Spotify adds Apple HLS for video podcasts and creator monetization
Spotify is integrating Apple's HLS video technology to enhance the distribution and monetization of video podcasts for creators. This will allow shows hosted on Spotify to publish and generate revenue from video content on Apple Podcasts without production alterations, and it will deliver a more consistent viewing experience through adaptive streaming.
Key Takeaways
- Spotify will roll out HLS upgrades later this year for video podcasts.
- Apple Podcasts will support Spotify-hosted video shows for publishing and revenue generation without production changes.
- HLS adaptive streaming is intended to adjust video quality based on connection speed, reducing buffering and quality drops.
- Spotify already supports video podcast publishing through Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans, and Podspace.
- Spotify says nearly half a million shows and more than 390 million users have streamed a video podcast on its platform.
Why It Matters
This gives Spotify a cleaner path for distributing video podcasts across its own platform and Apple Podcasts while keeping creator workflows unchanged. It also ties playback quality directly to HLS adaptive streaming, which matters for mobile listeners on Wi‑Fi or cellular connections. The move sits alongside Spotify’s earlier expansion of monetization options, including lower requirements for creators and new partner integrations. Watch for the HLS rollout later this year and whether Spotify adds more direct sales or partner integrations after it ships.
Read full article at thebuzz24.com