New Apple Podcasts HLS Hosts, Targeting Podcasting's Holdouts, & More

This week in the business of podcasting:

• Apple launched its new HLS video experience for Apple Podcasts with the iOS 26.4 update, bringing full video podcast support to iPhones — with hosting platforms Podspace, Riverside, Ausha, and Firstory joining the growing list of supported services.
• Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster debuts new research on podcasting's "last quarter" — the 25% of American adults who have never listened to a podcast — revealing a Spanish-language opportunity, a word-of-mouth "Bubble Problem," and a case for leading promotional efforts with topics over technology on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
• Spotify laid off 15 employees in its podcast group on March 23, primarily from The Ringer and Spotify Studios, with the company describing the cuts as an alignment move rather than cost-cutting.
• YouTube has rebranded its BrandConnect creator monetization tool as Creator Partnerships, adding a Gemini-powered suite of influencer matching and campaign management features.

To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.