BBC Sounds, the listening app launched in June, 2018, released listening growth metrics for 2021. Overall listening was up 8% from last year, while podcast listening grew 25%. Altogether, 1.3-billion plays were initiated in the app. The organization’s announcement identifies three main content types. Continue Reading
Renewing a deal that started in 2018, Acast and the BBC have renewed their arrangement for a second three-year period. Acast will sell ads in BBC podcasts outside of the UK. It is strictly an international arrangement; the BBC arranges its podcast sponsorships directed to UK listeners. Continue Reading
BBC Sounds, the digital player app produced by and representing the BBC, released a brief Q2 metrics report. The deck is free. Click through for some details and the download link. Continue Reading
The British public broadcaster has rebranded its production division, formerly BBC Radio & Music Production, which relaunched today as BBC Audio. This is part of a widespread de-platforming of radio and broader reconceptualization as audio. Four people staff the new unit, headed by Clare McGinn, previously Head of Production for BBC Radio 4 in Bristol. McGinn is a career BBC’er. Continue Reading
The BBC has shared a few statistics about its BBC Sounds, one of very few peeks behind the scenes with its app effort. During the last quarter of 2019, the app attracted a peak weekly audience of 2.9 million, besting the record of 2.5 million in the third quarter. Continue Reading
The BBC will soon have new leadership. Tony Hall will step down as the venerable UK broadcaster’s director general this summer, ending a seven-year tenure. “If I followed my heart I would genuinely never want to leave,” Hall said of his difficult decision to exit. Continue Reading
The BBC has introduced a new approach to providing news on voice-activated hardware. The broadcaster launched an interactive voice news service designed to let listeners have more control over what stories they hear. It is rolling out to Alexa-enabled devices initially, and the BBC expects to add other platforms in the future. Continue Reading
Several studies have explored the power of podcasts to forge personal connections with listeners, and a new investigation takes a closer look at how that applies to branded podcasts. BBC StoryWorks, the branded content division of the BBC Global News, commissioned a study by Neuro-Insight researchers into the power of sponsored shows to connect with listeners and achieve business goals. Continue Reading
The BBC has announced that it will cease operating the iPlayer radio app this month. Listeners have already started receiving notifications on the platform that it will be shuttering. Continue Reading
Voice technology has been a hot topic for the audio industry, with more and more parties getting involved. The latest is the BBC, which announced plans to launch its own voice assistant next year. The platform is attempting to offer a better understanding of regional accents in Britain. Continue Reading
The BBC will remove most its programming from TuneIn UK. TuneIn announced the change, which takes effect on August 30. Podcasts will not be impacted by this development. Continue Reading
The BBC has continued to make updates and improvements to its Alexa skill. The biggest new development is the ability to seamlessly continue listening to a program between an Alexa-enabled device and the BBC Sounds app or website. Continue Reading