Feb. 19, 2026
Video Podcasting: How Has Apple Changed the Game?
LIVE New Media Show Tonight, Weds, Feb 18, 2026
6:00 PM EST, 3:00 PM PST / 11:00 PM UK time (GMT)
Australia time, Feb 19
10:00 AM Sydney Melbourne (AEDT)
9:00 AM Brisbane (AEST)
7:00 AM Perth (AWST)
Video, APIs, RSS, and Monetization
Apple is back in video podcasting in a serious way. How will this update change the game for creators, hosting platforms, advertisers, and the future of open podcast distribution? In this 90-minute live episode of The New Media Show, Rob Greenlee, 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer and Chairperson, is joined by James Cridland, Editor of Podnews.net and a 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, to break down what Apple actually shipped, how it works technically, and what it means for video podcasting strategy in 2026.
This conversation is not hype and not a hit job. It is a clear, technical, creator-focused explanation of Apple’s new approach to video inside Apple Podcasts, including what improves the viewer experience, what fragments publishing workflows, and what creators should do next.
What Apple changed
Apple Podcasts is introducing an integrated video experience powered by HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) that lets audiences switch seamlessly between listening and watching, go full-screen in horizontal view, and download video for offline viewing across Apple devices and the web.
We discuss what this means for creators on other hosting platforms, how quickly Apple must expand its partner network to avoid market distortion, and how this could influence where creators host audio if Apple video becomes the expectation.
What you will learn in this episode
- How Apple’s HLS video differs from RSS MP4 enclosures in real-world creator workflows
- Why HLS segment-based delivery enables adaptive streaming and modern video ad insertion - What Apple’s limited launch partner list means for hosting competition and creator choice
(Podnews) - https://podnews.net/article/video-apple-podcasts-details
- How Apple Podcasts Connect API keys work, and what they do and do not grant to hosting providers (Apple Podcasts) - https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5593-how-to-publish-video
- How creators should decide between RSS video, Apple HLS video, and other platform video strategies in 2026 (The Verge)
What Apple should clarify so creators understand RSS video versus HLS video eligibility (Apple Podcasts)
Watch
https://newmediashow.com
Apple announcement
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/ (Apple)
Guest James Cridland
https://james.cridland.net/biography/ (https://Podnews.net)
Host Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
@RobGreenlee" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee
https://PodcastHall.com
6:00 PM EST, 3:00 PM PST / 11:00 PM UK time (GMT)
Australia time, Feb 19
10:00 AM Sydney Melbourne (AEDT)
9:00 AM Brisbane (AEST)
7:00 AM Perth (AWST)
Video, APIs, RSS, and Monetization
Apple is back in video podcasting in a serious way. How will this update change the game for creators, hosting platforms, advertisers, and the future of open podcast distribution? In this 90-minute live episode of The New Media Show, Rob Greenlee, 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer and Chairperson, is joined by James Cridland, Editor of Podnews.net and a 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, to break down what Apple actually shipped, how it works technically, and what it means for video podcasting strategy in 2026.
This conversation is not hype and not a hit job. It is a clear, technical, creator-focused explanation of Apple’s new approach to video inside Apple Podcasts, including what improves the viewer experience, what fragments publishing workflows, and what creators should do next.
What Apple changed
Apple Podcasts is introducing an integrated video experience powered by HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) that lets audiences switch seamlessly between listening and watching, go full-screen in horizontal view, and download video for offline viewing across Apple devices and the web.
We discuss what this means for creators on other hosting platforms, how quickly Apple must expand its partner network to avoid market distortion, and how this could influence where creators host audio if Apple video becomes the expectation.
What you will learn in this episode
- How Apple’s HLS video differs from RSS MP4 enclosures in real-world creator workflows
- Why HLS segment-based delivery enables adaptive streaming and modern video ad insertion - What Apple’s limited launch partner list means for hosting competition and creator choice
(Podnews) - https://podnews.net/article/video-apple-podcasts-details
- How Apple Podcasts Connect API keys work, and what they do and do not grant to hosting providers (Apple Podcasts) - https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5593-how-to-publish-video
- How creators should decide between RSS video, Apple HLS video, and other platform video strategies in 2026 (The Verge)
What Apple should clarify so creators understand RSS video versus HLS video eligibility (Apple Podcasts)
Watch
https://newmediashow.com
Apple announcement
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-introduces-a-new-video-podcast-experience-on-apple-podcasts/ (Apple)
Guest James Cridland
https://james.cridland.net/biography/ (https://Podnews.net)
Host Rob Greenlee
https://robgreenlee.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
@RobGreenlee" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
https://x.com/robgreenlee
https://PodcastHall.com