The commercial radio industry has welcomed confirmation from the BBC that it will drop its proposals to introduce ads in podcasts on third-party platforms in the UK.
After months of campaigning against the plans, last week the BBC clarified that it will finally “rule out placing adverts around BBC licence-fee funded programmes on third party podcast platforms in the UK.”
This change was outlined in the BBC’s 2025/26 Annual Plan, published today (Monday 31st March). In the report, the BBC explains that having explored the options for commercialisation in the UK, they have ruled out the change.
Radiocentre led an industry-wide campaign against the BBC’s plans that were set out in its 2024/25 Annual Plan in March 2024. A broad coalition of media and content businesses warned government of serious consequences for audiences if the BBC were to go ahead with its proposals.
Evidence was also published by Radiocentre last year that showed that BBC radio could not be funded by advertising and would have a devastating impact on the wider audio sector.
The government is expected to publish its Terms of Reference for the combined Charter Renewal and Funding process in the summer.
Matt Payton, Radiocentre CEO said: “We welcome the BBC’s public confirmation that it will not be introducing ads on its podcasts on third-party platforms. This is clearly the right decision for audiences as well as the many businesses investing in podcasts in the UK. The BBC receives significant funding from the licence-fee to produce distinctive audio content and introducing advertising alongside this would be damaging and inappropriate.”