BBC World Service from the web

We are big fans of the BBC World Service; its news service is excellent and its programmes are interesting and informative. However, in a major revamp, the World Service has recently drastically trimmed its broadcasting schedule to Europe, essentially reducing it to two blocks in the early morning and the evening. In the late morning and early afternoon, which is exactly when Mrs. Tones likes to listen, it has virtually ceased to exist in Switzerland. If atmospheric conditions are right, it is possible to pick up a SW broadcast really destined elsewhere. Poor Mrs. Tones is almost prepared to listen to the Voice of America! (I said "almost").

The World Service always exists on the web, but she doesn't want to have to crank up the computer just to listen. So, my question is:

Does there exist a "radio" that is exclusively designed for web radio?

I guess this would have to be basically a small computer with none of the normal computer functions, just the ability to play web radio. Amazed that Sony (big maker of very innovative SW receivers) hasn't thought of it yet - or has it, and I've been looking in the wrong place?

 

That is one of the functions provided by a Squeezebox from www.slimdevices.com. However, to get the Real streams going that are used by the BBC requires some extra work provided by a 3rd-party plug-in available from the same site called Alien BBC. Not every user has got this to work yet, and you need to be kind of computer-nerdy to stand a chance. However, the solution will come gradually, since the operating software is continually improved by an open-spurce community of users (as well as the developers themselves.)

In short, if you want a dabble with net radio, then get Squeezebox or something similar; if you must have a fully working, black-box, easy-to-use BBC netradio, then wait a bit or look elsewhere.

NB You need a supporting computer to provide a stream of audio data to this device.

 

It would seem that the WorldService (page down a bit) can be listened to via the net and RealPlayer, it looks like they also offer a Radio On Demand service (yet to try this). Please let us know if you have any luck with these links.