Portnoy Confirms Barstool’s Biggest Podcasts—’Pardon My Take,’ ‘Spittin’ Chiclets,’ and ‘Ryen Russillo’—Move to Exclusive Netflix Video Deal
Netflix Scores Massive Barstool Blow: The Exclusive Video Deal Reshaping Sports Media
In a seismic shift that reverberated through the entire digital media landscape, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy announced a landmark, multi-year partnership that will see the exclusive video versions of three of the company’s most popular podcasts—Pardon My Take (PMT), Spittin’ Chiclets, and The Ryen Russillo Show—move to the global streaming giant, Netflix. The breaking news, confirmed by Portnoy and subsequently by both companies, is more than just a content acquisition; it represents a major escalation in the ongoing Streaming Wars, with Netflix directly challenging the traditional dominance of platforms like YouTube for premium, unscripted sports commentary.
Beginning in early 2026, fans who wish to watch the full video episodes of these three titans of the sports podcasting world will need a Netflix subscription. The deal includes all new episodes as well as a selection of library content, instantly transforming Netflix’s relatively nascent video podcasting effort into a major destination for millions of dedicated sports fans.
The Critical Nuance: Audio Stays, Video Goes Exclusive
The most important detail for the legions of ‘Stoolies’ and podcast listeners is the distinction between the video and audio content. Crucially, the audio versions of Pardon My Take, Spittin’ Chiclets, and The Ryen Russillo Show will not be affected. They will continue to be available free of charge on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, ensuring that the majority of the current listening audience can continue their consumption habits without interruption.
The exclusivity, however, rests entirely with the visual component. Dave Portnoy, in his announcement video, was clear: “That’s what we do at Barstool: evolve, rotate, evolve. Video, next year, PMT, Chiclets, Ryen Russillo. Netflix, Netflix, Netflix.” For years, the video feeds—often streamed live or uploaded to YouTube—have been a significant part of the shows’ appeal, providing visual context, host interactions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses that amplified the audio experience. This move effectively pulls hundreds of thousands of daily YouTube views and millions of monthly impressions away from Google’s platform and places them firmly behind the Netflix paywall.
The Star-Studded Lineup: A Podcast Powerhouse for Netflix
The three shows included in the deal are arguably the strongest and most diverse lineup Barstool could offer to a major streaming partner:
- Pardon My Take (PMT): Hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter, PMT is the undisputed flagship of the Barstool podcast empire and a perennial top-ranked sports podcast globally. Known for its satirical, irreverent take on sports news, interviews, and unique segments, its video presence is integral to its humor.
- Spittin’ Chiclets: This hockey-focused podcast, hosted by former NHL players Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette (BizNasty), along with Rear Admiral, is a cultural phenomenon within the hockey world. The video format is key to capturing the chemistry and unscripted humor of the hosts.
- The Ryen Russillo Show: Ryen Russillo, a respected veteran of sports commentary who recently departed The Ringer for Barstool, brings a more traditional, long-form sports and culture discussion to the mix. His inclusion shows Netflix’s commitment to a broad spectrum of sports talk. This move places Russillo’s exclusive video content on the same platform as his former boss, Bill Simmons, whose own Ringer podcasts have a similar exclusive video deal with Netflix via Spotify.
The Strategic Play: Why Barstool and Netflix Need This Deal
For Netflix, this agreement is the latest, and perhaps biggest, statement of intent in its ambitious—and expensive—push into unscripted sports and live-adjacent content. The company has already found massive success with documentary series like Drive to Survive and Full Swing, and recently secured an exclusive video podcast deal for shows from The Ringer, including The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Rewatchables. The Barstool acquisition solidifies Netflix as a serious contender for sports commentary viewership, offering a contrasting, more unfiltered, and youth-oriented voice to complement The Ringer’s more mainstream-leaning analysis.
Lauren Smith, Netflix VP of Content Licensing and Programming Strategy, emphasized this goal: “We’re thrilled to team up with Barstool Sports and bring their top video podcasts to Netflix. This partnership broadens how our members connect with Barstool’s leading sports voices and delivers exactly what our members crave: unfiltered commentary, sharp takes, and undeniable humor.”
For Barstool Sports, the deal is a massive validation of their content strategy and an essential financial move. After Portnoy bought back the company following a turbulent ownership period, securing a substantial, multi-year revenue stream from a global distributor like Netflix provides immense stability and capital for future expansion. Portnoy consistently champions Barstool’s ability to “evolve,” and this deal is the perfect embodiment of that philosophy, pivoting a successful YouTube video strategy into a premium streaming partnership. Furthermore, it exposes the Barstool brand to Netflix’s massive 300+ million global paid members, many of whom may have never sought out the content on YouTube or the audio apps, significantly widening the funnel for new fans, or ‘Stoolies,’ around the world.
Impact on the Fan and the Future of Sports Media
While the deal is a clear financial and strategic win for both Barstool and Netflix, the immediate reaction from the loyal fan base is mixed. The primary friction point is the shift from free-to-access content on YouTube—a platform designed for quick, ad-supported consumption—to a paid subscription model on Netflix. Barstool’s entire ethos was built on accessibility and being an ‘alternative’ to mainstream media. Now, a significant part of their popular content sits behind a paywall. The hosts of Pardon My Take addressed this, stating that the deal is a “big deal for the podcast” and will allow the “behind the scenes guys share in the success of the podcast,” suggesting a clear benefit for the Barstool ecosystem.
This partnership, along with the Ringer deal and other video podcast acquisitions by Netflix (including content from iHeartMedia), paints a clear picture of the future: premium video podcasting is becoming a key battleground for streaming subscriptions. Sports commentary and unscripted talk shows, which deliver high engagement and reliable content volume, are now seen as essential drivers for subscriber retention, much like original scripted series or live sports rights. The era of the major, top-tier sports video podcast being universally free is rapidly coming to an end, with the content being used as a high-value perk to justify a monthly streaming fee. The Barstool-Netflix deal is not just news; it’s a blueprint for the next generation of digital sports media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Which Barstool podcasts are moving exclusively to Netflix video?
A: The exclusive video rights have been acquired by Netflix for three major Barstool podcasts: Pardon My Take, Spittin’ Chiclets, and The Ryen Russillo Show.
Q2: When will the Barstool podcasts debut on Netflix?
A: The video versions of the podcasts are scheduled to begin streaming exclusively on Netflix in early 2026. The initial launch will be in the U.S., with plans to expand to additional international markets afterward.
Q3: Will the audio versions of the podcasts still be free to listen to?
A: Yes. The new deal only covers the exclusive video rights. The audio versions of Pardon My Take, Spittin’ Chiclets, and The Ryen Russillo Show will continue to be available as free podcasts on all major audio platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and others.
Q4: Why is this deal significant for Netflix?
A: This deal signifies Netflix’s aggressive entry into the video podcasting space, especially within sports commentary. By acquiring exclusive video rights to some of the most popular sports podcasts on the internet, the company is using this unscripted content to drive new subscriptions and increase engagement among its massive global audience, mirroring a similar strategy with The Ringer’s shows.
Q5: What will happen to the video versions currently on YouTube?
A: The video feeds for the three exclusive podcasts—Pardon My Take, Spittin’ Chiclets, and The Ryen Russillo Show—will be removed from YouTube and other video platforms and will only be available on Netflix starting in early 2026. This is the core component of the exclusivity deal.
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