iHeartMedia is reinforcing its commitment to podcast creators by announcing a significant, free expansion of its platform. In early 2026, the company will enable creators to distribute full-length video podcasts directly within the iHeartRadio app and website at no cost, providing a seamless audio and video experience without compromising creator control or revenue.
iHeartMedia will launch a free video podcast distribution feature within iHeartRadio in early 2026, available alongside existing audio distribution.
The platform supports a creator-first model: no revenue share is required, and creators retain full creative and financial autonomy.
Creators maintain control over hosting, with no obligation to use an iHeart-owned provider for video, similar to the existing audio podcast model.
The feature allows podcasters to choose their format, supporting both full-length video versions and audio-only distribution based on their preference.
iHeartMedia views video podcasting as a separate, incremental layer to audio, similar to how podcasting evolved from broadcast radio.
As the #1 podcast publisher, iHeart aims to provide the scale and expertise to help creators grow their audience and maximize financial performance in the evolving digital landscape.
This new initiative is a direct extension of iHeartMedia's "Creators First" mission, designed to address the growing demand for video content without imposing the financial or creative constraints seen on other platforms. The company emphasizes three core pillars: creative integrity, monetization control, and hosting freedom. Creators will have the choice to publish full-length video or remain audio-only, retain 100% of their revenue with no platform fee, and can host their video content with any provider while still distributing through iHeartRadio.
"While audio remains the backbone of the podcast medium... video podcasting is now emerging as a completely separate and incremental form to audio," said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. "Providing this new video distribution capability for free to our creators is an additional testament to our continuing focus on creators’ success."
The announcement positions iHeartMedia as a major, creator-friendly alternative in the growing video podcasting space. By leveraging the existing scale of iHeartRadio—the #1 digital radio service with millions of podcast listeners—the company offers immediate access to a vast, built-in audience. The move is framed as a natural evolution, recognizing the increasing value of top-tier podcast content across different media formats.
"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," said Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. "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."
This strategy not only aims to attract new creators but also to solidify loyalty among its existing vast network of podcasters by providing a cost-effective path to expand into video, thereby helping them reach wider audiences and enhance monetization opportunities.
iHeartMedia's launch of a free video podcast platform represents a strategic bid to shape the next phase of the industry's growth. By removing financial barriers and upholding core podcasting principles of creator ownership and open distribution, iHeart is challenging the prevailing models of closed, revenue-sharing video ecosystems. This move could pressure other platforms to adopt more creator-friendly terms and accelerates the mainstream integration of video as a standard podcast format, all while reinforcing iHeartMedia's role as a central, empowering hub for audio and now video creators.
About iHeartMedia, Inc.
iHeartMedia, Inc. is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to both Podtrac and Triton, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, has the highest-reach and most engaged influencers, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts.
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