BBC Sounds app being withdrawn for overseas users

[brewsterbudgen]

While it's a frustrating app to use, it's great for listening to live BBC radio and catch-up, plus podcasts.  Now it is being withdrawn and overseas listeners will need to use the bbc.com app.  A quick look shows that the only 'live' BBC radio stations will be Radio 4 and the World Service.  No access for Radio 5Live, 6 Music, Radio 1/2 or any other BBC station. 

 

Disappointing.

 

 

[soi3eddie]

23 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

While it's a frustrating app to use, it's great for listening to live BBC radio and catch-up, plus podcasts.  Now it is being withdrawn and overseas listeners will need to use the bbc.com app.  A quick look shows that the only 'live' BBC radio stations will be Radio 4 and the World Service.  No access for Radio 5Live, 6 Music, Radio 1/2 or any other BBC station. 

 

Disappointing.

 

 

Do you pay the BBC licence fee of £169.50 ($217)?

 

[brewsterbudgen]

18 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Do you pay the BBC licence fee of £169.50 ($217)?

 

 

No I don't, as it's not an option.  But I would happily pay a subscription for overseas access if it was possible.

 

Not that that is the point.  BBC Sounds has been an internationally available app for many years. Why change now?

 

 

 

 

[soi3eddie]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Not that that is the point.  BBC Sounds has been an internationally available app for many years. Why change now?

 

Probably to reduce BBC costs. Their licence fee base and therefore, revenues, are falling.

 

 

AI Overview

Yes, the BBC is losing licence fee payers as more people cancel their subscriptions in favor of streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. The BBC's revenue from the licence fee has also been declining due to inflation and funding cuts. 

 

Explanation

• Changing viewing habits: People are watching less linear television and more streaming content. 
   
• Cost of living pressures: Many households are struggling financially and can't afford the licence fee. 
   
• Funding cuts: The BBC has been underfunded for a decade, and the licence fee has generated less income in real terms since 2010. 
   

 

Impact on the BBC

• The BBC's income from the licence fee has been declining, and the corporation has been struggling financially. 
   
• The BBC has been forced to make cutbacks, including limiting senior salaries and cutting excessive expenses. 
   

 

What the BBC is doing 

 

• The BBC is launching a public engagement exercise to help shape the future of the BBC.
• The BBC is working with the government to secure the long-term future of the BBC.

[brianburi]

I only listen to the ''Today'' program on Radio 4,  so good to see you can still hear it,

Though now the lovely Mishal Hussain has left,  its lost a little of its sparkle......

[phetphet]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

While it's a frustrating app to use, it's great for listening to live BBC radio and catch-up, plus podcasts.  Now it is being withdrawn and overseas listeners will need to use the bbc.com app.  A quick look shows that the only 'live' BBC radio stations will be Radio 4 and the World Service.  No access for Radio 5Live, 6 Music, Radio 1/2 or any other BBC station. 

 

Disappointing.

 

 

There are some other radio apps you can buy, such as TuneIn, Broadcasts, and My Tuner Pro to name a few.

 

I like TuneIn. There is TuneIn Radio, TuneIn Radio Pro (onetime purchase)of around $9.99) which avoids ads.

There is also a Premium subscription, which includes free audio books, but not for me.

Has all the BBC Channels including 5live and 5 sports extra.

 

HTH

[brewsterbudgen]

42 minutes ago, phetphet said:

There are some other radio apps you can buy, such as TuneIn, Broadcasts, and My Tuner Pro to name a few.

 

I like TuneIn. There is TuneIn Radio, TuneIn Radio Pro (onetime purchase)of around $9.99) which avoids ads.

There is also a Premium subscription, which includes free audio books, but not for me.

Has all the BBC Channels including 5live and 5 sports extra.

 

HTH

 

Thanks.  I have TuneIn but never used it for BBC radio.  Guess I'll have to now!

[OJAS]

On 3/7/2025 at 10:32 AM, soi3eddie said:

 

Do you pay the BBC licence fee of £169.50 ($217)?

 

 

Nor does anyone, even back in the UK, solely in order to access BBC Sounds!

 

[OJAS]

On 3/7/2025 at 10:52 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

 

No I don't, as it's not an option.  But I would happily pay a subscription for overseas access if it was possible.

 

Not that that is the point.  BBC Sounds has been an internationally available app for many years. Why change now?

