Spotify has launched a new feature that allows non-hosted podcasters to upload videos to the platform.
Previously, creators had to register on the Spotify for Podcasters site before uploading video podcasts. Now, any creator can publish content from the podcast hosting service of their choice. They can also separate their videos from the audio, although this is not ideal because the content is uploaded in two episodes.
Spotify has focused more on video podcasts in recent years. The company released select video podcasts in 2020, and then expanded the feature in 2022 to allow all creators in Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K. to upload video content.
“Video is becoming more core to the Spotify experience, and we’re seeing more shows around the world utilizing the format to deepen their engagement and presence with their fans,” a company spokesperson tells Media in Canada. “There are now more than 250,000 video podcast shows on Spotify, and the number of creators actively publishing video each month has grown nearly 70% year-over-year.”
Spotify says one of the reasons the company has done well with the video format is because audiences enjoy having the option of watching or listening to their favourite content.
According to its data, more than 170M global users have watched a video podcast on Spotify, and more than 70% of users consuming video podcasts watch them in the foreground.
Given its popularity, the company has been seeking to improve the video experience with different updates. Earlier this year, it introduced the Desktop Miniplayer feature, which allows Premium listeners to enjoy video podcasts while using other windows. It has also added the ability for users to easily and directly share a video podcast on Instagram from Spotify.