Apple Podcasts HLS Video Arrives, WARC on World Cup Advertising, & More

Today in the business of podcasting:

• Apple Podcasts Video Launch: Apple released iOS 18.4 with HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) support for Apple Podcasts video, with 48 podcasts available at launch including 31 hosted on Acast, though macOS and Apple TV support is not yet available.
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Podcast Advertising Opportunity: With $10.5 billion in incremental global ad spend forecast during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter, brands are expanding beyond live match broadcasts into companion media like sports podcasts, creating a major growth opportunity for podcast advertising revenue.
• Audio Advertising Spend Gap Study: Audion and WPP Media released a French-market study revealing that audio accounts for 34% of media consumption time but only 6% of advertising revenue, highlighting a significant audio advertising spend gap similar to trends seen in the U.S. market.

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.