The nation’s biggest audio content creation and distribution company has expanded its podcast platform to video, giving creators the ability to bring to consumers both viewable and listen-only opportunities across its on-demand podcast hub.
The changes come at iHeartMedia at some point in early 2026, and it brings creators the ability to distribute full-length video directly into iHeartRadio at no additional cost, in addition to their existing audio distribution.
“When this video feature launches, creators will be able to upload their podcast episodes, including full-length video versions, through their standard RSS feeds for seamless distribution in iHeartRadio,” the company said.
The benefit for creators? For iHeartMedia, the explanation is that they will retain control over their monetization, with no revenue share required to iHeart. “By offering this distribution for free, consistent with audio podcast distribution platforms to date, iHeart will offer creators the most cost-effective strategy for launching and expanding their podcasts — without compromising either their creative integrity or their financial autonomy,” publicly traded iHeartMedia said on Monday.
Furthermore, iHeart will not require creators to have their videos hosted and served from an iHeart-owned hosting provider in order to make video available on iHeart. “Just as they do in audio, creators can decide where they want their videos to be hosted and served,” the company confirmed.
Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia’s Chairman/CEO, noted, “While audio remains the backbone of the podcast medium, as well as its primary source of audience connection and the reason for the industry’s explosive growth, video podcasting is now emerging as a completely separate and incremental form to audio, in the same way that podcasting evolved as a new layer on top of broadcast radio. At iHeartMedia creators come first. Providing this new video distribution capability for free to our creators is an additional testament to our continuing focus on creators’ success, and is consistent with how and why the podcast industry was built to begin with.”
Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, added, “As content has become more popular and podcast creators have become true stars, we’ve seen a natural trend: Creative audio content is becoming more valuable to more platforms. This makes sense: When you have some of the best creators in the world, making some of their best content in podcasting, then that’s going to drive other content types too – like video. As the no. 1 podcast publisher, iHeart provides the scale, credibility and expertise required to navigate the complexities of the growing and evolving podcast landscape, and we’re fully committed to working with creators to help them grow and retain their audience, ensuring they reach the widest possible audience and maximize their financial performance – which now includes video. Because that’s what our creators want, deserve and should expect.”
