BBC Studios – creator, producer and distributor of distinct British content globally – today launched BBC Podcasts Premium, its exclusive Apple subscription podcast service for listeners in 166 new countries including a number of countries across Asia (full list here). BBC Podcasts Premium offers early access and ad-free listening for a range of the BBC’s most popular titles for listeners on Apple Podcasts. The international rollout of BBC Podcasts Premium coincides with yesterdays launch of The Global Story, a brand-new daily news podcast from BBC Studios and BBC World Service. Hosted by Katya Adler, The Global Story drills deep into a single story everyday offering unrivalled context and deeper insight, drawing upon the BBC’s best global journalists and expertise from all over the world.

“Audio is core to the BBC’s heritage. We’ve been doing it for over a century and it forms part of our fabric as a global newscaster and storyteller,” said Louise la Grange, SVP – Audio Distribution, BBC Studios. “With a wide, inventive slate of audio content that includes everything from daily news to sports analysis to pop culture to fiction and more, we’re incredibly excited to continue to expand our relationship with

Apple to reach more listeners globally. Through BBC Podcasts Premium, we’re inviting new audiences around the world into this seamless, premium listening experience to hear the very best of our audio journalism and storytelling.”

General Manager and SVP BBC Studios Asia, Phil Hardman says: “We are thrilled to expand access to our phenomenal range of podcasts across Asia with this ad-free service. The global partnership with Apple gives audiences another platform to enjoy the highest quality BBC audio content. The lineup including new BBC News podcast The Global Story is fantastic and adds to our already extensive range of podcasts that inform, educate and entertain. I’m excited to listen to more from BBC Podcasts and for our audiences to enjoy streamlined access to our very best global podcasts.”

The global expansion of BBC Podcasts Premium follows earlier launches in Australia in May and New Zealand in March of this year and in the U.S. and Canada in 2021. In 2022, BBC Podcasts Premium ranked as one of Apple’s top 20 subscriber channels. BBC Podcasts Premium’s international rollout marks the latest step forward for BBC Studios’ expanding audio unit. Earlier this year, the BBC announced the move of audio production in selected genres including factual, entertainment and drama from the BBC’s in-house production team to BBC Studios. BBC Studios’ new audio production unit will be headed up by Richard Knight, while international audio distribution and monetization is led by Louise la Grange.

With BBC Podcasts Premium, subscribers unlock ad-free, early access to the BBC’s best shows including Good Bad Billionaire, Infinite Monkey Cage, and Intrigue and ad-free versions of popular shows across news, true crime, pop culture, history, science, and fiction including BBC Global News Podcast, The Global Story, World Business Report, and Dua Lipa: At Your Service. Content highlights include:

BBC Global Story – Hosted by Katya Adler, each episode focuses on one story and draws upon the BBC’s best global journalists with a fresh sound and a smart take on the biggest stories of our time. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines on a journey of understanding and exploration.

BBC Global News Podcast – The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily editions on the weekend.

The Lazarus Heist – Hackers, North Korea and billions of dollars. Lazarus returns – in fact, the criminals never went away. Season 2 begins at an ATM, possibly near you. With Jean Lee and Geoff White. Investigators claim a secretive, elite North Korean hacking ring, nicknamed the Lazarus Group, is responsible for the theft of billions of dollars around the globe.

Americast – The authoritative weekly US news and politics podcast from BBC News, Americast investigates the social and cultural issues that define America today.

Business Daily – The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.

Dua Lipa: At Your Service – Pop powerhouse Dua Lipa has candid, uplifting and insightful conversations with the people who inspire her most about topics like reinvention, sex and relationships, psychedelics, and more.

Football Daily – Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, Steve Crossman, Darren Fletcher and the Football Daily team bring you the latest news, insight, analysis and big name guests from the Premier League, WSL and the Football League, plus Scottish, International and European football.

Good, Bad, Billionaire – Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and then they judge them. Are they good, bad, or just another billionaire?

Infinite Monkey Cage – Professor Brian Cox and Robert Ince host a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists’ eyes.

Intrigue: Million Dollar Lover – Million Dollar Lover tells the unlikely, true love story between Carolyn, 80, a wealthy Cayucos resident, and Dave, 57, a homeless ex-convict. While Carolyn’s daughters and onlookers debate the merits of Carolyn and Dave’s romance, BBC investigative journalist Sue Mitchell uncovers the sordid secrets and horrors hidden in Dave’s past

Just One Thing with Michael Mosley – If time is tight, what’s the one thing that you should be doing to improve your health and wellbeing? Michael Mosley reveals surprisingly simple top tips that are scientifically proven to change your life.

Lady Killers With Lucy Worsley – Lucy and a crack team of female detectives investigate the crimes of women from the 19th and 20th Century from a contemporary, feminist perspective.

People Who Knew Me – Emily Morris uses 9/11 to fake her own death and run away to start a new life in California as Connie Prynne. Fourteen years later, now with a teenage daughter by her side, Connie is diagnosed with breast cancer. She must decide how to explain her lies, her secrets, her selfish decisions – and ultimately her ‘widowed’ husband. Starring Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie, based on the novel by Kim Hooper.

Vishal – Vishal is a true crime podcast into the unsolved murder of an 8-year-old London school boy who disappeared on the day of the Royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, over 40 years ago. Hosted by BBC investigative journalist Colin Campbell, the 9-part podcast series unravels the workings of an extensive pedophile network operating in London and the English countryside.

World of Secrets: The Abercrombie Guys – The stories they don’t want told. Global BBC investigations and gripping storytelling – holding the powerful to account. Delve into a World of Secrets.

BBC Podcasts Premium is available now from the BBC Podcasts channel on Apple Podcasts for $2.99 USD per month or at an annual price of $29.99 USD a year. A 7-day free trial is available.