The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / BBC Decides To Geoblock Some Radio & Audio Feeds On The Web

**Posted by RadioActive** March 31, 2025 7:18 am

They were one of the few international broadcasters you could listen to for free without a VPN. But now, the BBC has decided to restrict many of its radio and audio broadcasts solely to those in the U.K.

The Beeb suggests it will somehow improve services for those in the country, although I'm still not quite clear from the explanation on why. BBC Sounds was an invaluable resource where you could hear some pretty amazing documentaries and music specials.

"The BBC has advertising on its website for users outside the UK and the change is intended to generate commercial income by shifting BBC Sounds listeners. It is expected to take place in the spring, although a date has yet to be set...

"Listeners can still use virtual private networks to bypass the geo-blocking."

BBC radio stations and podcasts to go dark for overseas listeners

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** March 31, 2025 8:40 am

Why is once great, english language public media going downhill?
PBS being threttened to close, CBC cairing more about being to far-left and now the great BBC geoblocking content and cutting back BBC world survice.
We nead public media now more than ever.
And, public media neads to be a centrist voice in the media landscape.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** March 31, 2025 8:43 am

RadioActive wrote:
They were one of the few international broadcasters you could listen to for free without a VPN. But now, the BBC has decided to restrict many of its radio and audio broadcasts solely to those in the U.K.

The Beeb suggests it will somehow improve services for those in the country, although I'm still not quite clear from the explanation on why. BBC Sounds was an invaluable resource where you could hear some pretty amazing documentaries and music specials.

"The BBC has advertising on its website for users outside the UK and the change is intended to generate commercial income by shifting BBC Sounds listeners. It is expected to take place in the spring, although a date has yet to be set...

"Listeners can still use virtual private networks to bypass the geo-blocking."

BBC radio stations and podcasts to go dark for overseas listeners

Now I have to pay 100s of dollers to get a VPN.
The uk is doing what the states loves to do, geoblock content.

**Posted by Dial Twister** March 31, 2025 8:45 am

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
And, public media neads to be a centrist voice in the media landscape.

Pray tell. Where is the centre point between democracy and dictatorship?

**Posted by g121** March 31, 2025 10:46 am

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
Now I have to pay 100s of dollers to get a VPN.

Surfshark C$2.79/month https://surfshark.com/pricing

**Posted by RadioActive** March 31, 2025 11:04 am

NordVPN, which is what I use and is recommended in the article, costs $3.09 a month for the basics. That's about $40 a year, which is really cheap. And it works very well.

**Posted by mojo55** April 1, 2025 11:14 pm

After reading more about this, I have learned that only BBC Sounds wont be available outside the UK. You will still be able to hear BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 on the new site at BBC.com later this spring. In addition you will still be able to access BBC World Service on certain NPR stations such as 24 hours a day on WRVO HD3 available as an online stream. Furthermore, BBC World Service will continue to be available on Sirius XM. And, most importantly, all BBC radio stations will continue to be available on Tune-In and other radio apps. So, you wont need to pay for a VPN to receive BBC Radio. I enjoy listening to BBC World Service and also BBC Radio 4 Extra for drama which continues to be produced for radio in the UK.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 6:40 am

Still, it's a shame because BBC Sounds is where they archive all of their radio and documentary work. If you miss them when they air, it won't be quite as easy to hear them. They did a series on the Beatles which was outstanding and thankfully, I downloaded it a few months ago.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 17, 2025 1:08 pm

Decision delayed.

BBC Sounds block outside UK delayed

**Posted by Dave The OTA guy** April 17, 2025 8:49 pm

I've used BBC Sounds to listen to Radio1 for years now and love it. The message appeared two months ago saying that the app was "being replaced for those outside the UK" and Radio4 was the only radio station that was going to be offered through the BBC News app. I refused to uninstall Sounds, and would use my VPN if it meant I could keep listening.

The app was removed from the Google Play store. (I would even pay to listen outside the UK)

Good to know there are different options to listen in case the app no longer works.

(Nord VPN is well worth the money too.)

Last edited by Dave The OTA guy (April 17, 2025 8:51 pm)