Articles on: Apple HLS Video Podcasts

Apple Podcasts HLS Frequently Asked Questions

Apple HLS allows you to publish video podcasts directly to Apple Podcasts, so your followers can choose to switch between the video and audio version of your episodes seamlessly. Questions about Apple Podcasts HLS? We’ve got you covered!

What is HLS?

HLS is the video delivery method originally created by Apple way back in 2005, when it was still iTunes. Instead of delivering one large video file, HLS breaks it into smaller segments, and pulls a segment at a time. It continues to pull these smaller segments until the video is either complete, or the viewer stops watching.

Why is Apple using HLS and not video playback like YouTube or similar?

The main benefit is video plays faster, since it’s only pulling segments as they’re watched, and the video quality can adapt based on the viewer’s internet or mobile data connection. So, if you’re in an area where connection is bad, the playback quality can drop from something like 720p to 360p resolution (or even lower), ensuring continued playback until a stronger connection is restored.

Does Apple host the videos, then?

No, Captivate hosts and publishes the video file - you upload the video file to your content library and publish from there, or upload directly when creating a new episode.

Is the video published to my RSS feed?

No - HLS is via an API call between Apple and Captivate, so the video is sent directly to Apple from us. The audio in your RSS feed for that episode is either pulled from the video version for Apple, or you can add a separate audio version of the episode for your RSS feed and that will be sent to Spotify, Pocket Casts, etc, instead of the Apple video audio.

Can I have different versions of the same episode on Apple Podcasts, with the video maybe being shorter than the audio?

No - to use Apple HLS, the video and audio version needs to be the same, to allow for seamless switching between the formats. This is why Apple uses the audio from the video you upload, to ensure listeners/viewers can continue from the same point of the episode when switching between formats.

What about ads - can I still have the ads from my audio show in my video?

Yes, but they also need to be the same, so you’d add your ads to your video and then upload that to Captivate, and publish it to Apple.

I use Apple Subscriptions to offer premium content for my paying subscribers on Apple - can I offer the same content via HLS?

Not at the moment - Apple Subscriptions is currently just for audio-only content.

What resolution can I publish video podcasts in?

By default, Captivate processes your videos at a resolution of 720p to help you manage bandwidth costs. You can upload to Captivate in higher quality, but for optimization on Apple Podcasts, the published file will be processed at 720p. We also transcode it to 480p and 240p, so these versions can be accessed should a viewer’s internet / cellular connection drop. If you’d like to publish at 1080p, contact our support team via the little chat icon at the bottom right of your dashboard.

How do I get started with HLS video?

You just need to connect your Apple Podcasts Connect account to Captivate, using your Apple API keys - more info on that here. From there, you can enable the video podcast add-on.

Is this part of my existing Captivate plan?

No - due to the increased storage and bandwidth required, Apple HLS Video podcasting is an add-on, with a flat monthly fee per video podcast, and usage costs based on bandwidth used (length of video, file size, and the amount of additional “streams” via video plays on Apple Podcasts).

What happens if one of my videos goes viral and I get a massive spike?

With Captivate, the first 1,000 HLS downloads are included in the monthly fee. After that, costs are based on bandwidth usage - so, if you get a massive spike with a viral video, you’ll be charged by the extra downloads. To help negate how much that is, you can set a usage safeguard and we’ll then email you when you reach 50% and then 90% of that amount.

Can I switch Apple HLS off if I want to just offer audio-only down the line?

Yes, you can disable HLS - any episodes with video previously will now be audio-only, and the video files uploaded to Captivate will be removed from our servers after 30 days. Any video bandwidth costs accrued up to that point will still be chargeable on your next invoice.

How do analytics work for Apple HLS?

Currently video analytics are combined with your audio analytics as part of your overall Apple Podcasts analytics.

Updated on: 05/05/2026

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