Absolute Radio blocks international streams

Bauer Media’s new station Absolute Radio has blocked international listeners from receiving the station outside the UK.

The station now says it is not economically viable for them to have their audio streams available outside of the UK, after over a decade of doing so.

In a statement, the Absolute Radio says: “We do care about our [international] listeners, of course, but we are a broadcaster funded entirely by UK advertising derived from UK listening It is, therefore, very unfortunately, not economically viable for us to continue to meet the cost of providing non-UK streams.”

The statement also says there are no plans to cut any services in the UK, despite industry speculation of changes after the recent OFT approved purchase by Bauer Media.

The station has invested in online streaming recently, using InStream technology to give advertisers the opportunity to buy online spots determined by geographical location, age and gender.

Advertisers such as Microsoft and VW were the first to take up the service in 2012.