Video Podcast Playbook 2026: Netflix, Apple and Spotify
Netflix licenses video podcasts, Apple adds HLS video with video ads, Spotify lowers its bar. What changed and a 9-step playbook for your show.
In 2026, a video podcast has four big homes: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and, for a few shows, Netflix. The playbook for most shows is to record every episode on video, publish the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, use a host that also delivers video to Apple Podcasts, and cut short clips for Shorts, Reels and TikTok to bring new listeners in. Three moves in the past nine months changed the picture. Netflix started licensing and commissioning video podcasts. Apple announced HLS video for Apple Podcasts with dynamic video ads (Apple Newsroom). And Spotify lowered the bar to earn from video in its Partner Program (Spotify Newsroom).
What changed: the timeline
| Date | Move |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2025 | YouTube reports more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content, and over 400 million hours of podcasts watched monthly on living room devices (YouTube Official Blog). |
| October 14, 2025 | Spotify and Netflix announce that video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer will come to Netflix in early 2026, starting in the US (Spotify Newsroom). |
| December 16, 2025 | Netflix signs a deal with iHeartMedia for video versions of shows such as The Breakfast Club and My Favorite Murder. iHeartMedia keeps the audio rights (TechCrunch). |
| January 7, 2026 | Spotify cuts its Partner Program thresholds (details below) (Spotify Newsroom). |
| January 2026 | Netflix launches its first original video podcasts, with Michael Irvin and Pete Davidson (TechCrunch). |
| February 16, 2026 | Apple announces HLS video for Apple Podcasts, including dynamic video ads, rolling out in spring with iOS 26.4 (Apple Newsroom). |
| May 14, 2026 | Spotify says Spotify for Creators and Megaphone will support Apple's HLS video "starting this year", and more hosts can send video to Spotify (Spotify for Creators). |
| May 27, 2026 | Jay Shetty's On Purpose is announced for video on Spotify and Netflix, with Netflix episodes from July 13, 2026 (Spotify Newsroom). |
Netflix: big, but invitation-only
Netflix's podcast slate so far comes from deals with networks and big personalities: Spotify Studios and The Ringer, iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports, plus its own originals (TechCrunch). We found no open submission route for independent shows.
Two things are worth copying anyway:
- Video is being valued separately from audio. In the iHeartMedia deal, Netflix took video rights while iHeartMedia kept audio. TechCrunch noted that these shows no longer get video versions on YouTube, which means giving up YouTube ad revenue and reach. If a platform ever offers you exclusive video money, weigh it against that.
- Clips are coming to Netflix too. Netflix is building vertical, swipeable clip feeds into its app and plans to include clips from video podcasts (TechCrunch). Short clips are becoming the trailer for long episodes.
Apple Podcasts: video through your host
Apple's February 2026 update uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), so video quality adjusts to the viewer's connection. Listeners can switch between watching and listening, and download videos to watch offline. For the first time, creators can dynamically insert video ads, including host-read spots. Apple plans to charge ad networks an impression-based fee later in 2026, and it doesn't charge creators or hosting providers to distribute podcasts (Apple Newsroom).
At launch, HLS video came through Acast, ART19, Triton's Omny Studio and SiriusXM's platforms (including Simplecast and AdsWizz). In practice that means your hosting provider decides whether your video reaches Apple Podcasts. Ask yours about HLS video support.
Spotify: easier to earn from video
On January 7, 2026, Spotify lowered its Partner Program requirements (Spotify Newsroom):
| Requirement | Before | From January 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | 2,000 listeners | 1,000 engaged audience members (last 30 days) |
| Consumption | 10,000 hours | 2,000 hours (last 30 days) |
| Episodes | 12 published | 3 published |
In May 2026 Spotify added that Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans and Podspace can now deliver video to Spotify, and that it will support monetization for video on Apple Podcasts too (Spotify for Creators).
The 2026 video podcast playbook
- Record every episode on video, even if audio is still your biggest audience. Two cameras (one per host) plus a wide shot gives you options for both the full episode and vertical clips.
- Choose a host that delivers video to Spotify and Apple. Check HLS support for Apple and video delivery to Spotify before you commit. Switching later is painful.
- Publish the full episode on YouTube. YouTube reports more than a billion monthly podcast viewers and hundreds of millions of hours watched on TV screens each month. Add chapters so viewers can jump around; see how to add YouTube timestamps and chapters.
- Keep the audio feed healthy. Many listeners still just listen, and Apple's player lets them switch between video and audio on the same episode.
- Cut 5 to 10 clips per episode for Shorts, Reels and TikTok. Pick moments that stand alone: a strong opinion, a story, a useful tip. Our guide to podcast clips for TikTok and Instagram covers the format. Exemplary AI (our product) can suggest clips from a full episode, reframe them to vertical around the person speaking, and add captions with the AI podcast clips generator.
- Publish a transcript and show notes. They help search and accessibility on every platform. Use our podcast show notes template, and see why show notes help SEO.
- Check Spotify Partner Program eligibility once you're over 1,000 engaged listeners in a month, if you're in a supported market.
- Plan video ads. If you sell sponsorships, dynamic video ads on Apple and video monetization on Spotify mean host-read spots can now be sold for video too. Tell sponsors which platforms carry video.
- Measure each platform separately. YouTube, Spotify and Apple count audiences differently, so compare trends within each platform instead of adding them up.
For more ways to reuse each episode, see how to repurpose podcast content.
FAQ
Should my podcast be on video in 2026?
If you can record it, yes. YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts now all support video podcasts, and short clips give people on social apps a way to find the full episode.
Can I put my podcast on Netflix?
Not directly. Netflix's video podcasts come from licensing deals with networks and personalities, such as Spotify Studios, The Ringer, iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports, plus its own originals. We found no public submission route.
How do I get my video podcast on Apple Podcasts?
Through a hosting provider that supports Apple's HLS video. At launch that included Acast, ART19, Omny Studio and SiriusXM's platforms, including Simplecast. Spotify said its own Spotify for Creators and Megaphone will support it too.
What are the Spotify Partner Program requirements?
Since January 7, 2026: 1,000 engaged audience members and 2,000 hours consumed in the last 30 days, and at least 3 published episodes, in markets where the program is available.
How many clips should I cut per episode?
Enough to post consistently until the next episode. Five to ten is a practical range for a weekly show. Choose clips that make sense without the full episode.
