BBC iPlayer Radio app updated for cars

The BBC’s iPlayer Radio app has been updated to include a personalised experience for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The car-friendly view is comprised of four sections. Following provides access to all radio shows and series, with any programmes added in the smartphone app appearing in the ‘car-friendly’ view. Back-to-back episodes of listeners chosen programmes are heard through the Listen Later section.

Downloads provides offline playback of programmes which listeners have downloaded and Stations makes it possible to listen live to all of the BBC’s national and local stations.

The simplified touch interface allows users to skip to the next episode or jump forwards and backwards within a programme, 20 seconds at a time. The Android Auto experience also supports voice commands.

The corporation says more than 22 million people listen to BBC radio in the car, for an average of nearly five hours a week.

“BBC Radio is the daily soundtrack for millions of motorists via our broadcast services,” said Dan Taylor-Watt, head of BBC iPlayer and BBC iPlayer Radio.

“I’m delighted that we’re now able to open up the full breadth of our live and on demand offer to UK drivers via the BBC iPlayer Radio app and let them tailor their listening experience for their journey.”

To access the new features Android users can connect to a compatible car display or download the Android Auto app on smartphones with Android 5.0 or higher. Apple iPhone users will need to connect to a CarPlay-equipped car.

The updated app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It was developed by an in-house BBC team based in Salford.

The in-car experience via CarPlay and Android Auto is only available on the UK version of the BBC iPlayer Radio app.