BBC iPlayer Radio gets downloads – but not until 2014

By Andy Clough
published

At last! The BBC Trust has approved downloads for BBC iPlayer Radio to iOS and Android devices from 2014

Given the popularity of BBC iPlayer, it's perhaps no surprise that the BBC Trust has given the go-ahead for radio downloads via the service.

The current BBC iPlayer app for iOS and Android lets you download TV shows without any fuss, for viewing offline, but radio shows don't get the same treatment – yet.

Why? Because iPlayer radio downloads had to be approved by the BBC Trust and Ofcom. That hurdle's now been cleared, and the BBC has announced that the option to download radio shows will be available in 2014 – albeit with a 30-days-from-broadcast shelf life.

Downloaded shows will also expire seven days after the first listen, but we can't imagine that will pose a problem for most people.

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Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.