It’s the feature creators have wanted for years and now the biggest distributor of podcasts is coming to the party.
Apple has announced what could be one of the most significant shifts in podcasting since the medium went mainstream – bringing advanced video podcasting capabilities directly into Apple Podcasts.
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The update, rolling out in the coming months, will introduce support for video podcasts powered by Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology – the same streaming standard used across much of Apple’s ecosystem.
And this isn’t just about adding video to an app.
It’s about control, monetisation, and the future direction of podcasting itself.
What Apple is changing
According to Apple, users will be able to:
- Seamlessly switch between watching and listening within the app
- Rotate into horizontal full-screen viewing
- Download video episodes for offline viewing
- Benefit from automatic quality adjustment depending on network conditions
- Discover video content through existing recommendation and editorial systems
In short, Apple is treating video podcasts as a first-class citizen – not an add-on.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, described the move as a “defining milestone” in Apple’s podcasting journey.
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And from an industry perspective – he’s not wrong.
The monetisation play
This is where it gets serious.
Apple is enabling:
- Dynamic video ad insertion
- Host-read ads within video streams
- Access to broader video advertising markets
Importantly, creators retain control over their content and monetisation.
Apple will not charge creators or hosting providers to distribute via HLS video — but it will charge participating ad networks an impression-based fee for delivering dynamic ads on Apple Podcasts later this year.
Launch partners include:
- Acast
- ART19
- SiriusXM (including AdsWizz and Simplecast)
- Triton Digital
This is Apple signalling that video podcasting is no longer experimental — it’s commercial infrastructure.
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Why this matters
For years, video podcasting has largely lived on platforms like YouTube.
Apple moving into full HLS video support inside its native podcast app changes the ecosystem.
It means:
- Major brands will take video podcasts more seriously
- Advertisers will follow
- Creators who haven’t adapted may fall behind
Video isn’t replacing audio — but it is expanding the opportunity.
We’re seeing convergence between traditional broadcasting, streaming, and podcasting.
And if Apple is investing at this level, it’s a clear message about where audience behaviour is heading.
The opportunity for creators
This is where things get practical.
Many podcasters know they should be doing video — but don’t know how to do it professionally without building a full studio.
That’s why I’ve launched videopodcast.online – a service designed to make high-quality remote video podcast production simple.
Using professional switching, broadcast graphics, and television-level production techniques, podcasters can record from anywhere in the world and deliver a product ready for platforms like Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and beyond.
With Apple now formally embracing video inside its ecosystem, the barrier to entry isn’t technology anymore — it’s execution.
And that’s where smart production matters.
A special digital edition of 7NEWS Spotlight was shot using the technology of videopodcast.online
Right now, I am offering a full video record session for just $80 per hour for individual podcasters.
Prices usually begin at $250.
I’m doing this to help creators get into video podcasting, which I believe is the future.
The bigger picture
Apple Podcasts is available in more than 170 countries and regions, with over 125 million episodes offering transcripts and advanced playback features.
Video support is currently available in beta across iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4, with a broader rollout coming this spring across iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and the web.
This isn’t a minor feature tweak.
It’s a structural shift in how podcasts will be consumed, monetised, and discovered.
And for creators willing to adapt – it may be the biggest growth opportunity the industry has seen in years.
If you’re a podcaster still thinking video is optional… Apple just told you otherwise.
Go to videopodcast.online to make the move to video
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