BBC Radio 1 is extending its multimedia offerings by starting a dedicated video channel on BBC iPlayer.
The station currently gets seven people per second clicking play on YouTube, but the new streamed channel will provide exclusive performances and interviews which are not broadcast on the BBC’s traditional TV channels.
The move means station content is available anywhere iPlayer is available rather than pointing to YouTube. The YouTube channel has over 600,000 subscribers online and receives nearly 12 million views a month.
Content will range from music featured in Radio 1’s Live Lounge or at the annual Big Weekend festival, to interviews with major stars or popular online features such as Innuendo Bingo.
Ben Cooper, Controller of BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, says: “I’m very excited about transforming Radio 1 from being just a radio station into being a full audio-visual channel. Radio 1 has always pioneered innovative ideas and led the way in engaging with young people and this is another huge step in cementing that reputation.”
An interview with Kanye West by Zane Lowe in September attracted over 3 million views on the station’s YouTube channel, while DJ Greg James’s spoof video of Wrecking Ball has had 2.8 million views and Bastille’s Live Lounge has notched up 1.9 million.
It is also hoped that the new channel will be able to carry live events such as the Radio 1 Teen Awards or BBC Radio 1Xtra Live.
See a quick tour of Radio 1 here, along with the station’s video editing facilities.
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Posted on Monday, October 7th, 2013 at 8:24 am by RadioToday Staff