Video distribution to Apple Podcasts lets you deliver your video episodes directly from Megaphone by packaging your video using the HLS streaming standard. Once enabled on Megaphone and on Apple Podcasts Connect, your video episodes will be available to your audience on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
You’ll need to follow the below instructions to get your video episodes onto Apple Podcasts. Only an Organization Admin will be able to complete certain steps.
For more information on Apple Podcasts video distribution, visit Apple’s support center.
Enabling shows into video distribution
Only an Organization Admin can complete this step.
On Megaphone:
Log in to Megaphone.
Click on your account in the top-right.
Find Organization Settings.
Click the Features tab, toggle Enable video distribution.
You’ll need to read and accept the Apple HLS Terms & Conditions. Click Next when you’re ready.
Select the shows in the organization who’ll be allowed to opt-in to Apple HLS distribution. This enables video distribution to Apple Podcasts to be toggled on in each show’s settings.
You can edit these at any time by clicking Manage next to Enable video distribution.
Click Save.
Contact your Organization Admin if you want to enable a show for video distribution to Apple Podcasts.
Receiving your API key from Apple Podcasts
Follow Apple’s instructions to enable video distribution and create an API key. If your show doesn’t have access to video distribution on Apple Podcasts, you may need to contact Apple.
Your API key will be downloaded as a PEM file. The private key can be viewed and copied by opening the file in a text editor.
In Apple Podcasts Connect, make sure to note the following ID’s:
Issuer ID
You can find this ID at the top of the Keys page in Apple Podcasts Connect.
Key ID
This is the 12-character ID shown next to your key that you’ve downloaded. For example, if your key is TKTK, your Key ID is TKTK.
Apple Podcasts Show ID
This can be found under Show Information in your show page. The Show ID appears in your Apple Podcasts URL as well.
Enabling video distribution in Megaphone
Before completing this step, you’ll need to make sure that you have your API key, Issuer ID, Key ID, Show ID and that your show has been enabled for opting in to video distribution to Apple Podcasts by your Organization Admin.
You’ll need to have Producer access or higher to be able to enable this feature.
On Megaphone:
Log in to Megaphone.
Click Podcasts.
Select the podcast you’d like to enable video distribution to Apple Podcasts for.
Click More, then Settings.
Click Megaphone Settings.
Under Video Distribution, click Set up next to Apple Podcasts.
You’ll need to accept the Apple HLS Terms & Conditions. Click Next when you’re ready.
You’ll need to put in your API Key in the Private Key section. You’ll need to also provide your Issuer ID, Key ID, and Show ID.
Click Save. You’ll now see Distributing under Apple Podcasts.
Your show’s existing video episodes get processed for Apple Podcasts which can take up to 24 hours depending on how many episodes exist in your catalog.
All new video episodes of your show will be automatically distributed to Apple Podcasts.
Enabling multiple shows
If you have multiple shows you’d like to enable, you’ll need to complete this process for each show.
Each show will need to have an API key from Apple Podcasts.
Apple Podcasts video analytics
When episodes are streamed or downloaded in Apple Podcasts via HLS, they are counted in Megaphone as downloads. Impressions are only counted when an ad/sponsorship is streamed or downloaded.
You’ll be able to find episode analytics for your episodes directly in Megaphone and in Apple Podcasts Connect.
Troubleshooting video episodes on Apple Podcasts
If you’ve successfully enabled video distribution for your show and don’t see video episodes appearing on Apple Podcasts, contact Apple.