Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Apple just brought video to Apple Podcasts with seamless switching between audio and video, powered by HLS streaming and tight integrations with select hosting partners.
But beneath the shiny feature is a familiar Apple pattern: control the pipeline, sit in the middle of the money flow, and reshape the ecosystem on their terms.
In this clip from The Launch, Chris breaks down what’s really going on behind Apple’s video podcast push.
Why Apple isn’t actually hosting the video
How podcast hosts become the delivery network and ad engine
The closed API that limits who can participate
Why this only happened after years of slow innovation from podcast apps and hosts
And the big question: can any platform really compete with YouTube’s discovery machine?
We’re already experimenting with open video podcasting using RSS alternate enclosures, because the future shouldn’t require permission from Cupertino.
Watch to understand what Apple’s move really means for creators, hosting companies, and the open podcast ecosystem.
Apple just brought video to Apple Podcasts with seamless switching between audio and video, powered by HLS streaming and tight integrations with select hosting partners.
But beneath the shiny feature is a familiar Apple pattern: control the pipeline, sit in the middle of the money flow, and reshape the ecosystem on their terms.
In this clip from The Launch, Chris breaks down what’s really going on behind Apple’s video podcast push.
Why Apple isn’t actually hosting the video
How podcast hosts become the delivery network and ad engine
The closed API that limits who can participate
Why this only happened after years of slow innovation from podcast apps and hosts
And the big question: can any platform really compete with YouTube’s discovery machine?
We’re already experimenting with open video podcasting using RSS alternate enclosures, because the future shouldn’t require permission from Cupertino.
Watch to understand what Apple’s move really means for creators, hosting companies, and the open podcast ecosystem.
