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Apple Podcasts HLS Video Arrives, WARC on World Cup Advertising, & More
Gavin Gaddis
March 26th, 2026
by Gavin Gaddis
On March 25, Apple launched iOS 26.4, which includes the new HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) upgrade to Apple Podcasts. iPhones will receive the update over the coming weeks, but Podnews offers a handy link to Apple’s guide for forcing an iOS update. On Mastodon, John Spurlock reports that 48 podcasts support it on launch day, with 31 hosted on Acast. Podnews reports that the Apple Podcasts web app now supports full video, but the macOS app and Apple TV do not yet support HLS video podcasts.
WARC has published a new report titled Global Ad Trends: FIFA World Cup 2026. Forecasts predict a $10.5 billion increase in global ad spend during the event’s quarter—a 1.1% incremental lift. By comparison, 2018’s World Cup saw a 2.8% increase. A notable evolution of World Cup advertising in recent years is advertisers shifting perspective away from live match broadcasts. WARC Media’s head of content, Alex Brownsell, tells Inside Audio Marketing that brands will engage fans across touchpoints before, during, and after matches. This shift beyond live matches offers audio a major opportunity. Marketers looking to companion media have a burgeoning world of sports podcasts to invest in, meaning podcasting could position itself as a key channel during this year’s World Cup.
Audio advertising platform Audion and WPP Media published Audio, le bon mix : de l’équilibre naît l’efficacité, analyzing how linear radio and digital audio maximize campaign reach, quality of contact, and memorability in France. Like the U.S., France has an audio spending gap. According to the study, 34% of media consumption time is spent with audio, yet audio only accounts for 6% of advertising revenue.
…as for the rest of the news:
Veritonic founder and CEO Scott Simonelli has a new piece detailing how Veritonic enabled a major streaming platform to target the right audiences for a new original drama series.
Podscribe has launched airchecks for run-of-network campaigns and a new integration with customer data platform Tealium. Users can now activate Podscribe’s official server-to-server (S2S) connector in the Tealium marketplace.
True Native Media has announced the addition of the Storybutton Network to its portfolio, adding Storybutton’s slate of Kids & Family podcasts.
RSS.com Head of Relationships Greg Wasserman has launched Podcast Network Insights, a podcast about the evolving world of podcast networks interviewing network founders, operators, and creators.
The Publish Press covers YouTube’s recent launch of the Creator Partnerships portal in YouTube Studio, including reactions from YouTube content creators.
Open-source blogging, newsletter, and subscription content platform Ghost has partnered with Transistor for an official integration, allowing publishers on Ghost to offer private podcasts as a membership perk for subscribers.
