Netflix Spends Big on Audio After Cutting 1,000 Roles

Netflix has moved to expand its audio business by hiring Steve Wilson to lead podcast content acquisitions. The company announced the move on Monday, confirming that Wilson will oversee the strategy on a contract basis. This decision places a veteran media executive in charge of a content vertical that has become a key differentiator for the streamer.

Wilson brings deep experience to the role, having spent 15 years at Apple. He most recently served as the head of marketing for Apple Podcasts, where he worked directly with creators and networks. After leaving Apple in December 2020, Wilson spent nearly six years as chief strategy officer at podcast studio QCode before taking the same position at Daylight Media.

The timing of the hire coincides with a period of significant structural change at Netflix. The company recently announced layoffs affecting 6% of its workforce, which equates to approximately 1,000 jobs. According to an internal email, the cuts primarily impacted employees in product, technology, legal, and human resources teams. This reduction represents the largest single cut in the company's history.

Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters explained the rationale for the layoffs in a memo to staff. They stated that the company's mission to entertain the world requires discipline in allocating people and resources. The leadership shakeup extended beyond staff reductions, with several senior executives departing. Bela Bajaria, who served as chief content officer, was replaced by Peter Rice. Dan Lin, head of film, and his lieutenant Doug Belgrad also left, along with Carolina Garcia, the director of original series.

Despite these internal changes, Netflix continues to invest in its podcast library. The service currently hosts more than 60 video podcasts. Original titles include “Murder With My Husband,” a true-crime series, and “The Pete Davidson Show,” hosted by the “Saturday Night Live” alum. Other shows in the catalog include “Shut Up Evan,” “The Puzzle Room With David Kwong,” and “Allegedly,” a true-crime production from NBC News correspondent Ellison Barber.

Sarandos addressed the leadership transition during the company's Q3 2026 earnings call. He acknowledged that the current execution could be improved and expressed a desire to build on recent momentum. The addition of Wilson signals a continued commitment to diversifying the platform's content offerings beyond traditional film and television.

The move positions Wilson to manage acquisitions for a catalog that has grown steadily since the company began pushing video podcasts. As Netflix balances its content spending with workforce reductions, the podcast division becomes a focal point for its future programming strategy.