Netflix has hired Steve Wilson (스티브 윌슨), a former Apple executive, to lead its podcast business, Bloomberg News reported on Oct. 26. It is a move to expand its video podcast business and compete head-on with Google’s YouTube.
Wilson has managed relationships with creators and hosts at Apple Podcasts, the report said. Netflix is building video podcasts into another content genre after films, TV series and live entertainment.
After leaving Apple, he served as chief strategy officer at podcast production company QCODE, now Daylight Media.
Netflix has already signed podcast distribution deals with Spotify, iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports. It has also secured popular programmes including Jay Shetty’s "On Purpose" and "The Breakfast Club".
Attention is focused on how much Netflix can draw in popular podcast creators with Wilson joining the company.
Some well-known podcasters have rejected Netflix offers, Bloomberg reported, because Netflix required them to take their videos down from YouTube. In that case, creators could lose existing viewers and advertising revenue.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr