BBC today released its iPlayer Radio app stateside, so American users on both iOS and Android can now tune in to BBC radio stations airing content from the United Kingdom (via TechCrunch). The iOS app launched in its native territory in 2012, with today marking the first time the company has expanded its app-based radio content to users outside of the U.K.
The iPlayer Radio app supports offline listening for BBC podcasts, curated selections of radio highlights for each user, and a daily schedule that makes sifting through the service's content quick and easy. The app can even serve as an alarm clock to wake users up to a specific radio show, and conversely allow them to fall asleep without the worry of the app playing all night with "night mode."
- Listen live to BBC Radio stations from the World Service and across the UK
- Catch up or listen again to your favourite BBC Radio programmes
- Download podcasts to enjoy anywhere, even when offline
- Browse and listen to carefully curated BBC Radio highlights and collections
- View daily schedules and categories quickly and easily
- Discover audio and video clips, including many live performances
- See what tracks are playing on air as well as track lists for on demand programmes
- Wake up to and doze off to BBC Radio with a built-in alarm clock and night mode
Those interested can download the BBC iPlayer Radio app for free from the iOS App Store today. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
Great. So I'm paying £145.50 for my TV license so people in other countries can enjoy BBC content for free. How is that fair?
The clue is in the name - you are paying for the TV license. This is radio only. You don't pay a license for radio.Anyway, its a great app - I have been using the website for years to listen to my favorite shows but it doesn't work properly with lock screen controls.
Hopefully they will add the iPlayer TV app and charge us ex-pats a subscription - they are leaving money on the table by not doing so. I don't think it would breach the terms of their public charter.
Cue the "not seeing it yet"s.
I'm not seeing them yetcheers
Strange, not sure how they will justify giving their content away free when it is paid for through the British television licence fee.
Exporting British culture to the world can be argued as a good investment. So long as taxpayers paying into the service still get the same access that they've always had, there's no harm in giving it away to international audiences that couldn't be taxed anyway and whereas charging for it would not bring in enough revenue to justify the effort.