Apple is introducing native video playback to Apple Podcasts with iOS 26.4, powered by HTTP Live Streaming technology. The update delivers a more seamless way to watch and listen to podcasts, while also expanding monetization tools for creators.
This enhanced video podcast experience in iOS 26.4 allows users to switch between audio and video within the same episode without interrupting playback. Built on HLS, the system automatically adjusts quality based on network conditions, ensuring smooth streaming over WiFi and cellular connections.
Listeners can rotate their iPhone or iPad for a full horizontal viewing mode and download video podcasts for offline playback. Video episodes integrate directly into existing shows, meaning followers and downloads remain unaffected. Recommendations, editorial curation in the New tab, and category browsing all support video content natively inside Apple Podcasts.
Although Apple Podcasts previously supported video through RSS feeds, iOS 26.4 introduces a dedicated HLS based infrastructure optimized for modern video delivery. The feature is currently available in the developer beta of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4, with a public release expected this spring. Apple has also confirmed that video podcasts will be supported on the web version of the platform.
For creators, the enhanced video podcast experience in iOS 26.4 unlocks dynamic video ad insertion for the first time. Publishers can distribute HLS video through participating hosting providers and ad networks while retaining full control over their content and revenue strategies.
Launch partners supporting HLS video include Acast, ART19, Triton Digital, and SiriusXM. Creators can dynamically insert video ads, including host read placements, without disrupting subscribers or existing downloads.
Apple does not charge creators or hosting providers to distribute podcasts via RSS or HLS video. However, it will introduce a standard impression based fee for participating ad networks delivering dynamic ads in HLS video later this year.
Available in more than 170 countries and regions, Apple Podcasts already supports millions of shows across hundreds of categories, along with transcripts, adjustable playback speeds from 0.5x to 3x, chapters, and premium subscriptions. With iOS 26.4, Apple is positioning video as a core part of the Apple Podcasts experience rather than an optional add on.
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