Disney+ and Hulu have begun streaming six iHeartMedia podcasts in video format under a distribution arrangement announced August 10, 2026, with the first title launching August 14 and five additional shows rolling out through early November.
The deal covers six iHeartPodcasts titles distributed across Disney’s two domestic streaming services through a staggered rollout. Hey Jonas!, the official podcast hosted by Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, launched on both Disney+ and Hulu on August 14, timed to precede the premiere of Camp Rock 3 on Disney+. Pod Meets World, hosted by Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Rider Strong and featuring recaps of the sitcom Boy Meets World, begins streaming on Disney+ on August 24. Four additional titles — Desperately Devoted, a Desperate Housewives rewatch hosted by Teri Hatcher, Andrea Bowen and Emerson Tenney; Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald, featuring Zach Braff and Donald Faison recapping Scrubs; StraightioLab, hosted by comedians George Civeris and Sam Taggart; and Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim — will arrive on Hulu throughout the autumn. iHeartMedia retains ownership of the shows while Disney’s services distribute video editions with weekly episodes across all six titles.
The arrangement represents a shift in how podcasts are distributed through streaming platforms rather than a full acquisition. Four of the six titles use rewatch or companion formats built on existing television libraries, with two — Boy Meets World and Desperate Housewives — originating on ABC, a Disney property. Financial terms were not disclosed, and neither company specified how revenue from the deal would be split or whether advertising would be included on the video editions.
“Fans can’t get enough of the stories and talent they love, and podcasts have become one of the fastest growing ways for audiences to connect with them,” said Lauren Tempest, Head of Content Planning and Partnerships, DTC at The Walt Disney Company. “These new video podcasts from iHeartMedia bring fans closer to their favorite worlds and the creators behind them, and we’re thrilled to make them available on Disney+ and Hulu as part of an even richer streaming experience.” Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, said: “Podcasting continues to evolve as audiences increasingly want to engage with the shows and personalities they love in more ways and across more platforms. Disney+ and Hulu have built powerful streaming destinations with incredibly passionate fan communities, making them ideal partners to expand the reach of these beloved iHeartPodcasts.”
The deal positions video podcasts within Disney’s broader streaming ecosystem. Disney+ groups podcasts under a Podcasts Collection while Hulu uses a Podcasts Hub, placing these titles alongside existing licensed shows and companion podcasts tied to network programming. For podcast creators and audio professionals, the arrangement highlights the growing adoption of video formats and the migration of podcast content into streaming video environments where viewership occurs primarily on connected televisions, mobile devices and browsers rather than traditional podcast players.
The announcement occurs amid significant changes in podcast measurement and advertising infrastructure. In July 2026, IAB Tech Lab moved to bring video podcasts under the same download counting rules governing audio content, opening version 2.3 of its podcast measurement guidelines for public comment. The move replaced the term “listener” with “podcast consumer,” raising questions about how episodes delivered through streaming apps will be counted and reported against traditional podcast metrics.
United States podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, representing 17.6 percent growth, according to the IAB and PwC annual report published April 16, 2026. However, that total represents a fraction of the broader $294.6 billion digital advertising market, with digital video alone accounting for $78 billion after 25.4 percent growth. Disney’s advertising infrastructure, including its Real-Time Ad Exchange connected to GoogleDV360 and The Trade Desk, its expanded biddable ad technology across streaming services, and its integration of interactive formats, provides the technical foundation for monetizing video podcasts, though the announcement did not specify whether these tools would be deployed for the iHeartMedia content.
The podcast distribution deal underscores broader industry trends toward video podcast adoption and platform consolidation as streaming services seek original content to drive subscriber engagement and retention. Whether video podcasts are being treated as subscriber retention features, monetizable inventory or both remains unclear, but the arrangement signals Disney’s commitment to expanding podcast offerings within its streaming ecosystem while providing iHeartMedia with access to tens of millions of subscribers across two major platforms.
Source: Ppc — Read the original article →
