Apple sent out some new guidance on encoding video podcasts to help with Apple TV compatibility yesterday. They also had some advice about multiple RSS feeds as well.

1. Apple on video podcasts - "If you're encoding your video podcast at 320x240, please increase the resolution to either 640x480 or 640x360 (depending on the aspect ratio of your source files). Why? Because video podcasts at this resolution look great on Apple TV and still port to video iPods. Lower resolution podcasts might also work on both platforms, but they don't look nearly as good on a widescreen TV. As always, make sure to test any encoding changes you make to ensure device compatibility. QuickTime 7.1's "Export to iPod" function will ensure that a video file is encoded at a width of 640 and is iPod-compatible."
2. Apple on multiple video feeds - "It's best not to create two different podcast feeds for different resolutions. By doing so, you dilute the popularity of your podcast and reduce exposure in our charts. It's better to have one feed high in the charts than two that are lower."

Alright then. Go forth and produce some hi res video podcasts.

Labels: apple, apple tv, itunes, video