The BBC’s Radio 1 is planning to launch a ‘visual’ space on its parent corporation’s iPlayer service later this year, and controller Ben Cooper has been explaining why and how in a blog post. “Over 40% of all 15-24 year olds in the UK tune into Radio 1. But they’re not listening for as long,” he wrote, noting the growing importance of YouTube and social media for this audience. “Now that we are reaching young audiences in those third party spaces, it is time to offer an onward route from Radio 1’s YouTube channel into the rest of the BBC.” Hence the Radio 1 iPlayer channel, which is launching later this year if it gets regulatory approval. “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,” wrote Cooper. “And how will it look? To start, it may help if I say what it’s not going to be: 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.” One eye firmly on those regulators, then. Expect live sessions, interview excerpts and “our more random, creative moments”. Cooper expects Radio 1 to be posting 1-2 new videos a day, which will expire after 30 days on iPlayer.
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