Spotify moves into video and podcasts with major media partnerships

Short-form videos and podcasts sourced from BBC, ESPN and Comedy Central
Service will be launched in US, UK, Germany and Sweden

Spotify moved to expand its service beyond music on Wednesday, announcing video content deals several major media conglomerates, including Comedy Central, ESPN, Adult Swim, BBC and NBC.

The video content will be short-form and many of the producers will also distribute podcasts over the service. The new Spotify debuts today in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden and will expand further.

At a press conference in New York, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, said the company also had deals with Odd Future’s Tyler, the Creator, Vice and Nerdist.
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Another feature of Spotify’s new version will be “tempo detection”, which the company said will use the phone’s movement sensors to locate a track that will keep pace with a user’s feet when he or she is working out. The workout functionality will be part of the company’s newly announced partnership with Nike.

Abby Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, stars of the Comedy Central hit Broad City, were part of the presentation. “You guys need to calm down,” Glaser told the sedate audience of tech reporters. “I can’t even hear myself.”