Radio stations will remain available outside UK

The BBC has said its radio stations will continue to be available for people outside the UK to listen to live after BBC Sounds access is restricted for international listeners.

BBC Sounds will close for listeners outside the UK on 21 July 2025.

International listeners will be able to listen to the BBC’s radio stations through links on the station directory online, the BBC said.

This includes the BBC’s national stations – BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, and Radio 3, 6Music, 1Xtra and Asian Network, Radio 4Xtra and 5Live – all the stations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and every local radio station in England.

The BBC announced in April that it had delayed blocking BBC Sounds app for audiences outside the UK.

That delay came after a decision made by the corporation meant listeners outside the UK would only be able to access Radio 4 and the World Service via a new audio section on the BBC website.

Questions had been asked about what this would mean for listeners in the Republic of Ireland who would be unable to use the internet to access Northern Ireland-based stations BBC Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle.

The BBC said listening to BBC audio programming on non-BBC platforms would not be affected by the change.

It also said a range of English, Welsh and Gaelic language podcasts were available on BBC.com/audio and third-party podcast services.

BBC Sounds is the online home of BBC radio.

People can listen to live radio streams, on demand programmes, podcasts, audiobooks and music mixes.

It can be accessed via the Sounds website or its dedicated app.

People can also listen on many smart speakers and internet radio devices.

The BBC said UK users who went on holiday outside the UK for a short time would still be able to use the BBC Sounds app.

A BBC spokesperson said: “BBC Sounds will now be available on the same basis as BBC iPlayer.

“Both services are restricted to a UK domestic audience, reflecting rights and associated considerations.

“BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle will remain more widely available via bbc.com.”