BBC iPlayer Radio app arrives in Australia

The BBC’s iPlayer Radio app is available in Australia and globally from today, as the BBC delivers the last stage of its international roll out.

The App has been available in the UK since 2012, but is now worldwide.

The free app makes it easier for audiences around the world to listen to a variety of BBC radio stations, including BBC World Service English, on their devices wherever they are.

BBC World Service in English, which has a global audience of 66 million people, will automatically display on a touchscreen dial when users outside the UK open the app for the first time. Users can then spin the dial to access more BBC Radio stations and discover the British national broadcaster’s world-class content which includes news, music, drama and comedy.

As well as access to live radio programmes from the World Service and radio stations across the UK, users around the world with the app will be able to:

  • Catch up or listen again to their 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

James Montgomery, Digital Development Director at BBC News and Current Affairs says: “The new international BBC iPlayer Radio app makes it easier for audiences around the world to discover and enjoy the richness of our output – both live radio and to downloaded content.

“We hope that the app will be a destination on mobile homescreens for audiences around the world who want to explore the breadth of BBC radio, from news and current affairs to drama, comedy and music. This launch also comes at a time when the UK is at the centre of a huge news story which the BBC is helping to explain to audiences worldwide.”

BBC World Service English Controller Mary Hockaday is thrilled with the new initiative:

“We have a valued audience of 66 million globally for the English BBC World Service… The new BBC iPlayer Radio app offers another way for listeners around the world to find and enjoy our programmes, and take them with them wherever they go. With this app, we hope to give new audiences the chance to unlock a wealth of World Service content, as they explore what the BBC iPlayer Radio has got to offer.”

Currently BBC World Service English is available on analog/DAB Radio, online, and through its partner stations around the world, while other BBC Radio stations can be accessed outside the UK via the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/radio.

The BBC iPlayer Radio app is available today globally for iOS, Android and Amazon devices. Download from the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon Store.

At launch, the BBC iPlayer Radio app supports iOS running 7.1 and above, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above, and Amazon Kindle Fire 2012 and above.

The BBC iPlayer Radio app has been downloaded over 10 million times in the UK since launch in 2012. Available stations are listed here www.bbc.co.uk/radio/stations.

(Pic right: App shown on a smartphone. BBC)

Much radio content around the world is geoblocked on apps and websites for copyright reasons This new initiative by the BBC is significant because it could create new rights precedents in the broadcast simulcast streaming industry.

 

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