Apple Brings HLS Video Podcasts and Dynamic Ads to Apple Podcasts

Apple is bringing support for HLS video podcasts to Apple Podcasts this spring, marking a major upgrade to how video shows are streamed and monetized on the platform. The change uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) to improve playback reliability while enabling new dynamic ad insertion tools for creators.



Inside the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch seamlessly between watching and listening to shows without losing their place. Video can be viewed directly in the app with support for horizontal full-screen playback, and episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing. Because the experience is powered by HLS, stream quality automatically adjusts to network conditions, helping ensure smooth playback on both Wi-Fi and cellular connections.


Video episodes will integrate across the app alongside audio content, appearing in personalized recommendations, the New tab, and Category pages. Apple says this allows video podcasts to benefit from the same discovery features as traditional audio shows.

For creators, HLS video introduces dynamic ad insertion for the first time in Apple Podcasts video. Creators distribute through participating hosting providers and ad networks while maintaining control over their content and monetization. Launch partners include Acast; ART19, an Amazon company; Triton's Omny Studio; and SiriusXM, including SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast. Apple does not charge hosting providers or creators to distribute podcasts on the platform, whether via traditional RSS/MP3 feeds or HLS video. However, the company will begin charging participating ad networks an impression-based fee for dynamic ads delivered in HLS video later this year.

The addition builds on recent improvements to Apple Podcasts and follows a strong year for Apple's Services division, which recently hit record revenue highs. It also expands on usability enhancements introduced in iOS 26.2, including automatically generated chapters.

Support for HLS video podcasts is available starting today for testing in the beta versions of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4. The new video experience will roll out to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro users, as well as Apple Podcasts on the web, later this spring.