Streaming
Streaming a programme, podcast or music mix means listening to it online. Your device will need to be connected to the internet. You can stream a programme or live radio station by finding it on the BBC Sounds website, mobile/tablet app or the TV app and pressing play.
Downloads
Downloading means taking something from the internet and saving it on your device so that you can listen to it when you're not connected to the internet. If you've downloaded a radio programme, podcast or music mix, you can refer to it as a download.
Not all content is available to download on all devices, for example most programmes* are available to download on the mobile/tablet app, but can't be downloaded on the website. Whereas podcasts** can generally be downloaded on both the app and website.
It isn't possible to download any content using the BBC Sounds TV app. This is a streaming service only.
Check our How do I download on the BBC Sounds app? to find out how to download on your mobile or tablet.
To find out more about downloading podcasts on the website, have a look here: How do I download a podcast episode from the website?
Podcasts
A podcast is an edited piece of content which can be a complete radio programme, an edited extract or highlights from a programme, or completely unique content with a particular theme made to be subscribed and listened to as a series.
You can download** and listen to podcasts on your computer, laptop, mobile or tablet, and they're also available to listen to on some internet radios. Unlike downloaded radio programmes and music mixes, most podcasts don't expire once you’ve downloaded them and are yours to keep. However, not all radio content is available as a podcast.
*Sometimes, radio programmes or music mixes won't be available to download for rights reasons. If they are available to download, they're still subject to rights restrictions so are only available for a set period of time, even after they’ve been downloaded. In most cases this will be 30 days but some programmes, mainly sports events, may only be available for shorter periods or not at all.
**Some podcasts are BBC Sounds Exclusives meaning they can be streamed on BBC Sounds on all devices, but downloaded only on the mobile/tablet app.
