Responding to a report this morning that the BBC is planning to feature adverts around its podcast in the UK for the first time, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said:
“The news that the BBC is apparently set to muscle into the UK advertising marketplace by competing with commercial players for advertising around audio output is very alarming. Such an intervention will profoundly distort competition, wreaking havoc on commercial players right across the media and advertising sector.
“The BBC must not be allowed to use the might of its licence fee-powered services in the advertising marketplace otherwise the consequences for our media could be catastrophic. This would set an extremely dangerous precedent and these plans must be stopped immediately.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “Listeners will continue to hear BBC audio without ads on BBC Sounds, but as many of our podcasts are available on commercial platforms like Apple and Spotify where adverts are the norm, we look to carry them in some of our content to generate more revenue to support the BBC, licence fee payers, our suppliers and rightsholders.”
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