BBC will be offering downloadable radio shows through iPlayer

BBC will be offering downloadable radio shows through iPlayer
Radio gaga

The BBC Trust has insisted that Brits should be allowed to download radio shows to their devices in the same way as TV shows have been made available - and the service should arrive by next year.

Currently, if you have an iOS Apple device or a laptop you can download most television shows to watch offline, although this has understandably left Android owners a little nonplussed.

And now radio will be made available, which could well prove to be a popular option given the wealth of popular shows across the publicly-funded broadcaster. It should be noted that much of the popular stuff is already available as offline-ready podcasts.

The BBC Trust's decision has been welcomed by the BBC, who anticipate the work will take "some months yet".

Shot in the arm

It could be also be a shot in the arm for some of the radio shows that would seem to be ideal for commuters without a steady connection.

Comedy shows like Just a Minute, for instance, will be hoping that they can continue their popularity on download after proving a hit on the connected service.

Of course, the radio shows will be protected by digital right management (DRM) and will last for 30 days from broadcast and a further seven from first listen.

TechRadar has asked the BBC what devices the downloadable content will be available on, but it's apparently "too soon to say".

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.

Latest in BBC iPlayer
The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Joy (Nicola Coughlan) explore ancient ruins in the Doctor Who 2024 Christmas Special
New Doctor Who Christmas Special trailer teases a full festive time travelling adventure and I can't wait
Jamie Dornan in The Tourist
BBC renews four critically-acclaimed dramas as it lays out plans for 2023
BBC iPlayer logo
How to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad
Killing Eve
BBC drops Killing Eve season 3 trailer – and an April release date
Netflix and Spotify are snapping up the iPlayer's younger audience says the BBC
BBC iPlayer to be 're-invented' by 2020
Latest in News
An image of Pro-Ject's Flatten it closed and opened
Pro-Ject’s new vinyl flattener will fix any warped LPs you inadvertently buy on Record Store Day
EA Sports F1 25 promotional image featuring drivers Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman.
F1 25 has been officially announced, with this year's entry marking a return for Braking Point and a 'significant overhaul' for My Team mode
Garmin clippd integration
Garmin's golf watches just got a big software integration upgrade to help you improve your game
Robert Downey Jr reveals himself as Doctor Doom to a delighted crowd at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
Marvel is currently making a major announcement about Avengers: Doomsday's cast on YouTube, and I think it's going to be a long-winded reveal
Samsung QN90F on yellow background
Samsung announces US prices for its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, and it’s good and bad news
Nintendo Switch Lite
Forget the Nintendo Switch 2, the original Switch is getting one last hurrah in a surprise Nintendo Direct tomorrow