Plans by the BBC to stop people outside of the UK listening to its hugely-popular BBC Sounds service have been delayed, as it makes arrangements to ensure that their radio stations can be found on other platforms.
Last month, listeners outside the UK learned they were to lose access to BBC Sounds from late April, though they would be able to continuing listening live to BBC Radio 4 and the World Service on BBC.com. The move was to include those in the Republic.
In a statement today, however, the broadcaster said it is working on plans to “continue to make other BBC stations available to listeners outside the UK”, adding that it will not close BBC Sounds to these users “until we have confirmed these plans”.
The temporary reprieve, however, will do nothing to help many of the BBC’s international radio audience as the ability to listen back to programmes at a time of the listener’s choosing will be lost with the demise of its popular playback service.
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The plan is deeply unpopular with the broadcaster’s international audience, who have complained loudly to the corporation in recent weeks. Here, it has been unpopular particularly among people wanting to listen BBC Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle or its classical station, Radio 3.
Now, however, the broadcaster says its full radio stable will be available to international listeners on other audio platforms, including the BBC’s music stations. BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3.
It had been argued that a restriction on international audiences had become necessary because of problems surrounding music rights, even though similar issues will arise if it can be accessed outside of the UK on other audio platforms.
Some podcasts which originate on BBC radio are already available to users of platforms such as Apple and Spotify. Those who listen to live radio via third party services such as Amazon and TuneIn will not be affected by the changes.
[ Blocking Irish listeners from BBC Sounds app a ‘slap in the face’Opens in new window ]
Complaints that the planned restrictions are a breach of the 1998 Belfast Agreement have been dismissed, with the Department of Culture in Dublin saying changes are “entirely a matter for the BBC”.
