Spotify video revolution begins with Android

Streaming video is finally coming to Spotify, but it starts on Android only. Image: Spotify

Streaming video is finally coming to Spotify, but it starts on Android only. Image: Spotify

Spotify has made video streaming available via its Android app, although integration of the feature into Spotify’s desktop app is said to be off the table (at least for now).

The Spotify video service brings content from the likes of NBC, BBC and Comedy Central to the app, with the company claiming that it will recommend clips based on music a user has been listening to.

While the majority of videos currently available for streaming are relatively short, there is one important distinction between the streaming that Spotify is now offering and Google’s YouTube: ads. Spotify’s video content is currently ad-free, though it’s unknown whether that will change in the future.

With music streaming known to difficult to make a successful business from, we can’t help but think Spotify may one day be unable to resist the temptation to further monetize its video offering, should it become popular. Spotify video will supposedly come to the service’s iOS app soon.

To check out video on Spotify’s Android app, simply open the app, tap Browse, then select Shows. Checking the Video option in the Library will also provide video content for those looking for it.

Spotify currently has around 75 million subscribers, and we will just have to wait and see how many of those use the Spotify app for video content alongside music. Spotify itself will no doubt be hoping that the answer will be “a lot.”