Apple on Monday announced a major update to Apple Podcasts, introducing an integrated video podcast experience this spring that allows seamless switching between audio and video in the same feed, supports picture-in-picture, offline downloads, full-screen horizontal viewing, and dynamic video ad insertion for creators.
The enhancement uses Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol for adaptive playback and better in-app controls. It positions Apple Podcasts to better compete with video-heavy platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix, amid rising video podcast consumption—about 37% of people over age 12 watch them monthly, per Edison Research.
Creators gain new monetization options through dynamic video ads (including host-read spots) via participating hosting providers and ad networks. Apple will not charge creators or hosts for distribution but will take an impression-based fee from ad networks for HLS-delivered ads, starting later this year.Launch partners include Acast, Amazon-owned ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM.
“Twenty years ago, Apple helped take podcasting mainstream by adding podcasts to iTunes, and more than a decade ago, we introduced the dedicated Apple Podcasts app,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services.
Previously, Apple Podcasts supported video via RSS since 2005, but audio and video versions remained separate feeds.
The feature is now available for testing in beta versions of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4, with a full rollout to iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and the web this spring.
The move aligns with industry trends: YouTube reported over 1 billion monthly active podcast viewers last year, Spotify has expanded video offerings (paying podcasters over $100 million in Q1 last year), and Netflix has entered the space with deals and originals like “The Pete Davidson Show.”
Apple does not disclose Apple Podcasts-specific revenue, but its broader Services segment generated $30 billion in the most recent quarter. In January, Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai, which focused on audio-related AI tools, though details remain undisclosed.