Spotify was announced on Thursday that it plans to adopt Apple’s HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) video technology, which Apple recently introduced in Apple Podcasts to enhance your video experience. The adoption means that shows hosted on Spotify will soon be able to distribute and monetize their video podcasts on Apple Podcasts, expanding the reach of creators without requiring changes to their existing setup.
By adopting HLS, Spotify listeners will be able to enjoy a consistently high-quality video experience regardless of their internet connection. As Apple explains, HLS technology automatically adjusts video quality in real-time based on network speed, whether users have fast Wi-Fi at home or rely on cellular data. This means that video podcasts will play smoothly with minimal interruptions, so there will be less buffering and fewer drops in video quality.
Spotify plans to roll out these HLS upgrades later this year, and has also announced even more ways for creators to earn, including direct sales and new partner integrations.
Additionally, Spotify makes it easy for podcast creators to distribute and monetize video content across platforms. The company announced that creators using hosting providers such as Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans and Podspace can now publish video podcasts directly to Spotify and earn revenue through the Spotify Partner Program. This is currently live, after being announced earlier this year.
As video continues to drive the growth of podcasting, Spotify’s continued improvements help creators reach and engage viewers who prefer visual content, further strengthening its position in the evolving podcast landscape.
In recent years, Spotify has doubled down on videos, following its initial launch of video podcasts in 2020. Earlier this year, the platform further expanded access for creators by lowering the requirements to monetize videos. As of November 2025, nearly half a million shows and over 390 million users have streamed a video podcast on Spotify.
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