Spotify launched its video podcast feature in 2020.
The first version debuted on July 21, 2020, with a limited selection of shows. Spotify initially presented video podcasts as an extension of its audio-first experience: listeners could watch when they wanted the visual element, or continue listening with the video turned off.
Early participating programs included The Rooster Teeth Podcast, H3 Podcast, Fantasy Footballers, Book of Basketball 2.0, and Higher Learning. Spotify also brought video episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience to the platform later in 2020, which helped make the format more visible to a mainstream audience.
A common mix-up is 2021, when Spotify began a much broader rollout that allowed more creators to publish video podcasts. The feature itself, however, had already launched in 2020. Spotify later expanded publishing access internationally, turning what began as a small experiment into a major part of its podcast platform.