Spotify doubles up on video podcasts with Markiplier, Drew Afualo deals (Exclusive)

Spotify‘s latest video podcast deal is with none other than Markiplier.

The agreement will bring video versions of his podcasts Distractible (co-hosted with longtime friends and fellow content creators Wade Barnes and Bob Muysken) and Go! My Favorite Sports Team (co-hosted with longtime friend and fellow content creator Tyler Scheid

) exclusively to Spotify.

“I’m positively chuffed to bring video episodes of Distractible and Go! My Favorite Sports Team for the first time ever exclusively to Spotify,” Markiplier said onstage at Spotify’s 2023 Stream On event in Los Angeles.

He added, “While we love the audio world and still aim to bring you the very best in auditory experiences, by bringing our faces into the mix we aim to give you an as yet unseen dimension to your listening experience.”

This deal won’t pull Distractible and Go! My Favorite Sports Team down from other listening platforms: audio versions of both shows will “remain widely available,” Spotify says. The agreement strictly covers video versions of episodes, plus “additional exclusive video content” from Markiplier.

Spotify announced the deal with high praise for both shows, noting that Distractible has been “widely popular” on its platform, having reached the No. 1 spot in Spotify’s podcast charts when it debuted back in May 2021. As for Go! My Favorite Sports Team, Spotify says the irreverent series has developed a “rabid fanbase.”

Of course, we’d be remiss not to note that both shows reached No. 1 spots recently across Spotify and other podcast platforms thanks to Markiplier’s OnlyFans challenge, where he agreed to launch a “tasteful nudes” account if people listened to the podcasts and watched Markiplier from North Korea, his documentary about his mother.

“Both fans and creators are gravitating towards video content on Spotify, driving heightened consumption on the platform,” Julie McNamara, Spotify’s VP Head of Global Podcast Studios, said in a statement. “As we continue to expand our offering with video podcasts, we are delighted to welcome the team behind Distractible and Go! My Favorite Sports Team along with their dedicated community of fans around the world.”

Video episodes for both shows are available on Spotify starting today, March 8. You can see trailers for the video versions embedded within this story.

In addition to acquiring video episodes of Distractible and Go! My Favorite Sports Team, Spotify has also signed a deal to bring TikToker Drew Afualo‘s comedy/advice podcast The Comment Section exclusively to its platform.

“I am so excited to move over to Spotify for so many reasons, but one of the main ones would be it is by far my favorite streaming platform,” Afualo said in a statement. “I have used it for so many years, and to have them be interested in partnering with me is such an honor. I truly feel like Spotify sees my vision & understands where I want to go with The Comment Section, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!”

The Comment Section moves to Spotify April 5.

And last but not least, Spotify announced it’s producing a second, video-exclusive season of Julia Fox and Niki Takesh‘s Forbidden Fruits, the podcast about “the current intersection of pop culture, sex, and stigma.”

“We have some amazing guests lined up for our listeners. It’ll never be a dull moment over here,” Fox said in a statement.

“Video is a whole added layer, because now we actually have to get dressed. But we’re excited for the lewks!” Takesh added.

Forbidden Fruits‘ second season debuts March 17.