Apple Podcasts is getting an enhanced video experience this spring

Apple is gearing up to enhance its podcast platform with a new video feature set to debut in the spring. This innovative update will allow users to seamlessly switch between watching and listening to their favorite shows within the Apple Podcasts app. Utilizing the company’s advanced HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video technology, this enhancement aims to elevate the user experience. In addition to the ability to toggle between formats, users will also have the option to view podcasts in a horizontal layout and download videos for offline viewing. This strategic move comes as video podcasting continues to surge in popularity. According to recent findings from Edison Research, over half of the U.S. population has engaged with video podcasts, with 37% tuning in on a monthly basis. With this update, Apple is positioning itself to better compete against platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and even Netflix, which have already made significant strides in the video podcasting space. YouTube boasts over 1 billion monthly active users engaging with podcast content, while Spotify reported in November that it hosts around half a million video podcasts that have attracted nearly 400 million viewers. Meanwhile, Netflix has collaborated with iHeartMedia and Spotify to introduce video podcasts to its offerings. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, highlighted the significance of this transition: "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." While the official launch is set for spring, users can start testing the updated video experience this week through beta versions for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4.