Millennials are entering their peak earning years with deep digital fluency, but adulthood is changing their habits. AI is becoming a practical tool, digital fatigue is reshaping social media use, and family life is influencing media and shopping.

Disney+ and Hulu add iHeartMedia video podcasts: The deal could give marketers premium inventory with audiences primed to act on ads.

Audio and video podcasts complement each other: Combining both formats can build brand trust first and drive measurable consumer actions later.

Netflix revenues mask engagement strain: Q2 sales rose 13%, but slow viewing gains raise doubts about keeping audiences—and advertisers—engaged.

YouTube passes Spotify in UK podcasts: The margin is small, but the change makes video harder for brands to treat as optional.

Why every streamer wants podcast deals: A flurry of exclusive video deals offers streamers a low-cost way to drive viewership.

Netflix challenges YouTube: YouTube leads in reach and revenue, yet Netflix’s rapid ad climb boosts its appeal for brand dollars.

Netflix bets on daily live podcasts: Popular iHeartMedia podcast “The Breakfast Club” will go live daily on Netflix as it swings at YouTube’s lead.

Apple-Spotify alliance redraws video podcast playbook: Shared tech and revenues lower barriers for video podcasts, leaving YouTube as the only major the lone silo.

Netflix hits the gas on advertising: The company secured a slew of NFL games, but its bet on podcast and vertical video ads is less certain.

Gen Z’s audio habits are rapidly shifting as streaming, social discovery, and multitasking reshape engagement. Music still dominates, but video podcasts and always-on listening are fragmenting attention and redefining how content is found and consumed.

Netflix powers ahead post-WBD: Q1 shows 16% revenue rise as ads are poised to hit $3 billion, proving it can scale without a mega-deal.

Audio is leading the story as Spotify allows for users to disable video, but carousel ads and Sponsored Playlists keep visuals in play.

YouTube tops global media with $62 billion in revenues and over $40 billion in ads, putting it ahead of Disney and legacy TV combined.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Spotify right now: What will the audio giant do about AI slop? Can it generate significant revenue from advertising? Will people sit down in their living rooms and turn on a podcast to watch, en masse? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Ross Benes and Senior Editor Daniel Konstantinovic. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Netflix’s ad revenues hit $1.5 billion, with expectations to double in 2026 as its next phase will hinge on broadening inventory advertisers know how to buy.

The rise of video podcasts has transformed the medium, creating new opportunities for advertisers. But as the ecosystem becomes more sophisticated, complexities are creating challenges for ad buyers and media platforms.​

Even as the majority of podcasters (71%) use video, per Sounds Profitable, video podcast ads are falling short of driving purchases compared with audio ads. YouTube’s video podcast ads are 18% to 25% less effective than audio downloads at driving users to purchase, according to an Oxford Road and Podscribe study. Video podcast consumption is growing, and YouTube remains the largest media platform globally, but advertisers looking to target podcast consumers specifically must make audio a core part of their campaign planning.

In 2026, AI will reshape advertiser workflows and behaviors, while rising video consumption will boost CTV and YouTube.