even better, it's kind of like a "private alternate enclosure"

@js Yes. They've been very consistent lately with their support of the open way of doing things. Even when it was a totally thrown in cherry on top. It'll happen.

@js maybe I'm just turning cynical, but I have zero hope that Apple will adopt an open alternative here. It would be so easy to offer an alternative enclosure tag with an HLS link, but that's not the direction they went.

Spotify and YouTube are doing the same thing.

@js @dave if the HLS stream downloadable like any mp3? Does this allow saving the video file for archiving and offline playing?

If not, it should not be named podcast and not ve implemented in podcast apps.

@js @dave I’m inclined to believe Apple will never open up anything to anyone anymore. On the one hand, they’re hosting the videos so they can argue that’s to make the experience better.

On the other hand for each ad spot served they get services revenue which is their only growth. Don’t expect openness when it would reduce revenue.

@lutindiscret @js @dave HLS can be set to download/offline

@pl @js I don’t think it’s that simple. If the only thing that mattered to Apple was revenue, they would’ve never supported podcasting in the first place, since for most of its existence, Apple never made a dime off podcasting.

@lutindiscret @dave hls can be downloaded in general, but only apple podcasts will have access to the underlying hls url.

@dave @js I beg to differ.

Since iOS 14.5, Apple does essentially own the "RSS feed" in Apple Podcasts because they proxy the feed and serve only from their proxy. HLS video is now another thing they will host through their proxy.

Even their chapter support relies on MP3 chapters first and uses their proprietary "timed links" instead of the open standards of chapter links (legacy or P2.0).

I see Apple using open tech to build proprietary solutions.

@theDanielJLewis @dave @js This isn’t how any of this works.

@dave @js Apple basically released its podcasting apparatus in the last millennium. The company is fundamentally different in 2026. It has released premium gated podcasts that are thoroughly closed. It’s releasing this, which is thoroughly closed. It’s two things already. The vestigial organ has one mission: make us new services revenue.

@js @dave The business model means it won’t be open. You send Apple the m3u8 playlist (only) through the existing subscription API. That way, Apple knows who to bill for the dynamic ads, which they will charge for.

Without any mechanism of billing, I see it as unlikely that it will be open to self-hosting podcasters.