BBC cuts off expats from Sounds service moves to new ad funded platform

The BBC has announced a significant overhaul of its international audio services, restricting overseas access to its Sounds platform. From next month, expats will no longer be able to use the BBC’s UK-based audio streaming service. Instead, international listeners must turn to an advertising-supported platform on BBC.com or the BBC app to tune in to radio or podcasts.

This shift marks a dramatic change for the broadcaster’s global offerings, as many music radio stations are being completely removed due to licensing constraints. Several popular podcasts will also no longer be available outside the UK unless accessed through third-party subscription platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts. However, talk radio stations such as Radio 4 and the World Service, alongside over 1,000 podcasts including the Global News Podcast and Infinite Monkey Cage, will remain accessible overseas.

The decision has sparked criticism from loyal overseas users. Presenter Kirsty Lang, who fronts some of Radio 4’s flagship programmes, described the move as devastating, especially for listeners who rely on BBC Radio as a connection to home. She expressed confusion as to why a subscription-based model was not implemented instead of cutting access altogether for expats.

For overseas audiences, this means changes extend beyond access. Current BBC Sounds users will lose access to their saved subscriptions and bookmarks, requiring them to manually reset preferences. While some have pointed out that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) could enable users to bypass these changes, this solution might be too technical for many listeners.

The BBC insists the decision was made in order to offer greater value to UK licence fee payers. The corporation explained that BBC Sounds is funded by licence fee payers and would now focus on domestic listeners. This comes amidst broader efforts by the broadcaster to tackle financial pressures, with a £500m funding gap prompting controversial commercial strategies such as introducing advertisements around some content.

The move also complements discussions on the future of the BBC’s financing model, with its current licence fee arrangement due to expire in 2027. The restriction of BBC Sounds overseas forms part of the corporation’s strategy to boost commercial income while maintaining its UK audience base at the heart of operations.