MUMBAI: The BBC has announced that there have been over one million downloads of its programmes to its BBC iPlayer radio app in less than a month since the functionality launched.

The update to the BBC iPlayer radio app allows listeners to download radio programmes in full to their smartphone or tablet for free, listen to them offline, and keep them for up to 30 days, meaning listeners can enjoy BBC radio and music programmes on the underground, planes, at the beach, or any location where internet access is beyond reach.

Of the one million programmes downloaded since its roll-out in July, the most popular downloads have been BBC Radio 4 Drama (including Diamonds Are Forever, Silk: The Clerks’ Room and Rumpole, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch), BBC Radio 1’s Summer Mix and The Archers.

The top 20 downloaded programmes are:

The BBC has also unveiled the most popular day for downloading programmes is Sunday – with a peak around 10pm – as people prepare for the commute to school or work for the week ahead. And, only a quarter of the top 20 downloaded programmes were previously available as podcasts, highlighting the increasing demand to access BBC Radio and Music programmes offline.

Andrew Scott, General Manager of Radio and Music, BBC Digital, says: "We knew from the success of our podcast service that there was a demand to download BBC Radio and Music content to listen to whenever they wanted too. But hitting one million downloads across the whole of BBC Radio and Music has far surpassed our expectations. We’re looking forward to bringing audiences even more features like this over the coming months.”

There are three simple steps for listeners to download and enjoy BBC Radio offline:

·         Install the latest BBC iPlayer Radio app on their iOS, Android or Kindle smartphone or tablet

·         Tap the ‘Download’ option on the programme they want to save - the programme will be added to their download queue and downloaded whenever the device is connected to Wi-Fi

·         Listen and enjoy

Radio listeners can add multiple programmes to download. Once downloaded, programmes can then be accessed from the Downloads option within the menu.