In a long-anticipated move, Apple has finally introduced video support to its Podcasts app, marking a significant evolution for the platform that popularized podcasting two decades ago.
Announced on February 17, 2026, this update allows creators to deliver seamless audio and video experiences in a single feed, complete with dynamic ad insertion, offline downloads, and advanced analytics — features designed to help Apple catch up to video-dominant competitors like YouTube and Spotify.
For years, Apple steadfastly clung to the audio-only format that defined podcasts since their integration into iTunes in 2005 and the launch of the dedicated Podcasts app in 2012. However, as video podcasts surged in popularity on platforms like Spotify (which added video in 2020) and YouTube (with its robust video ecosystem), Apple recognized the need to adapt.
The new video experience, rolling out this spring, leverages Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology to enable effortless switching between watching and listening, full horizontal display, and automatic quality adjustments for varying network conditions.
Enhanced Features for Listeners
Listeners will enjoy a more immersive experience across Apple's ecosystem, available in over 170 countries and on devices including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro, and the web.
Video episodes integrate seamlessly with existing tools like personalized recommendations, editorial curation, Enhance Dialogue mode for clearer voices, variable playback speeds, auto-generated chapters, timed links, and transcripts in 13 languages. Premium subscriptions continue to offer ad-free listening and exclusive content, now enhanced with video options.
Offline downloading ensures users can access video podcasts without an internet connection, making it ideal for commutes or travel. This update positions Apple Podcasts as a one-stop hub for both audio enthusiasts and visual content consumers, potentially drawing audiences away from fragmented experiences on other platforms.
Empowering Creators with Control and Monetization
For creators, the shift to video opens new doors without disrupting established workflows. Video can be added to existing shows through participating hosting providers like Acast, ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM, ensuring no loss of followers or download counts.
Apple emphasizes creator control, charging no fees for hosting or distribution, unlike some competitors that take a cut.
Monetization gets a boost with dynamic video ad insertion, including host-read endorsements, allowing access to broader advertising markets. While Apple will implement an impression-based fee for participating ad networks later this year, creators retain full creative oversight and earnings from sponsorships.
Advanced analytics, akin to YouTube's, provide insights into viewer engagement, helping creators refine their content.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, highlighted the milestone: “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. Today marks a defining milestone in that journey.
By bringing a category-leading video experience to Apple Podcasts, we’re putting creators in full control of their content and how they build their businesses, while making it easier than ever for audiences to listen to or watch podcasts.”
Partners echoed this enthusiasm. Greg Glenday, CEO of Acast, called it “a defining moment — expanding what’s possible for creators, advertisers, and the medium as a whole.” Similarly, ART19’s CEO Geoff Mattei noted, “Video is the next chapter for podcasting,” praising the simplified distribution and flexible monetization.
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A New Era in the Podcasting Landscape
This update could reshape the podcasting industry by blending Apple's polished ecosystem with video's engaging format, challenging Spotify's video podcasts and YouTube's dominance in long-form content. Unlike those platforms, Apple's approach maintains an open ecosystem where creators control their audience, ads, and metrics without mandatory platform fees for core services. As video becomes integral to audio content, as noted by Triton Digital’s Sharon Taylor, this convergence enhances engagement while preserving podcasting's core appeal.
With no commission on ad revenue for creators, Apple is poised to attract a wave of video content, potentially revitalizing the medium and opening fresh monetization avenues. As the spring rollout approaches, podcasters and listeners alike have much to look forward to in this video-enhanced future.
