Apple is reportedly funding podcasts that it could one day turn into TV shows

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Apple is said to have signed a deal with Futuro Studios to help fund the development and production of future shows. Apple gets first refusal on the rights to turn any resulting podcasts into a film or TV show. The Shrink Next Door and WeCrashed were both produced for television.

At a time when streaming services are more desperate than ever for original content, long-form podcasts are a rich source of inspiration. The Dropout and Wind of Change were both based on an ABC News podcasts.

At Will Media, Campside Media, The Line, and Pineapple Street Studios are just a few of the studios that have been announced by Apple recently.

The Apple TV division has been in charge of Apple's podcasting deals while the actual unit has avoided investing in specific titles so as to appear as a neutral platform. Apple and Futuro didn't respond to requests for comment after the report was published.

Despite rolling out support for podcasts last year, Apple's existing audio releases suggest that its priorities are not about making money on its shows directly. It appears that they are being used to benefit other parts of its business, either as a source for future TV and film adaptations or as promotional tie-ins.

The Joe Rogan Experience is a show that is exclusive to the platform of the competitor that invested in it. My Favorite Murder and How I Built This involve exclusive windows.