BBC to launch Radio 1 video channel on iPlayer this year

Ben Cooper

The BBC is planning to launch a dedicated space on its iPlayer catch-up service later this year for video created by its youth-oriented radio station, Radio 1.

Discussing the plans in a blog post this week, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra controller, Ben Cooper, said: “BBC iPlayer is a natural home for our videos, given that around 25% of 16-24 year olds already use it on average each week.”

He said that Radio 1 planned to post “one or two new pieces of visual content” per day on iPlayer, which will be available for 30 days – that is, once the iPlayer catch-up window is extended from seven to 30 days later this year.
Content will include live music sessions, interviews with big-name guests and highlights from live events like Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

The iPlayer videos will also be longer than most of the clips that Radio 1 already posts to its YouTube channel – which hit 1 million subscribers earlier this year.

Discussing the iPlayer plans, Cooper said: “It won’t be a 24/7 service with a ‘schedule’; it won’t include standalone official music videos; and we have no ambitions to produce traditional TV programmes. Instead, all of our videos will continue to be related to our broadcast output at Radio 1, with the same distinctive editorial tone and exclusive BBC content.”

“In short, our presence on BBC iPlayer will be a natural extension of us reflecting and celebrating youth culture in the UK. I hope to continue to inform audiences of our distinctive mix of new music, educate through social action campaigns and entertain with our diverse family of presenters, in a new home within the BBC for the HD generation.”