The BBC’s decision to introduce advertisements on its podcasts has sparked concern among UK media businesses. They argue that the move, which includes ads on on-demand audio on platforms like Spotify, could have a detrimental effect on the UK’s media market. A collective of 20 media businesses, have voiced their concerns in an open letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
They warn that the BBC’s entry into the audio advertising market could be disastrous for small independent podcast producers. The signatories of the letter include ITV, Channel 4, News UK, DMG Media, Reach plc, and Goalhanger Podcasts. BBC Studios maintains that ads are standard on third-party platforms and the move is intended to generate additional revenue.