BBC Audio Zone (www.bbcaudiozone.com) will allow users to sample, purchase and download most of the company’s spoken-word audio in a fast and secure way.

Users can download their favourites onto their iPod, MP3 player, mobile phone, or even burn CDs.

The site offers more than 1400 BBC Audio titles, including well-known comedy talents from the past, like Around the Horne and Tony Hancock, to the present, such as Little Britain and Mitchell and Webb. The range of unabridged and dramatised audio books includes complete works from Alan Bennett, Michael Palin and Phillip Pullman alongside selected old favourites from Douglas Adams. Customers will also see a list of categories such as crime and thrillers, children‘s classic fiction and self-development amongst others, so they can easily be directed to their favourite genre.

As part of the launch, three major online magazines; radiotimes.com, topgear.com and bbcgoodfood.com will all feature direct links to BBC Audio Zone, guiding their readers to the download site.

In addition, the new BBC Audio Zone will be highlighted on Audible‘s home page and a click on the link will take the consumer straight to the BBC Audiobooks‘ ‘shop‘ which will feature an Editor‘s Pick, new releases and the top 20 bestsellers.