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BBC blocks its podcasts on Google

The BBC has blocked its podcasts on platforms operated by Google. The block stretches to prevent access to BBC shows through the new Google Podcasts app, via Google Assistant, and from Google search. The move to restrict access began last week, according to Podnews.

“The BBC requires platforms (such as Google’s Assistant) to meet certain conditions for BBC content to be available on their services,” a representative from the broadcaster told Podnews. “We seek to make our content as accessible to audiences as possible, but until it can be made available in a way that meets our Terms of Use and the BBC’s Distribution Policy, certain BBC content will be unavailable through specific Google products.”

The rep said that linking to BBC podcasts requires a license, and that user data needs to be provided to the broadcaster under its distribution policy.

Podnews founder James Cridland opined that the block could be related to an effort to drive use of the BBC Sounds app, which caused some controversy among listeners earlier this year. There also may be some recourse to stop the block. UK media regulatory Ofcom requires that the BBC must make its public services to third parties that make “reasonable requests” for them, unless the broadcaster “has an objective justification for not doing so.”

Anna Washenko

One Comment

  1. The BBC iPlayer Radio app – Android – seems to have lost access to a lot of programming material listening from abroad – eastern seaboard US. The BBC Sounds app is still not available either.
    My regular podcast aggregator seems to be able to retrieve BBC podcasts atm.

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