The big problem is YouTube. With YouTube, Google has a centralized chokehold on video. We need a way that’s as easy and scalable to host video content, independently, as it is for written content. I don’t know what the answer to that is, technically, but we ought to start working on it with urgency.
I believe the answer is as straight forward as using RSS, just as we use it for Podcasting. The RSS enclosure element isn’t limited to audio.
You can embed video like this:
<item> <title>Video Episode Title</title> <link>http://www.example.com/video/episode-1</link> <pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description>This is a brief summary of the video episode.</description> <enclosure url="http://www.example.com/video/episode-1.mp4" length="123456789" type="video/mp4" /> </item>
If feed readers and podcast players would recognize these as an MP4 video file, by using the video/mp4 mime type they should be able to load them as a <video> element and play them.
Same thing for embedding them on your web page. Just use the <video> element. The distribution mechanism is there, just use it.
Now, if you’re looking for a YouTube like experience I think that’s where the feed readers and podcast players come in. By subscribing to feed you can bring the video right to you instead of keeping an eye out for it.