Spotify announced on Thursday that it would adopt Apple’s HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) technology for video podcasts, allowing Spotify-hosted programmes to be distributed and monetised on Apple Podcasts without requiring creators to alter their existing arrangements.
According to TechCrunch, the adoption of HLS technology is expected to improve video quality for listeners across varying internet connections. Apple said the technology automatically adjusts video playback quality in real time according to network speed, reducing buffering and sudden drops in picture quality on both Wi-Fi and mobile data connections.
Spotify stated that the HLS upgrades would be introduced later this year. The company also announced additional earning opportunities for creators, including direct sales and new partner integrations.
The platform said that podcast creators using hosting providers such as Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans and Podspace can now publish video podcasts directly on Spotify and earn revenue through the Spotify Partner Programme. The facility is already live following an earlier announcement this year.
Spotify has expanded its focus on video podcasts since launching the format in 2020. Earlier this year, the platform eased requirements for video monetisation to widen creator access. As of November 2025, nearly 500,000 programmes and more than 390 million users had streamed a video podcast on Spotify.
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