All BBC Local Radio Stations to start streaming online this year

All 40 BBC Local Radio stations across the English Regions are to be streamed on the internet ? meaning that listeners who log on can access their local service no matter where they are.

The announcement follows last year’s decision to broadcast all the national and regional variations of BBC ONE to audiences across the UK on the digital satellite platform and, like that move, reflects the BBC’s strategy of making its local and regional services as widely available as possible.

Andy Griffee, Controller, BBC English Regions, says: “More and more people are listening to radio through the internet, especially on their office desk tops.

“Until now local radio stations were not part of the BBC’s online distribution.

“This breakthrough means that listeners across the UK now have greatly increased choice of BBC stations.

“It will also provide us with the opportunity to create new programme formats and content spanning different local stations.”

The service will be phased in later this year on the BBC’s Where I Live sites, all of which can be accessed at www.bbc.co.uk/whereilive, and will be accessible to people with both narrowband and broadband connections.

BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Radio Ulster are all streamed on the internet already and are also available on Digital Satellite and Freeview TV.

BBC London 94.9 is already available on the internet.