Netflix has tapped former Apple executive Steve Wilson to lead its podcasting division, TheWrap has learned, as the streamer expands its slate of licensed and original audio and video podcasts.
The appointment, first reported Monday by Bloomberg, comes just over a week after Peter Rice replaced Bela Bajaria as Netflix's chief content officer.
Wilson spent nearly 15 years at Apple, from 2006 to 2020, and was among the earliest members of the Apple Podcasts team. He later served as chief strategy officer at Daylight Media, formerly QCODE, from 2020 to 2026.
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| Steve Wilson |
Under its former QCODE name, Daylight produced scripted podcasts including "The Prophecy" with Kerry Washington, "Carrier" starring Cynthia Erivo, "Blackout" with Rami Malek and "The Edge of Sleep" with Markiplier. Its unscripted projects included Rachel Dratch's "Woo Woo" and Washington's interview series "Street You Grew Up On."
Wilson joins Netflix as the company broadens its podcast strategy through distribution deals, original programming and digital video partnerships. Netflix has acquired podcasts through agreements with Barstool, Spotify and iHeartMedia, bringing shows such as Jay Shetty's "On Purpose," Jake Shane's "Therapuss" and "The Breakfast Club" to the platform.
The streamer also produces podcasts connected to popular titles, including the official "Outer Banks" and "Bridgerton" podcasts. "Shut Up Evan" and "The Pete Davidson Show" stream exclusively on Netflix.
Beyond podcasts, Netflix has partnered with BuzzFeed, Conde Nast, Hearst Magazines, People Inc., Tastemade and Penske Media's PMX brands to bring digital video series from outlets including Architectural Digest and Elle to streaming audiences.
Netflix omitted video podcasts from its viewership data for the first half of 2026.