We break down Apple’s video podcast rollout, why HLS matters for reliability, and what ad skipping really looks like. Then Supercast’s CEO shares how subscriptions scale, followed by a compelling case for narrative audio over flat studio video.

• HLS architecture with separate audio rendition and why the mix must be broadcast‑ready
• What Apple will and won’t enforce on ad skipping and why shorter breaks retain better
• Frame rates, resolutions, and a nod to Vision Pro and immersive options
• Why only a minority can ship video at launch and why YouTube still wins discovery
• Subscription strategy from Supercast: pricing, tiers, AMAs, and creator ownership
• The cost and workflow tradeoffs of video versus the reach and focus of audio
• Narrative podcast strengths: imagination, intimacy, pacing, and sound design
• Platform politics: rankers, missing video data, and measurement gaps
• Events and industry moves that shape the next quarter

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Apple turns on HLS video in Apple Podcasts and rewrites the business rules while keeping files with hosts. We unpack the listener experience, creator workflows, dynamic ads, costs, open standards, and what Spotify and YouTube might do next, with insights from Justin Jackson.

• HLS explained and why it matters for control
• What listeners get on iOS and when it ships
• MP4 feeds versus HLS delivery trade-offs
• Supported hosts at launch and why ad-tech drives it
• Delivery metrics vs true attribution for advertisers
• Apple’s per-ad tech fee and billing model
• Rising CDN request costs and host pricing changes
• Audio switching, manifests, and separate audio renders
• Alternate enclosure for wider app distribution
• Tags that should be next: person, location, live
• Industry reactions from publishers and ad leaders
• Live video, platforms, and monetisation experiments

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(This audio contains a fix for part of Tony's audio)

(These show notes are using Buzzsprout's CoHost tool. Buzzsprout are our sponsor and very good at podcast hosting and all that.)

We dig into YouTube’s rare revenue reveal, Spotify’s mixed ad picture, and why premium is rising fast. Tony Doe joins live from Lagos to unpack Nigeria’s podcast boom and what creators can learn.

• Captivate hires Rob Walsh and Elsie Escobar for monetisation and creator community
• YouTube discloses $60bn revenue and 1.7tn hours watched with strong subscription mix
• Spotify hits 750m MAUs and 290m subs while podcast ad sales dip
• Supercast acquired by Red Seat Ventures and premium models accelerate
• Acast ad revenue grows and ARPL rises despite prior losses
• Nigeria’s podcast index, formats, languages, and monetisation paths
• Apple’s ranking “fairness” pledge and BBC’s new tech show
• Transcripts as a standard, AI assistants, and discovery tools

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