BBC Sounds recorded 831 million plays between April and June 2026, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period last year.
This growth reflects a shift in how audiences are consuming BBC audio content, with more listeners accessing programmes on demand as well as through traditional live radio.
The figures, released by RAJAR and BBC Sounds, cover both live and on-demand listening during a politically significant quarter in the UK.
The BBC Sounds platform reached an average weekly audience of 4.8 million users, with 10.6 million signed-in accounts over the quarter.
When including all BBC audio content, such as BBC News, BBC Sport and visualised podcasts, the average weekly audience rose to 5.3 million, peaking at 5.5 million during the week of 4 May, coinciding with elections across England, Scotland and Wales.
Off platform, BBC audio content was downloaded 215 million times globally, a 4% year-on-year increase.
Social platforms also played a significant role, with BBC audio content generating 1.22 billion video views during the quarter.
A new partnership with YouTube, announced earlier in the year, contributed to a rise in video podcast views.
BBC podcasts attracted 4.7 million UK views on YouTube in the second quarter of 2026, up 17.4% from the previous quarter.
This growth highlights the early impact of the collaboration and the BBC’s ongoing focus on expanding its video podcast presence.
Kate Phillips, BBC Chief Content Officer, commented on the figures: “Audiences are embracing BBC audio in more ways than ever before. Alongside the enduring strength and scale of our live radio stations, there were 831 million plays on BBC Sounds, 215 million global downloads and more than 1.2 billion social video views.
“That breadth of listening demonstrates the power of our audio offer, whether audiences join us live, listen on demand or discover BBC content on social and YouTube.”
The data underscores the BBC’s reach across multiple platforms and the increasing importance of on-demand and visual content for UK audio audiences.
