BBC Sounds streams 417 million plays in Q4 2022 with on-demand plays up 18.2% year on year according to recent figures released by the BBC. On-demand listening of the BBC’s audio content grew between October and December with BBC Sounds achieving a record 197.7 million plays for on-demand radio programmes, podcasts and music mixes.
Topping the charts was Newscast, and the BBC’s Football titles, including Football Daily and Match of the Day: Top 10, which were popular especially amongst younger audiences. There was a record 4.5 million average weekly users, peaking at a record 4.61 million during the week Liz Truss resigned.
Key highlights on BBC Sounds
- BBC Sounds Newscast was the most popular podcast overall and for listeners under 35 this quarter, following the hectic political scene in the UK.
- Desert Island Discs was the most listened to on-demand radio programme after The Archers, with festive castaways like Kirsty Young, Steven Spielberg and Cate Blanchett proving popular. New series The Boy In The Woods was the third most popular on-demand radio programme.
- The Archers was also the most popular on-demand radio programme for listeners under 35, followed by Radio 1 Anthems, Radio 1’s Dance Anthems and Football Daily.
- Football titles continued to help drive younger listeners to BBC Sounds with Football Daily among the most popular on demand radio programmes and Match of the Day: Top 10 among the most listened to podcasts by listeners under 35.
- Lifestyle improvement podcasts like Sliced Bread and Michael Mosley’s new series Sleep Well both featured in the top 10 most listened to podcasts.
- Investigative podcasts continued to prove popular, with The Witch Farm, The Coming Storm and The Missing Cryptoqueen among the most listened to by all age groups.
- Listeners enjoyed hours of uninterrupted festive music shows as Christmas Sounds was the most popular music mix, contributing to a total of 4.7 million plays for all music mixes this quarter.
- 53% of all plays on BBC Sounds last quarter came from live listeners compared to 47% who listened on-demand.
There were 259 million global podcast downloads across the world between October and December 2022, with the Global News Podcast (BBC World Service), The Documentary Podcast (BBC World Service) and Newscast (BBC News) forming the top three most popular podcasts on BBC Sounds.
