BBC delays plans to block access to BBC Sounds internationally

The BBC has delayed its plans to block access to BBC Sounds for listeners outside of the UK.

Earlier this year, the corporation announced plans to restrict the availability of the app for international audiences, with the proviso that access to Radio 4 and the World Service would remain for all through a new audio section on the BBC website.

BBC Sounds is the service that allows listeners to listen to the full range of the corporation’s national and local radio stations and podcasts, and it is currently fully accessible to people around the world.

Instead of following through with their initial plans, they have now said they intend to “continue to make other BBC stations available to listeners outside the UK”, saying they “will not close BBC Sounds outside the UK until we have confirmed these plans”.

(Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

It added that it still intends to close BBC Sounds to audiences outside the UK later this year, but it is now working “in parallel” on plans to make a range of stations remain available internationally when that happens.

“This includes the BBC’s music stations. BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3, 6music, 1xtra and the Asian Network, as well as the BBC stations from around the Nations and Regions, including Local Radio,” the corporation clarified.

The plans were particularly criticised by audiences in the Republic of Ireland, who would have access to the local stations BBC Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle made unavailable under the current plans.

The BBC has faced other criticisms in recent months, including when it pulled the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from BBC iPlayer in February. It emerged that the doc was narrated by the son of a Hamas official, but their decision to remove it was condemned by some, including Kneecap director Rich Peppiatt and Riz Ahmed.

The corporation also apologised in January to employees who felt unable to speak up about alleged misconduct by its former presenter Russell Brand between 2006 and 2008.

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