The BBC is, the BBC reports, to put ads on its podcasts.
The BBC has had ads on its podcasts for some time outside the UK, but now the BBC is to put ads on its podcasts inside the UK.
Listen on a third-party service (aka “open RSS”) and you’ll hear ads in BBC podcasts in the UK - which goes for Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or hundreds of others using open RSS. You can avoid the ads (in the UK) by downloading the BBC Sounds app.
The Corporation is presumably arguing that this is no different to BBC Magazines, BBC Books, or BBC DVDs, or Dave. Shows are made by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, so they can monetise them how they wish.
Additional story from James Cridland at: