So, have you watched your favorite podcast on Netflix yet? It’s been several months since the streaming giant began housing exclusive video presentations for more than 40 podcasts across all genres. The company has yet to reveal any viewership data on the titles it secured from companies such as The Ringer, iHeartMedia, and Barstool Sports.
However, thanks to television data and analytics company Samba TV, we now have some numbers to examine. In a first-quarter analysis of what Samba TV calls the inaugural Netflix Podcast Ranker, the company estimated that 13% of U.S. Netflix-viewing households watched at least one Netflix podcast during the first three months of 2026.
Is that impressive? To some, maybe. To others, not so much. What caught my attention, however, was the viewership of key sports titles that arrived as part of Team Netflix. While you don’t want to judge a book by its cover—or its first three months of service—the early results don’t prove that sports titles resonate with a Netflix audience.
It’s hard to break habits. In the podcast industry, you build your audience not just through content, but also through distribution. That’s why, as Pat McAfee climbed from podcaster to ESPN personality, it remained vital for his program to stay on YouTube. That audience was essential to his brand’s growth and success.
In two years, we’ll see where that concept goes, as Netflix and potentially other streamers look to lure McAfee’s brand to their platforms.
Still, when The Ringer, Barstool Sports, and iHeartMedia announced their agreements with Netflix, I was curious to see how their shows would rank among the other titles making the transition.
Now, thanks to Samba TV, we have some answers.
The first quarter of 2026 featured a massive slate of sports headlines. The Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, and Winter Olympics were just a few of the major events. We also saw significant viewership increases across the NBA, NHL, and even the World Baseball Classic. Needless to say, January, February, and March of 2026 delivered a level of sports volume most years simply don’t match.
According to Samba, three sports-specific podcasts cracked the top 20 most-viewed podcasts on Netflix. The Bill Simmons Podcast finished eighth, Pardon My Take placed 10th, and The White House with Michael Irvin came in 17th. Granted, The White House was a Netflix original, but I digress.
That means, of the 18 total podcasts from The Ringer and Barstool Sports, only two sports podcasts landed in the top 20 among 46 total podcasts on the platform.
Is that impressive?
You never want to overreact to early data, and I’ll admit these figures come from a third party, not Netflix itself. However, anyone who follows sports media knows that when major events occur, viewership, listenership, downloads, social engagement, and nearly every measurable metric increase.
Seeing these early results after such a sports-heavy quarter should raise some concern within the walls of both The Ringer and Barstool Sports.
Financial stability aside—because Netflix is clearly providing that—it’s fair to question the performance.
For example, The Pete Davidson Show, which debuted on January 30, outperformed anything from Barstool Sports or The Ringer. Meanwhile, The Bill Simmons Podcast trailed One Piece: Into the Grand Line, which launched March 13.
That raises an important question: Are sports podcasts—by nature timely and topical—not a natural fit for a Netflix audience? This early data may offer insight for other sports podcast brands that have thrived in the free and accessible era. Could shows like Nightcap, The Pivot, and others be reconsidering meetings or calls with Netflix executives?
Money is always the goal. It fuels the ability to create and sustain content. However, in this case, it appears sports podcasts may not attract audiences on Netflix the way they do on free platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
If this trend continues, could there be opt-out options and a return to those platforms?
Could that explain why Pardon My Take continues to produce non-podcast content on YouTube? They may be ensuring they still serve that audience while struggling to find comparable traction behind a paywall.
That’s a smart strategy—and one others should consider if they haven’t already.
First impressions matter. If sports podcasts continue to lag in viewership during the biggest moments on the sports calendar, that should serve as a major warning sign for creators. While chasing the check is always part of the equation, not every check is worth the audience you risk losing.
The bigger question isn’t whether Netflix can afford sports podcasts—it’s whether sports podcasts can afford to lose the habits that built them. Accessibility, immediacy, and community weren’t just features of the YouTube era; they were its foundation.
Remove those elements, place content behind a paywall, and suddenly you’re asking a different audience to engage with a different product in a different way.
That doesn’t mean the Netflix experiment is doomed. It does mean it remains unproven. And for an industry built on daily relevance and real-time reaction, “wait and see” isn’t always a comfortable position.
If the early data is any indication, the future of sports podcasting may not be about chasing the biggest check—but about staying where the audience already is.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
