New Zealand’s longest running sports podcast, The BYC Podcast with The Alternative Commentary Collective (ACC), is celebrating a major 20-year broadcasting milestone.
First released on 25 June 2005 as a downloadable MP3 through The Beige Brigade cricket fan website, The BYC Podcast laid the foundation for what has become a thriving local sport podcast scene.
Two decades on it remains a go-to for Kiwi cricket fans, now hosted on NZME’s iHeartRadio. The Alternative Commentary Collective’s award-winning podcast network has grown and had 170,000 downloads in 2024 alone.
Paul Ford, original and current BYC Podcast host says: “The BYC was consummated at a Belgian beer cafe in Wellington and was born out of the central premise of the Beige Brigade and later The ACC. The idea was to have a crack at something new, embrace shenanigans and have a laugh. It was an opportunity to talk to an audience gagging for some not-too-life-and-death chat about cricket.”
Over the years The BYC Podcast has featured a line-up of memorable hosts including Jeremy Wells, Kevin Sinnott and Jason Hoyte – all united by their love of the game and a penchant for the ridiculous.
To mark the 20th anniversary, a special commemorative episode was released this week, featuring stories and appearances from past and present hosts – a nostalgic nod to two decades of banter and loyal fandom.
Mike Lane, General Manager of The ACC, says: “I can’t think of any podcast, sporting or otherwise, that has had the longevity of The BYC. It’s a credit to Paul and the wider team of lunatics that they’ve covered NZ’s summer sport for so long. Viva La BYC!”
From its humble beginnings on a fan website to national syndication, the BYC Podcast remains a beloved staple in New Zealand’s sports media.
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