 

It might still be possible to access the BBC Sounds app from abroad with a VPN after the Beeb have pulled the plug internationally - although that remains to be seen, of course.

 

I suspect that rights issues might be behind the reasons for the change*. The relevant fees for worldwide coverage are probably considerably higher than for coverage solely restricted to the UK - and, as already said, the Beeb are severely strapped for cash these days (unfortunately there is zero chance of them launching a GoFundMe campaign in order to make up any shortfall!🤑).

 

*Live football commentaries on 5Live, for example, are already geoblocked internationally for this reason.

 

[OJAS]

On 3/7/2025 at 12:18 PM, brianburi said:

I only listen to the ''Today'' program on Radio 4,  so good to see you can still hear it,

 

In my case it's the Radio 4 Midnight News bulletin which I listen to while munching breakfast.☺️

 

[KhunBENQ]

Excuse my ignorance.

Just technical interest.

Just listening to Radio 5 stream on the mobile.

1,2,3,4,5...

 

https://fmstream.org/index.php?s=Bbc

 

(no VPN used)

[KhunBENQ]

Screenshot of the "MINI" view. Must be 20 or more BBC channels.

 

[OJAS]

3 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Excuse my ignorance.

Just technical interest.

Just listening to Radio 5 stream on the mobile.

1,2,3,4,5...

 

https://fmstream.org/index.php?s=Bbc

 

(no VPN used)

 

Ah, but the links quoted for individual BBC stations (apart from the World Service) are through BBC Sounds! So they may no longer work in LOS with fmstream.org either after the plug has been pulled by the Beeb (except possibly with a VPN).

 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

13 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Ah, but the links quoted for individual BBC stations (apart from the World Service) are through BBC Sounds! So they may no longer work in LOS with fmstream.org either after the plug has been pulled by the Beeb (except possibly with a VPN).

 

 

i wonder if that will also be the case with TuneIn ?

[OJAS]

On 3/7/2025 at 1:25 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

 

Thanks.  I have TuneIn but never used it for BBC radio.  Guess I'll have to now!

 

But are their links to BBC stations through BBC Sounds, though, as in the case of fmstream.org? Impossible to tell from their website unless there's something I'm missing in the following link, for example:

 

https://tunein.com/search/?query=bbc radio 3

 

[OJAS]

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

i wonder if that will also be the case with TuneIn ?

 

Our posts clearly crossed. Great minds thinking alike, I think!!

 

[OJAS]

18 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

i wonder if that will also be the case with TuneIn ?

 

I've also come across the following link through which BBC stations can be accessed, at least for the present:

 

https://www.radio-uk.co.uk/

 

In the case of these various external links/apps, though, I suspect that it will be a case of waiting and seeing what, if anything, happens as regards listening to BBC stations from outside the UK once the BBC Sounds plug has been pulled.

 

 

 

[pixelaoffy]

On 3/12/2025 at 8:40 AM, OJAS said:

 

Nor does anyone, even back in the UK, solely in order to access BBC Sounds!

 

Exactly.   Don't need a licence to access BBC radio

[Andrew Dwyer]

That’s a shame as i recently discovered BBC Sounds and have been listening to some great Desert Island Discs going back decades, have a bunch bookmarked.

For all other radio stations ( Absolute, Virgin, Capital, etc ) i use Radioplayer app, literally hundreds of stations including all the BBC stations but when clicking on any BBC station it sends you to BBC Sounds, that seems to be a recent change as years ago i am sure that didn’t happen.

[brewsterbudgen]

2 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

That’s a shame as i recently discovered BBC Sounds and have been listening to some great Desert Island Discs going back decades, have a bunch bookmarked.

For all other radio stations ( Absolute, Virgin, Capital, etc ) i use Radioplayer app, literally hundreds of stations including all the BBC stations but when clicking on any BBC station it sends you to BBC Sounds, that seems to be a recent change as years ago i am sure that didn’t happen.

 

The DID archive is fantastic, and hopefully will still be playable after the demise of BBC Sounds.  Sue Lawley was a very irritating presenter; Kirsty Young the best, and Lauren Laverne has improved immeasurably.  

[Andrew Dwyer]

43 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

The DID archive is fantastic, and hopefully will still be playable after the demise of BBC Sounds.  Sue Lawley was a very irritating presenter; Kirsty Young the best, and Lauren Laverne has improved immeasurably.  

Ian Wright blubbering about when he met his old teacher/mentor who he thought had died was very touching.