’s appointment as a contract role and says he will lead podcast expansion; the other report specifies that he will start as a consultant and focus on content acquisition.
The accounts give different descriptions of Wilson’s career after Apple: Variety dates his departure to December 2020 and sets out a sequence from QCode to Daylight Media, while the other report says he recently left Daylight Media and gives less detail about the dates.
Variety says Netflix has more than 60 video podcasts and names several original programmes. The other report focuses on the Spotify partnership and licensing deals, and notes that Netflix has not released viewing statistics.
The reports emphasise different aspects of the layoffs: Variety describes the affected departments and names Peter Rice as Bajaria’s replacement; the other account stresses Netflix’s review of investment priorities and a broader content-strategy overhaul.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Hiring an experienced podcast executive could help Netflix build a stronger slate and make better use of video podcasts as it competes for daytime viewers and audiences who already watch YouTube. A focused investment may also broaden Netflix’s appeal and create new opportunities for creators and partners.
The case against
Netflix’s ambitions remain unclear, and without viewing figures it is difficult to judge whether podcast spending is drawing audiences or warranting further investment. With the company cutting about 1,000 jobs while revising its content strategy, a cautious approach could prioritise proven programming and avoid committing resources to a format whose returns are uncertain.
Explained simply
Podcasts are audio programmes, and video podcasts add a filmed version that viewers can watch on streaming services. Netflix has begun licensing video podcasts from companies including Spotify, iHeartMedia and Barstool, alongside launching shows of its own.
Steve Wilson spent 15 years at Apple working in editorial, partner relations and marketing, then worked at podcast production companies QCODE and Daylight Media. His experience connects Netflix’s new acquisitions role with the established podcast industry.
Netflix has said podcasts could help attract viewers during the day and strengthen its competition with YouTube. It has not published viewing figures for its podcasts, and the appointment comes as the company reviews its content plans and prepares workforce cuts.
Coverage · 2 sources
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Netflix Hires Former Apple Exec Steve Wilson to Lead Podcast Acquisitions”.