Video podcasting has a money problem. Shooting, lighting and editing video takes more time and gear than audio, yet many creators still earn the same audio ad rates no matter how many people watch. Making video pay has been one of the biggest headaches in podcasting this year.
Apple Podcasts video monetization means earning ad revenue from people who watch a podcast, as well as those who listen, inside Apple's app, and it just became much easier to access. On November 6, 2026, AdsWizz, the audio ad technology company owned by SiriusXM, opened its video podcast monetization platform for Apple Podcasts to all publishers and creators after a trial with select publishers. Creators can now pair existing audio ads with branded companion banners for viewers.
For podcasters, this is practical news. Many shows already record video. This change means those viewers on Apple Podcasts can count toward ad revenue without anyone producing a separate video ad. It is one of several moves this month that show the industry racing to make video worth the effort.
What Did AdsWizz Launch for Apple Podcasts?
AdsWizz launched a way for creators to earn money from video podcast viewers on Apple Podcasts. According to the company, advertisers can extend their existing audio campaigns into video by pairing each audio ad with a branded companion banner that appears on screen. No new video ad production is required.
Podcasters using the platform get access to AdsWizz's network for advertiser demand, dynamic ad insertion and measurement. AdsWizz says analytics from Simplecast, its sister hosting company, show how audiences engage across audio and video. The company did not share pricing or revenue share details in its announcement.
AdsWizz says it powers one in four ads across the global open podcast ecosystem and has served more than 1.3 trillion impressions across streaming and podcasting over the past decade. Anne Frisbie, the company's group vice president of global supply, says the goal is to give advertisers one access point to premium podcast inventory that is easier to buy.
How Does Apple's Video Podcast Format Work?
Apple's newer video experience is built on HTTP Live Streaming, known as HLS, the same technology widely used for streaming video. As NewscastStudio reported in February 2026, the format lets listeners switch between watching and listening to the same episode, adjusts video quality automatically and supports offline viewing.
For creators, the bigger change is ads. HLS video brought dynamic ad insertion, including host-read placements, to Apple Podcasts video for the first time. Earlier, a show that offered both video and audio often needed two separate entries with separate stats. The new format keeps them together.
Apple named a group of launch partners, including Amazon's ART19, Triton's Omny Studio, Acast and SiriusXM with AdsWizz and Simplecast. Apple does not charge creators or hosts to distribute podcasts, but it said it would begin charging participating ad networks an impression-based fee for dynamic ads in HLS video later in 2026.
Why Do Companion Banners Matter?
Companion banners matter because they let one ad work for both listeners and viewers. A listener hears the audio spot as usual. A viewer hears the same spot and sees a branded banner on screen, which gives the advertiser a visual presence without a separate video shoot.
That makes video inventory easier to sell. Many podcast advertisers buy audio campaigns and do not have video assets ready. If a creator can only monetize video with video ads, a lot of viewers go unpaid. Banners close part of that gap.
It also helps smaller advertisers. Producing a polished video ad can be expensive, while a banner is a simple graphic. That lowers the barrier for local and niche brands that suit independent shows.
What Else Is Changing in Video Podcast Money?
AdsWizz is not the only company moving on video. On November 3, the video-first podcast host Flightcast launched a service that syndicates YouTube videos to Spotify for $100 a month. Creators connect their YouTube account, pick videos, playlists or a whole catalogue, and future uploads move to Spotify automatically with titles, descriptions, thumbnails and chapters adapted.
Flightcast pitches it as a way to earn on Spotify through the Spotify Partner Program, which pays eligible video creators a share of Premium subscription revenue. Flightcast CEO Rox Codes says YouTube creators have years of video that could have a second life on Spotify. The release does not list eligibility rules or payout figures.
Measurement is changing too. Podnews reported that Amazon will start counting a display ad impression only when the ad actually appears on screen, beginning January 1, 2027. Amazon expects advertisers to see about 63% fewer impressions on average, and Podnews noted that the move adds fuel to podcasting's long debate over downloads versus real plays.
Taken together, these moves point in one direction. Platforms want video, advertisers want proof that someone actually saw or heard the ad and creators want to be paid fairly for both. The details will keep changing, but the push toward measured, monetized video is clearly picking up speed.
Do Audiences Actually Want Video Podcasts?
Many do, but not all the time. Australia's PodPoll ‘26, shared by Podnews on November 4, found that Australians strongly prefer listening to podcasts, yet 72% switch between audio and video. That pattern suggests most shows need a plan for both formats rather than choosing one.
The switching habit is exactly what Apple's HLS format and companion banners are designed for. A listener might watch an episode at home and pick up the audio in the car, and the ad still reaches them in a form that suits the moment.
For creators, the point is to make the audio stand on its own. If your video relies on visuals that listeners cannot see, the audio version suffers. Describe what matters, avoid saying "as you can see" and make sure every segment works without a screen.
How Can Creators Get Ready for Apple Video Monetization?
Start by checking your host. Ask whether your hosting company supports Apple's HLS video and whether it works with AdsWizz or another ad network that can sell video inventory. If it does not, ask when it will, because support is still rolling out across the industry.
Next, set up your video and audio to share one feed where possible. Apple's format is designed to keep watching and listening under one show, with one set of followers and stats. That gives you a clearer view of your audience and a stronger number to share with sponsors.
Then think about the screen. Even with banners handled by the ad platform, leave visual room around your shots, keep lower thirds tidy and avoid on-screen clutter that could clash with ad elements. A clean frame looks more professional and leaves space for sponsors.
Finally, keep your audio standards high. Video podcasts are still judged by their sound. Clear dialogue, balanced levels and consistent loudness matter even more when viewers can see faces and notice when lips and audio drift apart. Our guide on recording pro audio wherever the story happens covers gear that works well on camera too.
It also helps to know your numbers before talking to sponsors. Track how many people watch versus listen, where they do it and how long they stay. Simplecast and other hosts are adding cross-format analytics, and that data makes a much stronger pitch than download counts alone.
What This Means for Producers and Creators
As a producer, I welcome anything that helps clients get paid for the work they already do. Many of the shows I edit record video, and until now that video often earned little beyond YouTube. Being able to attach existing audio ads to Apple viewers is a simple win.
I would still caution creators against chasing every new platform at once. Pick the places where your audience already watches, set up a clean workflow there and measure results before adding more. A $100 monthly tool or a new ad network only pays off if it fits how your show is made.
The production side matters too. When video and audio share one feed, the audio mix has to serve both. I mix so dialogue is clear on phone speakers, the music bed never fights the host and the edit stays tight enough for people watching on a screen.
What Comes Next for Video Podcast Monetization?
Apple, Spotify and YouTube all want to be the home of video podcasts, and each is building ways for creators to earn there. Expect more ad formats, more syndication tools and more debate over how to count a real view or listen. Creators who keep their content flexible will benefit most.
There are open questions. AdsWizz has not published pricing or revenue shares, Apple's impression fee structure has not been detailed and measurement changes like Amazon's could shift how campaigns are valued. Creators should ask for clear numbers before committing.
Through all of it, the basics still decide who succeeds. A great conversation, clean sound and a show people look forward to will earn more than any banner. Make it worth watching and worth hearing!