BBC Podcasts, Amazon Music in Global Deal

The BBC and Amazon Music have struck a deal that will make BBC podcasts available on the streaming service for the first time outside the U.K. 

Beginning on Monday, subscribers to Amazon’s Prime and Amazon Music Unlimited services can “exclusively access a curated suite of over 50 of the BBC’s most popular podcasts ad-free, including notable BBC titles such as Americast, BBC Global News Podcast, Dua Lipa: At Your Service, The Global Story, Infinite Monkey Cage, Planet Premier League, and World of Secrets,” the partners said.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The agreement, however, marks the latest step for the growth plans for the audio unit of BBC Studios, the the commercial arm of the U.K. public broadcaster BBC. Late last year, BBC Studios launched BBC Podcasts Premium, its Apple subscription podcast service, in 166 new countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Amazon deal will also “unlock ad-supported listening for the BBC’s complete catalog from across BBC Studios, BBC Public Service, and the BBC World Service for Amazon Music users on the streaming services’ ad-supported free tier,” the partners said.

“Whether it’s a rundown of today’s headlines for the morning commute or a dose of true crime for a long road trip, we have something for everyone,” said Louise la Grange, senior vp, audio, digital news & streaming at BBC Studios. “Audio storytelling has long been our strength as a global content producer, and with this partnership, we are thrilled to bring our BBC podcasts to even wider audiences.”

Shea Simpson, head of podcast business at Amazon Music, said that the “BBC’s premium British programs are a fan-favorite, and we’re excited to make 50 of their top titles available ad-free for Prime members and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers.”

Availability may differ based on location, but the BBC podcasts now available to Amazon Music include the following:

Americast 

“The authoritative weekly U.S. news and politics podcast, Americast investigates the social and cultural issues that define America today,” the BBC says.

BBC Global News Podcast 

The day’s top news stories from the BBC, delivered twice a day on weekdays, with daily editions on the weekend. 

BBC Global Story 

Hosted by Katya Adler each episode focuses on one story and draws upon the BBC’s global journalists to offer “a smart take on the biggest stories of our time, from Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore.”

Business Daily

“The daily drama of money and work,” presented by the BBC World Service.

Dua Lipa: At Your Service

The music star has “candid, uplifting and insightful conversations with the people who inspire her most about topics like reinvention, sex and relationships, psychedelics, and more.”

The Gatekeepers 

Jamie Bartlett (Believe in Magic, The Missing Cryptoqueen) traces the story of how and why social media companies have become the new information gatekeepers, and what the decisions they make mean for everyone.

Good, Bad, Billionaire

Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, “and then they judge them,” according to the show description. “Are they good, bad, or just another billionaire?”

History’s Secret Heroes

Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War II.

Infinite Monkey Cage

Professor Brian Cox and Robert Ince host a “witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists’ eyes.” 

Things Fell Apart with Jon Ronson 

“If you’ve ever yelled at someone on social media about, say, cancel culture or mask-wearing, then you are a soldier in the culture wars – those everyday battles for dominance between conflicting values,” according to a show description. “Acclaimed writer and broadcaster Jon Ronson reveals wholly unexpected but all too human stories about the culture wars that divide us so toxically today.”

Uncanny 

“From ghostly phantoms to UFOs, The Battersea Poltergeist‘s Danny Robins investigates real-life stories of paranormal encounters.”

You’re Dead to Me

The comedy podcast that takes history seriously brings together the names in comedy and history to “learn and laugh about the past.”