BBC Radio on the iPhone

Yea, I don’t know how to do it yet either…

BBC Radio has about 80 different channels of content, from the big dozen or so national feeds to zillions of local feeds across the UK. Unfortunately, the BBC is tied up heavily with Real Audio and has recently done (a heavily criticized) deal with Windows for their content.

What this means is that iPhone users, who can handle streaming mp3 content, are currently out of luck for BBC streaming radio on their iPhone.

This is really quite annoying. Granted mp3 is technically a proprietary format as well, but it’s a standard that works on Real and Windows media players (not to mention Winamp, Shoutcast, VLC and nearly all other audio software programs). That the BBC (and NPR and other public radio stations) continue to utilize these locked up formats is a considerable pain, especially as more and more devices and mobile phones have improved playback for mp3 streams.

The BBC has their podcasts in mp3, and they have built a version of the iPlayer that works with the iPhone (alas US people cannot access the videos though). I think it is only a matter of time before the Beeb comes out with an application to put their content on the iPhone and iPod touch.

But wait! There might be hope. Some folks have found a way to create a BBC 1 relay that converts the stream to an mp3 stream.

http://blog.garryrenshall.co.uk/bbc-radio-1-stream-on-the-iphone

Unfortunately I just tested it and it doesn’t seem to be working at the moment.

We’ll keep monitoring this one.

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42 thoughts on “BBC Radio on the iPhone”

  1. Hi,
    BBC Radio has done no ‘tie-up’ with Real, nor any ‘heavily-criticised’ deal with Windows. (iPlayer’s deal was TV only; and they are actively working to extend the download service to other platforms).
    Our on-demand content is now available in Flash-wrapped MP3 in the UK; and our live streams will be available in a Flash-wrapped format shortly too. Currently our live streams are available in both Real and Windows – a pragmatic choice and not some kind of deal to force people down those routes; that’s not what we’re about.
    I’ve recently posted on our plans for additional codecs on the BBC Radio Labs blog. Please do read it, and feel free to shout if you’ve any questions.
    Hope all this helps.
    James

  2. Hi,
    BBC Radio has done no ‘tie-up’ with Real, nor any ‘heavily-criticised’ deal with Windows. (iPlayer’s deal was TV only; and they are actively working to extend the download service to other platforms).
    Our on-demand content is now available in Flash-wrapped MP3 in the UK; and our live streams will be available in a Flash-wrapped format shortly too. Currently our live streams are available in both Real and Windows – a pragmatic choice and not some kind of deal to force people down those routes; that’s not what we’re about.
    I’ve recently posted on our plans for additional codecs on the BBC Radio Labs blog. Please do read it, and feel free to shout if you’ve any questions.
    Hope all this helps.
    James

  3. Hi,
    BBC Radio has done no ‘tie-up’ with Real, nor any ‘heavily-criticised’ deal with Windows. (iPlayer’s deal was TV only; and they are actively working to extend the download service to other platforms).
    Our on-demand content is now available in Flash-wrapped MP3 in the UK; and our live streams will be available in a Flash-wrapped format shortly too. Currently our live streams are available in both Real and Windows – a pragmatic choice and not some kind of deal to force people down those routes; that’s not what we’re about.
    I’ve recently posted on our plans for additional codecs on the BBC Radio Labs blog. Please do read it, and feel free to shout if you’ve any questions.
    Hope all this helps.
    James

  4. Hi,
    BBC Radio has done no ‘tie-up’ with Real, nor any ‘heavily-criticised’ deal with Windows. (iPlayer’s deal was TV only; and they are actively working to extend the download service to other platforms).
    Our on-demand content is now available in Flash-wrapped MP3 in the UK; and our live streams will be available in a Flash-wrapped format shortly too. Currently our live streams are available in both Real and Windows – a pragmatic choice and not some kind of deal to force people down those routes; that’s not what we’re about.
    I’ve recently posted on our plans for additional codecs on the BBC Radio Labs blog. Please do read it, and feel free to shout if you’ve any questions.
    Hope all this helps.
    James

  5. Thanks James.
    I think this the blog you were talking about
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/2008/07/the_latest_on_our_audio_improv.shtml
    If you read through the comments there are some echoing the concern / desire that support for the BBC’s content on the iPhone would be a ‘killer app.’ I hope we start to see something like that soon.
    And as a Mac user, anything to do with Windows Media will be ‘heavily criticized’ as their support for our platform is such a pain 🙂
    Talk to you soon.

  6. Thanks James.
    I think this the blog you were talking about
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/2008/07/the_latest_on_our_audio_improv.shtml
    If you read through the comments there are some echoing the concern / desire that support for the BBC’s content on the iPhone would be a ‘killer app.’ I hope we start to see something like that soon.
    And as a Mac user, anything to do with Windows Media will be ‘heavily criticized’ as their support for our platform is such a pain 🙂
    Talk to you soon.

  7. Hi
    Not sure I’m in the right place but until a couple of weeks ago I could quite happily listen live and listen again on a Nokia N95 but no longer seem able to do this. The phone has a version of real player on it but each time I click on a “listen” link I am now told to install real player. Previously it just started playing with no fuss at all. Podcasts work fine but the comedy range (Russell Brand and News Quiz excepted) is pretty poor. Any plans to return me to a stste of happiness?

  8. Hi
    Not sure I’m in the right place but until a couple of weeks ago I could quite happily listen live and listen again on a Nokia N95 but no longer seem able to do this. The phone has a version of real player on it but each time I click on a “listen” link I am now told to install real player. Previously it just started playing with no fuss at all. Podcasts work fine but the comedy range (Russell Brand and News Quiz excepted) is pretty poor. Any plans to return me to a stste of happiness?

