Expats to be cut off from BBC radio and podcasts within weeks

Thank you for highlighting this problem RosieandherMaw .
I bought a DAB radio at Christmas but had to return it as I couldn’t tune into BBC (12b) nor Times (11a) radio.
I would like to listen to both stations without relying on wifi, considering the world situation, lines being cut or blocked out.

Any recommendations welcomed for the Versailles’ area.

I often recommend the BBC to French teens, to help them improve their English via their iPods, while waiting for the bus to school. It will be a shame if they are unable to listen as easily as they can do at the moment.

Trump is also hoping to abolish Voice of America Radio, Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

I suppose these wave lengths will be filled by English speakers from less reliable countries, which listeners maybe unaware of who is broadcasting and their ideas, brainwashing.

BBC definitely going downhill, it used to be respected world wide. I think the World Service has changed (or have I dreamt that?). Have just heard that Blue Peter will be pre-recorded and no longer live. Previous presenters are sad, the hitches that sometimes occurred when live added to the programmes vitality. And don't get me going on salaries, diversity, equality and inclusion . . . .

madeleine45

The BBC world service was respected everywhere and when I lived abroad of course listened to it constantly, as did many people in many countries. The BBC was trusted by everyone to give clear information that could be trusted. I once lived in a country where there was fighting and people on both sides told me that they were waiting for the BBC news as they could believe the information on there rather than the partisan news in the country. We have listened to it in difficult situations to judge whether we need to leave a country or move for any reason. People in this country have no idea how much it helped Britian, giving much appreciated news, programmes and interest for them. Many people improved their english listening to it and it used to bring quite a lot of money to Britian as they would choose to come to university here. Very sad how the politicians have spoilt so much of the good things they brought, much of it intangable, but it was definitely a positive influence in the world.

👏👏👏

"Instead, international audiences will need to tune in to radio and podcasts on a new advertising-funded service on BBC.com or a separate app. "

Doesn't this mean they'll have to simply upload a new app and put up with advertising?

As an aside, I hate the word "ex-pat". I always think it means "ex-patriots" 😄

You know, that’s a very,very good idea. You should tell them MrsQuigley
Funny enough, one of my granddaughters lives in a Quigley Crescent!

Seems logical to me. Here in the UK we are supposed to pay for a licence to watch the BBC. Not that all do now apparently, it seems to have become optional. On one hand why should expats get the BBC for free. On the other hand why don’t the BBC make their output available in other countries for a subscription fee. Word has it they are cash-strapped and could do with the extra income.

We pay for Britbox but it doesn’t give access to other things like iview, only old versions of things like Vera. Their news is very good but restricted as to what we can see here.

SueDonim

I can’t understand why the BBC doesn’t make iPlayer available outside the UK for a subscription. They’d make loads of money. Obvs that is TV not radio but limiting radio as well seems a very parochial move to make.

@#€_&__€#

Exactly! I have often said I would be happy to pay a licence fee if I could because I use the BBC so much.

Yes, Madeleine the BBC was considered one of Britain’s soft powers, a way to project our image abroad, which is why radio was available to all. Though I’m not sure Britain’s image nowadays is one we want to project. 🤔

What a disaster!

Not.

It's just a way of extracting money from people because the BBC's popularity in the UK is tanking so the licence income is going down.

They could go back to being impartial instead but that doesn't look likely at the moment.

* madeleine * I have heard this from many people in my travels, too.

The BBC world service was respected everywhere and when I lived abroad of course listened to it constantly, as did many people in many countries. The BBC was trusted by everyone to give clear information that could be trusted. I once lived in a country where there was fighting and people on both sides told me that they were waiting for the BBC news as they could believe the information on there rather than the partisan news in the country. We have listened to it in difficult situations to judge whether we need to leave a country or move for any reason. People in this country have no idea how much it helped Britian, giving much appreciated news, programmes and interest for them. Many people improved their english listening to it and it used to bring quite a lot of money to Britian as they would choose to come to university here. Very sad how the politicians have spoilt so much of the good things they brought, much of it intangable, but it was definitely a positive influence in the world.

GrandmaKT

Yes, SueDonim, that's just what I was going to say. Lots of people would pay to watch/ listen to the BBC, they are really missing a trick. I think they may have missed the boat now though, as most people just use a VPN and the money goes to those companies instead.

Isn't that what the license fee is for? Do ex-pats, as you call them, not pay the license fee?

You mention international listeners too- so I take the ex-pats are some sort of exception?

I always assumed the international broadcasts would have had to be paid for anyway, excepting the WS? Certainly BBC TV shows are sold to overseas broadcasters- why not radio shows?

This is very confusing to me...

Freya5

Yet they'll continue with their world service, which we pay for. Both from our tv licence fee, and Government subsidies. The countries who use it pay not a shilling towards it. So perhaps it would be useful to look at trimming that down. Have you seen how many foreign language stations it provides?

Well said.

Yet they'll continue with their world service, which we pay for. Both from our tv licence fee, and Government subsidies. The countries who use it pay not a shilling towards it. So perhaps it would be useful to look at trimming that down. Have you seen how many foreign language stations it provides?

There’s Britbox which is a BBC thing - we have that but it is mainly old stuff, no news or anything contemporary. Precious little things, the BBC. Perhaps they could be described as pearl clutchers ? Their news is good,though, better than ours with a wider perspective. They are very clever at blocking VPNs these days,too, so I can’t be bothered anymore.

Yes, SueDonim, that's just what I was going to say. Lots of people would pay to watch/ listen to the BBC, they are really missing a trick. I think they may have missed the boat now though, as most people just use a VPN and the money goes to those companies instead.

nanna8

Well that will help with their reputation, won’t it ? Very shortsighted and somewhat xenophobic. Maybe they’ve been listening to Donald ?

Maybe there's no choice. How do you think they can make ends meet?

That seem like a good idea SueDonim. I player is great. And it is Sounds as well as TV.

I can’t understand why the BBC doesn’t make iPlayer available outside the UK for a subscription. They’d make loads of money. Obvs that is TV not radio but limiting radio as well seems a very parochial move to make.

Jackiest

And how many people will start using a VPN to listen to them.

Most people who watch UK tv do Jackiest we did when we lived abroad.

It’s a shame, but that has happened for a while with music and other programmes I used to listen to from other countries. A message comes up saying things like “Sorry, this programme is not available outside . . .”

May be the revenue from the advertising will go to reduce the cost of the licence for UK users. 🤣🤣🤣

Yes, apparently financial.
It's just the app though I believe.
Still available online.

A pity after decimating the world service.

And how many people will start using a VPN to listen to them.

I don't think many young people buy licences these days. They don't use the BBC.
It seems quite harsh to cut people's enjoyment of BBC programmes.
I know they need to cut back but the huge salaries paid to some managers and presenters isn't helping their funding problems.

So sad and somehow a sign of the times. I listen to Australian news podcasts partly because it is illuminating hearing a totally different perspective to what is happening in Europe and partly because interviews are calm and the interviewers listen to what people say instead of jumping down their throats like rabid dogs! No BBC names mentioned!
I used to like to listen to foreign news stations and to read overseas newspapers, for instance the New York Times and the Irish Times but they are all behind paywalls now and so we become more insular. Sad.