Apple Podcasts is bringing upgraded video to its platform.
The longtime podcast platform is enhancing the video offering on its Apple Podcasts app starting this spring, amid the growing popularity of video podcasts.
YouTube is the most popular platform for video podcasts, but Netflix has begun bringing video podcasts to the streaming service and Spotify, which had already made a big push toward video, has also been ramping up its video efforts.
In the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch between watching and listening to shows, as is the case on Spotify, potentially setting them up as a more direct competitor Users can watch video from within the app and move to horizontal full display and download videos to watch offline.
At launch, Triton’s Omny Studio, SiriusXM, AdsWizz and Simplecast are partnering with Apple Podcasts on the upgraded video offering. This will also allow their creators to dynamically insert video ads as well as host-read spots.
“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 vp, services. “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.”
Upgraded video streaming, built on Apple’s iHTTP Live Streaming technology, is currently available for testing in beta and will come to iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro users and Apple Podcasts on the web this spring.