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This guide will walk users through the process of creating an Apple Podcast (iTunes) feed from a Kaltura playlist within the Kaltura Management Console (KMC) and Kaltura MediaSpace (KMS).
Detailed Information
Overview
Kaltura continues to support creating podcast RSS feeds from playlists using the Syndication feature in the Kaltura Management Console (KMC). This workflow allows media added to a Kaltura playlist to be automatically distributed to Apple Podcasts via an iTunes-compatible RSS feed.
Create a Playlist
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In Kaltura MediaSpace (KMS) or the Kaltura Management Console (KMC), create a playlist.
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The playlist may be manual or rule-based.
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This playlist will act as the content source for the podcast feed.
Create a Syndication Feed
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Log in to the Kaltura Management Console (KMC).
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Navigate to the Content area and select the Syndication tab.
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Click Add Feed.
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Configure the feed settings:
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Name: Enter a descriptive name for the feed.
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Content: Select Playlist and choose the desired playlist from the dropdown.
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Destination: Select iTunes (Apple Podcasts).
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Complete the remaining required metadata fields and save the feed.
After saving, Kaltura will generate a Feed URL (RSS). This URL is used when creating or submitting a podcast in Apple Podcasts Connect.
Automatic Updates
Any new media added to the original playlist will automatically appear in the syndication feed. No additional configuration is required as long as the media meets the feed’s requirements.
Content Flavor Requirements
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Under Content Flavor, select an audio flavor that already exists in your default transcoding profile.
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If the required audio flavor is not included in the default profile, it must be added by an administrator.
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This ensures that the feed always has a compatible audio file available for Apple Podcasts.
Feed Image Requirements
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Apple Podcasts requires a square image for podcast artwork.
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You may upload an image to the KMC and copy its image URL by right-clicking the thumbnail.
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Important: The default Kaltura image URL may not end with an image file extension (such as .jpg or .png).
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To avoid Apple Podcasts validation errors, manually append an appropriate image file extension to the end of the image URL.
Entitlement and Access Considerations
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If media entries have entitlement restrictions enabled, they may not appear in a public syndication feed.
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Entitlement enforcement can be disabled via Kaltura’s APIs or developer tools.
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Disabling entitlement at the feed or playlist level is preferred over disabling it on individual media items.
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A mismatch between the number of playlist items and the number of feed items usually indicates an entitlement issue.
Testing the Feed
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Create a test syndication feed.
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In the Apple Podcasts app, select File > Follow a Show by URL.
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Paste the Kaltura-generated feed URL.
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If the feed loads and plays correctly, the feed is technically sound.
Note: Even if the feed works in the Apple Podcasts app, additional validation or publishing issues may still occur during submission through Apple Podcasts Connect.
Known Limitations and Considerations
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Apple Podcasts automatically generates chapters and captions for audio episodes.
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Because the audio is hosted in Kaltura, these auto-generated chapters and captions cannot be edited in Apple Podcasts.
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Users should be informed that access to Kaltura MediaSpace may be revoked after graduation or separation from the institution, which may affect long-term podcast ownership or continuity.
Environment