Is Netflix getting into podcasts? Fifth Finds

Netflix is reportedly looking into video podcasts, with plans to feature popular creators from platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. This move signals a shift towards audio-visual storytelling beyond traditional streaming, tapping into the growing podcast audience. Whilst it’s still early days, it could open up fresh opportunities for both creators and brands.

Meanwhile, YouTube is continuing its push into living rooms. CEO Neal Mohan’s latest update reveals that YouTube TV and long-form content are driving record watch time on TV screens, reinforcing its position as a go-to entertainment platform. The update also highlights improvements to Creator Studio, aiming to help users grow and monetise their content more effectively. Link

Virtual Grand Theft Auto

Rockstar Games is in talks with Roblox and Fortnite creators, exploring ways to make Grand Theft Auto (GTA) a major player in the creator economy. While GTA has never been considered a brand-safe space, this shift could see the game become more brand-centric, opening up new opportunities for partnerships and in-game content.

As UGC continues to shape online spaces, Rockstar’s interest signals a potential evolution for GTA, blending its open-world gameplay with creator-driven experiences. It’s a move that could redefine how brands and creators engage with gaming communities. Link

3D NBA

The NBA is bringing basketball to Apple Vision Pro, launching an AR tabletop app that lets users view plays in 3D. While Vision Pro hasn’t seen huge sales, it’s interesting to see its capabilities being developed further for immersive sports experiences.

This follows the Australian Open’s recent unconventional streaming approach, which included a YouTube stream styled after Wii Sports. The move, designed to navigate broadcasting rights, sparked debate but highlighted the growing shift towards creative sports coverage.

ESPN took a similar route in 2023 with its Toy Story Funday Football, transforming an NFL game into an animated experience. As more leagues experiment with immersive tech, it raises the question of whether these innovations are the future of sports viewing or just clever workarounds. Link

Jo Malone on building a fragrance empire from scratch

Jo Malone C.B.E. turned a love for scent into a globally recognised British beauty brand, redefining the fragrance industry along the way. From blending perfumes in her kitchen to scaling a household name, her story is all about resilience, creativity and big-picture thinking. This episode explores how she built her brand, the challenges she overcame and what it takes to create something truly iconic. A must-listen for users interested in brand building, entrepreneurship and the power of passion. Link

Reddit reports huge ad revenue growth 

Reddit’s ad revenue surged by 50% in 2024, hitting $1.2 billion. The platform’s efforts to refine its ad offerings and enhance brand safety have made it increasingly appealing to advertisers. By strengthening its position in digital advertising, Reddit is showing that community-driven platforms can generate significant revenue. Link

Bonus

Curious about the career journeys that led us to where we are today?

Spoiler… it wasn’t always smooth sailing. From unexpected pivots to redundancies and freelance stints, our content series Fifth Foundations dives into the real career journeys behind our team at The Fifth.

Today, we hear from our Associate Creative Director Joel Newman about his unconventional path, from studying Creative Advertising to navigating the ever-changing world of social-first marketing. It’s a story of resilience, adaptability, and a fair bit of ‘accidental stumbling upwards’.

Fifth Foundations – our Associate Creative Director shares his career journey.

Want to receive weekly updates? Sign up to our mailing list here to have Fifth Finds delivered straight to your inbox!