Netflix just watched the playbook change as The Rest Is Football dribbled past traditional shows to become the first podcast ever to break into its coveted Daily Top 10. Netflix has spent the past few years evolving from a pure streaming platform into something closer to an all-purpose media hub, experimenting with games, live events, and, most recently, video podcasts.

Early on, those shows existed mostly at the margins; none were breaking into the service’s closely watched daily Top 10 charts, which usually belong to big dramas, reality series, or true-crime docs. That is why the latest shift is so striking. But during the 2026 World Cup, an unlikely hero from the podcast world muscled its way into those rankings.

The Rest Is Football, hosted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, has rewritten expectations for podcast content on Netflix by becoming the first of its kind to enter the platform’s daily Top 10 TV lists across multiple countries, as reported by What's On Netflix. Reworked into a daily video format from a New York studio, the show has capitalised on the World Cup’s relentless news cycle and global appeal.

The format blends post-match analysis, behind-the-scenes dressing-room insights, and guest appearances, all anchored by the hosts’ established chemistry. In the UK, where all three figures are long-standing media personalities, the show climbed as high as No. 2 on the TV chart, per What's On Netflix, competing directly with scripted heavyweights and reality hits. Its performance across Ireland, Iceland, Malta, and beyond signals that the appeal extends well outside its home market.

For Netflix, this is more than a one-off success. It serves as a proof of concept that video podcasts can thrive on the platform when they feel immediate, conversational, and tied to a major global event. The experiment suggests a new lane of content that sits between traditional television and digital-first media, reshaping how audiences engage with live, discussion-driven formats.

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But Netflix is not stopping there, as its next move shows an even bigger bet on the future of podcasting.

Netflix has joined forces with Spotify to secure joint rights to Jay Shetty’s widely followed podcast On Purpose in a deal reportedly valued at around $100 million. The agreement marks one of the most significant investments in video podcasting to date and removes the show’s full video format from YouTube, repositioning it across two major streaming ecosystems.

  Video episodes will begin rolling out from July 13, with Spotify continuing to host the audio version and oversee global advertising. While the audio remains accessible on platforms like Apple Podcasts, the visual experience will now be exclusive to Netflix and Spotify. Shetty described the move as a historic moment, not just for On Purpose but for podcasting itself, underscoring the scale of the transition.  

The deal also strengthens Shetty’s broader relationship with Netflix, where his company Perfect Strangers Media is already developing multiple projects centred on personal growth and connection. With over 1 billion listens and high-profile guests such as Michelle Obama, Oprah, Tom Hanks, and Lewis Hamilton, On Purpose is increasingly being treated as premium intellectual property. For both platforms, the partnership reflects a growing belief that personality-driven podcasts can anchor the next wave of global entertainment.

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What do you think about Netflix’s push into video podcasts? Can they rival traditional TV formats? Let us know in the comments.