Netflix Expands Podcast Push with iHeartMedia Partnership

iHeartMedia and Netflix announced Tuesday an exclusive partnership to bring video versions of more than 15 popular iHeartPodcasts to the platform. New video podcast episodes will begin streaming in the U.S. in early 2026, with international expansion planned later. The lineup includes major shows like The Breakfast Club, My Favorite Murder, The Psychology of Your 20s, and podcasts hosted by stars such as Chelsea Handler, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, and the Workaholics cast. The news comes two months after Netflix agreed to also stream certain video podcasts from Spotify.

There’s some troubling news in the jobs department, as the U.S. payrolls rose by only 64,000 after a sharp drop in October. Revised data showed payrolls fell by 105,000 in October, confirming a recent weakening in the labor market. Additionally, unemployment climbed to 4.6%, its highest level in four years, while broader underemployment also increased.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola is returning once again for its sixth edition, promising fans worldwide a chance to see the original World Cup trophy ahead of next summer’s tournament. The tour begins Jan. 3 in Riyadh and will visit 30 countries across 75 stops over more than 150 days. Visiting countries spans all three 2026 host nations and future World Cup and Women’s World Cup host states, including Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Brazil.

Meta is testing an Instagram for TV app in the U.S. on Amazon Fire TV devices, allowing users to watch Reels on larger screens. The app organizes short-form videos into interest-based channels such as sports, music, and travel, and supports up to five linked Instagram accounts per TV profile. Meta says it will apply broader content standards, limiting recommendations of sensitive content to its younger audiences.

Snoop Dogg will headline the Netflix Christmas Day halftime show during the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings game, the streamer confirmed Tuesday. Called Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party, the performance will air from U.S. Bank Stadium and feature his music, some holiday songs, and a few special guests. In addition to Lions-Vikings, Netflix will also stream the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders on Christmas Day.

Donna Summer was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday, celebrating her often-overlooked impact as a songwriter. She wrote or co-wrote nine of her 14 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including classics like “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” and “She Works Hard for the Money.” Overall, she had a hand in writing 18 of her 32 Hot 100 hits.

Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo are reuniting for the feature film Heist of Benin, a contemporary London-set thriller centered on art, love, and restitution, with Oyelowo starring and DuVernay directing. The project continues their long-running collaboration, which includes Selma, where Oyelowo portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and A Wrinkle in Time.

PayPal has applied to form a U.S. bank, seeking approval to create a Utah-chartered industrial loan company. If approved, the move would strengthen PayPal’s small-business lending and allow it to offer interest-bearing savings accounts, expanding its consumer finance products. The proposed PayPal Bank would be led by Mara McNeill, a former executive at Toyota’s financing arm.

James Cameron has officially become a billionaire, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $1.1 billion ahead of the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash on Friday. His films have earned nearly $9 billion worldwide, making him one of only a few filmmakers to reach billionaire status. Forbes estimates Cameron could earn at least $200 million more from the new Avatar film if it meets box office expectations.

FIFA has introduced $60 “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets for loyal fans of national teams, following criticism over high prices, including $4,185 for the World Cup final. These discounted tickets will be allocated by each country’s federation to fans who have supported their teams at past matches. The lower-priced seats will be limited in number, likely in the hundreds per game, while standard group-stage tickets range from $120 to $265.

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