Using HLS technology, Apple Podcasts will let creators monetize video and users switch between watching and listening — coming this spring.

Apple has announced a major overhaul of Apple Podcasts, bringing native video support to the platform for the first time. The update, arriving this spring, uses Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology to enable a full video podcast experience across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.

Users will be able to switch seamlessly between watching and listening within the app, expand to full horizontal display, and download video episodes for offline viewing. Adaptive quality adjustment ensures smooth playback whether on Wi-Fi or cellular, and video episodes will surface through the same personalized recommendations and editorial curation already built into Apple Podcasts.

Creator control and monetization

The bigger story may be on the creator side. Apple says podcast creators will maintain full control over their content and monetization, distributing through participating hosting providers rather than through Apple directly. Launch partners include Acast, ART19 (an Amazon company), Triton's Omny Studio, and SiriusXM — which encompasses SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast.

For the first time, creators can dynamically insert video ads, including host-read spots, opening access to the broader video advertising market. Apple will not charge hosting providers or creators for distribution, but will levy an impression-based fee on participating ad networks for dynamic ad delivery later this year.

Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Services, framed it as a landmark moment: "Twenty years ago, Apple helped take podcasting mainstream by adding podcasts to iTunes. Today marks a defining milestone in that journey."

What's available now

HLS video is available today in beta across iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4. The full rollout to iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and the web is expected this spring. Apple Podcasts is currently available in over 170 countries and regions, with more than 125 million episodes offering transcripts in 13 languages.

source: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/