Can I Sell My Videos On iTunes?

iTunes sells more download-to-own videos than anybody.  In 2010, 64% of all download-to-own videos were sold through iTunes.  So a lot of people wonder if they can sell their own videos through iTunes too.  The answer is…

It depends.  If you have a full-length feature, documentary or short film that was originally released in theaters or directly to DVD, in most cases you can.  But that criteria will eliminate most people.  What if instead, you’re a small company and you want to sell your educational or how-to videos on iTunes.  In that case, the answer is no.  Or to put it in Apple’s words “How-to videos, user-generated content, and other types of video that are not normally considered to be motion pictures or documentaries are not accepted”.  See the full list of criteria here.

However, you can still provide your videos for free on iTunes through video podcasts.  In this scenario, you would essentially be providing free, quality content with the hope that in turn, some subscribers will visit your web site and become customers.  For example, I offer my own podcast videos on iTunes here.

Unfortunately, setting up a video podcast and getting it accepted into the iTunes store is not a cut and paste process.  There are some technical hurdles you have to overcome and your content has to be decent with no blatant marketing pitches…Apple manually reviews each submission…and if your content doesn’t make cut they won’t let you in.  In other words, Apple doesn’t accept junk.

But if you’re still interested in how to get your video podcasts on iTunes…and would like to know all the nitty gritty details involved…you can get these details directly from Apple by clicking here.