Netflix's sports podcasts face their biggest test this NFL season

Netflix's sports podcast strategy faces its toughest test this NFL season, which will determine if the platform becomes a destination for sports podcasts or just a paid collection of shows. Netflix has spent eight months building its podcast portfolio, renewing its original lineup and adding new shows like The Pivot, but has not revealed viewership data or subscription impact. The NFL season begins next week, providing a critical proving ground for the 19 sports podcasts currently on the platform. The company continues adding podcasts outside sports, and a recent soccer podcast reportedly underperformed on Netflix's charts. The NFL season will reveal whether these shows can attract audiences, with failures magnified during football's peak viewership period.