Such a warm, happy glow from the modern #BBC:
"... the BBC will be making BBC Sounds available exclusively to UK audiences and ending access to the service for international users beginning Spring 2025."
To give credit where it's due, the marketing spin on this is next level:
"Through this new user experience, listeners can explore deeper context and analysis on select topics, gaining a richer understanding of the issues that matter most—all without leaving the [new BBC Audio] platform."
@jscholes What? I love their audio dramas. Does this mean their podcasts like Limelight and Drama Of The Week are going away?
@ZBennoui I don't really know. But if you don't live in the UK and they're only available on BBC Sounds, then yes that's probably what it means.
@jscholes Ah I see, ok the podcasts I'm talking about are on Apple Podcasts and the like, so I'm thinking they will stick around.
@ZBennoui I guess we'll have to wait and see. If they're published directly by the BBC and not generating any revenue from international audiences, I wouldn't be surprised if they also disappeared.
@jscholes From a quick look at the article it seems like this mainly effects radio stations, and Radio4 is still accessible outside the UK, so I think the drama stuff at least should continue to be available.
@ZBennoui Here's a press release with (kind of) more information: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2005/bbc-studios-to-make-podcasts-available-to-international-audiences-via-bbc-dot-com-and-the-bbc-app
@jscholes Ah ok, so seems like the stuff I mainly care about is sticking around, just in a different place.