BBC Sounds: Radio & Podcasts

BBC Media App Technologies

About this app

BBC Sounds is the new way to listen to BBC audio – your favourite programmes, podcasts, radio stations and music all in one place.

Explore a wide variety of new podcasts, music mixes and live sets. Listen live to BBC radio stations. Catch up or listen again to your favourite BBC radio shows.

Features include:
‐ Listen live to all BBC Radio stations
‐ Pause and rewind live radio, see past and future station schedules
‐ Download and listen to your shows on the go
‐ Continue listening from where you left off on any device
‐ Autoplay multiple episodes of series or podcasts or all your downloads (optional)
‐ Subscribe to BBC podcasts, mixes and programmes
‐ See the latest episodes from your favourite programmes and podcasts in one handy list
‐ Get personalised recommendations to discover new audio you’ll love
‐ Send music tracks you like to Apple Music and Spotify
‐ Browse by speech and music categories
‐ Sleep Timer

BBC Sounds supports Google Talkback as an accessibility service. In order to use it, you will need to download the Android Accessibility Suite from the Google Play Store.

When using the Android Auto enabled version of BBC Sounds, it is your responsibility to always follow safe driving practices (i.e. don’t be distracted and focus on the road at all times). Comply with all relevant laws, traffic regulations and road signs.

To give you the best experience, this app tracks what you’ve listened to on BBC Sounds and how long you’ve listened to programmes for. It also tracks when you add something to Bookmarks or Subscriptions. By “Allow Personalisation”, you will get personalized recommendations. More information can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/account/about-your-personalisation-settings/.

In addition, the BBC Sounds app uses standard Android app permissions that are defined by the Google Android platform.

The BBC uses cookies and similar technologies to understand how audiences interact with our services, content (such as podcasts and radio) and marketing messages. The categories of personal data processed by our data processors include the following:
• IP address to determine which UK city/region you are in, or which country/continent you are in if outside of the UK
• Activity data, such as time when you first used this app and programmes you listened to and interacted with
• Your device information, such as device type and OS version

For Android devices, the following personal data is also processed:
• Which sites referred you to download and use this app
• Personal data such as unique identifier, BBC Account data, type of campaign seen, social media channel used will be collected. We will aggregate it for reporting purposes

You can “opt out” from our data processor’s tracking by filling the “Forget My Device” form in this link https://www.appsflyer.com/optout

For more information about how and why we use information about you, please visit the BBC Sounds App Privacy Notice. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/about-bbc-sounds-and-our-policies/sounds-app-privacy-notice

To read the BBC’s Privacy Policy go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/

If you install this app you accept the BBC Terms of Use at http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/

The app is published by BBC Media AT (BBC Media Applications Technologies Limited) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

Full details of BBC Media AT are available on the Companies House website at: http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/07100235

BBC © 2021
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking: http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/links/

Ratings and reviews

I primarily listen to this on an android head unit in the car. It is a shame I have to rever to this as BBC seem to be removing streaming of it's services from other players. I can no longer switch between stations using steering wheel controls meaning I have to look at a screen which is downright dangerous when driving. NO widget to select radio stations from home screen also which I believe the iOS version has.

(2023/06/08) App is not staying signed in. When signing in, it takes user to a browser page. Once singed in, error message, "Sorry, the page you are looking for cannot be found! Click here to return to BBC Sounds." User gets sent in circles between signing in, the error message, and back again. Not sure what has happened since your update, but it's really messed up the app and makes for a much less than enjoyable experience.

Reliabiillity has improved from early iteration of Sounds, but overall layout and control system takes time to get used to. Lack of on-screen volume control is inconvenient. Sleep timer intervals don't match programme lengths. BBC content is good, particularly longer-form podcasts, although these are hard to find once 'radio edits' have been published. Still much room for improvement!

What's new

Small improvements and bug fixes. Thank you for your feedback.