  9. Hi
    Not sure I’m in the right place but until a couple of weeks ago I could quite happily listen live and listen again on a Nokia N95 but no longer seem able to do this. The phone has a version of real player on it but each time I click on a “listen” link I am now told to install real player. Previously it just started playing with no fuss at all. Podcasts work fine but the comedy range (Russell Brand and News Quiz excepted) is pretty poor. Any plans to return me to a stste of happiness?

  10. Hi
    Not sure I’m in the right place but until a couple of weeks ago I could quite happily listen live and listen again on a Nokia N95 but no longer seem able to do this. The phone has a version of real player on it but each time I click on a “listen” link I am now told to install real player. Previously it just started playing with no fuss at all. Podcasts work fine but the comedy range (Russell Brand and News Quiz excepted) is pretty poor. Any plans to return me to a stste of happiness?

  11. I am thinking of getting an iPhone, but its still very expensive. Being able to stream Radio 1 or Radio 6 to my mobile via EDGE or 3g would definately be a killer App for me and I buy the iPhone immediately. What the likelyhood of beign able to do this any time soon Beeb?

  12. I am thinking of getting an iPhone, but its still very expensive. Being able to stream Radio 1 or Radio 6 to my mobile via EDGE or 3g would definately be a killer App for me and I buy the iPhone immediately. What the likelyhood of beign able to do this any time soon Beeb?

  13. I am thinking of getting an iPhone, but its still very expensive. Being able to stream Radio 1 or Radio 6 to my mobile via EDGE or 3g would definately be a killer App for me and I buy the iPhone immediately. What the likelyhood of beign able to do this any time soon Beeb?

  14. I am thinking of getting an iPhone, but its still very expensive. Being able to stream Radio 1 or Radio 6 to my mobile via EDGE or 3g would definately be a killer App for me and I buy the iPhone immediately. What the likelyhood of beign able to do this any time soon Beeb?

  15. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
    How do I use BBC iPlayer on my iPhone or iPod touch?
    BBC iPlayer for iPhone and iPod touch is currently in a beta phase.
    To access the site, ensure that you have a wireless internet connection for your iPhone or iPod touch, then go to BBC iPlayer homepage. You can Click to Play (stream) any of the programmes available, but you cannot download at present.
    Please note that you will need to keep the wireless connection while playing a programme.
    If you get told to download Flash, try deleting your cookies.

  16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
    How do I use BBC iPlayer on my iPhone or iPod touch?
    BBC iPlayer for iPhone and iPod touch is currently in a beta phase.
    To access the site, ensure that you have a wireless internet connection for your iPhone or iPod touch, then go to BBC iPlayer homepage. You can Click to Play (stream) any of the programmes available, but you cannot download at present.
    Please note that you will need to keep the wireless connection while playing a programme.
    If you get told to download Flash, try deleting your cookies.

  17. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
    How do I use BBC iPlayer on my iPhone or iPod touch?
    BBC iPlayer for iPhone and iPod touch is currently in a beta phase.
    To access the site, ensure that you have a wireless internet connection for your iPhone or iPod touch, then go to BBC iPlayer homepage. You can Click to Play (stream) any of the programmes available, but you cannot download at present.
    Please note that you will need to keep the wireless connection while playing a programme.
    If you get told to download Flash, try deleting your cookies.

  18. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
    How do I use BBC iPlayer on my iPhone or iPod touch?
    BBC iPlayer for iPhone and iPod touch is currently in a beta phase.
    To access the site, ensure that you have a wireless internet connection for your iPhone or iPod touch, then go to BBC iPlayer homepage. You can Click to Play (stream) any of the programmes available, but you cannot download at present.
    Please note that you will need to keep the wireless connection while playing a programme.
    If you get told to download Flash, try deleting your cookies.

  19. You can stream all national BBC radio (not regional BBC radio) using the tutorial and streams at the website http://www.bbcstreams.com
    This is a great service for iPhone users, we need to spread the word! Apparently they are working on providing regional streams too.

  20. You can stream all national BBC radio (not regional BBC radio) using the tutorial and streams at the website http://www.bbcstreams.com
    This is a great service for iPhone users, we need to spread the word! Apparently they are working on providing regional streams too.

  21. You can stream all national BBC radio (not regional BBC radio) using the tutorial and streams at the website http://www.bbcstreams.com
    This is a great service for iPhone users, we need to spread the word! Apparently they are working on providing regional streams too.

  22. You can stream all national BBC radio (not regional BBC radio) using the tutorial and streams at the website http://www.bbcstreams.com
    This is a great service for iPhone users, we need to spread the word! Apparently they are working on providing regional streams too.

  23. Cheers for this blogpost, I have learned a lot more now about mp3’s. My personal place is a open directory I found somwere on google. It has storaged hundreds of music files. I have added the link in that website url option. Hope to see a lot more blogposts from you!

  24. Cheers for this blogpost, I have learned a lot more now about mp3’s. My personal place is a open directory I found somwere on google. It has storaged hundreds of music files. I have added the link in that website url option. Hope to see a lot more blogposts from you!

  25. Cheers for this blogpost, I have learned a lot more now about mp3’s. My personal place is a open directory I found somwere on google. It has storaged hundreds of music files. I have added the link in that website url option. Hope to see a lot more blogposts from you!

  26. Cheers for this blogpost, I have learned a lot more now about mp3’s. My personal place is a open directory I found somwere on google. It has storaged hundreds of music files. I have added the link in that website url option. Hope to see a lot more blogposts from you!

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  28. This is my subsequent visit to your weblog. We are starting a brand new initiative within the same market as this web site. Your blog offered us significant info to work with. You have done a wonderful job.

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