The majority of our programmes are available to listen to on demand for 30 days after broadcast. Some programmes for which the BBC owns the rights have a much longer availability period.
However, some have shorter availability periods or may not be available on demand at all due to rights issues. This is mainly the case for sporting events.
Find out how long a programme is available for
- BBC Sounds website
You can check how long you have left to listen to an episode by selecting Programme Website and checking the Days left to listen section.
- BBC Sounds app
Tap on the episode or music mix and scroll down to see how long that episode is still available for.
If you're listening to a series, it's best to check that all the episodes are currently available so you don't miss out on any parts of the story.
How long are downloads available for?
Downloaded programmes have the same availability as their on-demand counterparts, so if an episode is available for 30 days on demand, it will also only be available for 30 days as a download. Once it's outrun its availability, it will be removed from the Downloads section on the BBC Sounds app. Podcasts are different, though. Take a look at the advice below for information on podcast availability.
How long are podcasts available for?
Once you've downloaded a podcast, it's yours to keep and has no expiry date. Podcasts that aren't downloaded (i.e. streamed online) may only be available for a short while - most for just seven days - so it's best to download it if you want to keep it for longer.
