BBC Launches ‘Asia Specific’ Podcast with Mariko Oi | In-Depth Stories from the Asia-Pacific
This is one of the time when Asia’s influence on global politics, economics, and culture is rapidly growing, the BBC World Service has unveiled a new podcast designed to decode the stories shaping the region. Titled “Asia Specific”, this visualised podcast series offers deep dives into the major issues, events, and perspectives defining the Asia-Pacific region — from trade and technology to culture and climate.
Launching on 19 November 2025, Asia Specific will be hosted by renowned BBC journalist Mariko Oi from the network’s Singapore bureau. Each episode will explore how Asia’s complex stories connect and influence the rest of the world.
Asia Specific is not just another podcast — it’s a multiplatform news experience blending broadcast-quality storytelling with digital accessibility. The show will:
Air twice weekly, offering fresh, timely insights into breaking stories.
Feature visualised episodes on YouTube, before becoming available on BBC Sounds, BBC.com, the BBC App, and other global podcast platforms.
Present expert commentary, regional analysis, and on-the-ground reporting from across Asia.
Designed for both regional audiences and international listeners, the podcast will explore why Asia matters now more than ever — and what’s next for the fastest-changing part of the world.
Meet the Host: Mariko Oi
A familiar name and face to BBC audiences, Mariko Oi brings years of global reporting experience and a deep understanding of Asia’s evolving dynamics. She has covered some of the most defining stories of the past decade, including:
The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami
The Trump–Kim summits on North Korea’s denuclearization
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Mariko Oi’s Vision for the Show
In her announcement, Oi said:
“I’m thrilled to be presenting Asia Specific. I’ve always been passionate about telling Asian stories to global audiences. Asia is incredibly vast and diverse, but there are stories that bind us together. Our team reflects that diversity — we’re working in a multicultural newsroom to cover stories that matter both regionally and globally.”
Her vision embodies the spirit of the programme: pan-Asian storytelling through diverse voices and nuanced analysis.
The Editorial Team Behind the Podcast
The BBC World Service has assembled an elite team of journalists and producers to shape Asia Specific into a truly regional yet global show.
Key Team Members
Bill Birtles – Former ABC China correspondent and Indonesia bureau chief. Known for his fearless reporting and insightful geopolitical analysis, Birtles adds depth to coverage of East and Southeast Asia.
Derek Cai – A journalist whose experience spans BBC, The Wall Street Journal, and The Straits Times, bringing strong cross-media expertise and deep understanding of Asian markets and technology.
Rachel Lee – From BBC’s Korean Service, Lee is a producer and reporter focusing on social trends, youth culture, and the Korean Peninsula’s shifting political landscape.
Regular Contributors
Jonathan Head – BBC’s veteran South East Asia Correspondent, with decades of experience covering the region’s political and economic transformations.
Laura Bicker – BBC’s China Correspondent, known for her incisive coverage of China’s domestic policies, diplomacy, and digital ecosystem.
Together, this cross-regional team forms the backbone of Asia Specific — bringing firsthand insights, in-depth reporting, and cultural fluency that set the series apart from other global news podcasts.
What Makes “Asia Specific” Different?
1. Visualised Podcasting for a Digital Audience
Unlike traditional audio-only podcasts, Asia Specific is designed as a visualised format, allowing audiences to watch as well as listen. This innovative approach blends TV-style production with digital-first accessibility, signalling the BBC’s ongoing evolution into a truly multiplatform newsroom.
2. Regional Stories with Global Relevance
Every episode explores how local events in Asia ripple across the world — whether it’s China’s economic shifts, climate change in the Pacific, or elections in Southeast Asia.
3. Authentic Asian Voices
Hosted and produced by journalists who live and breathe the region, Asia Specific ensures representation from within Asia — not just commentary from afar.
4. Trusted BBC Journalism
With its reputation for impartiality and accuracy, BBC World Service guarantees balanced coverage — a crucial factor in an era of information overload and misinformation.
Why Asia Needs Its Own Global Platform
Asia is not a monolith. It’s a mosaic of cultures, economies, and histories, representing over 60% of the world’s population and driving more than half of global economic growth. Yet, global narratives about Asia are often filtered through Western perspectives.
Asia Specific aims to shift that lens, offering stories told by Asians, for global audiences, backed by BBC’s editorial rigour.
Key focus areas include:
Politics & Power: How regional alliances, elections, and diplomacy shape Asia’s identity.
Economy & Innovation: The rise of tech giants, startups, and sustainable development.
Climate & Environment: Asia’s role in global climate efforts and environmental resilience.
Culture & Identity: Exploring how music, film, art, and youth movements redefine Asian modernity.
Behind the Scenes: The Singapore Bureau
The BBC’s Singapore newsroom has long been a hub for Asia-Pacific coverage. With Asia Specific, it becomes the creative centre of an ambitious storytelling experiment that unites broadcast journalism, digital strategy, and regional expertise.
The diverse team represents multiple nationalities and backgrounds, reflecting the plurality of the Asia-Pacific region itself.
BBC World Service on Expanding Global Coverage
Jon Zilkha, Controller of BBC World Service English, emphasized the strategic importance of the new show:
“We’re pleased to be announcing Asia Specific, a new English-language podcast for audiences across the Asia-Pacific. We’ll be drawing on expertise from across BBC News to deliver trusted, in-depth reporting. It’s an important addition to our global storytelling — bringing original analysis on the stories shaping Asia and the world.”
His remarks highlight the BBC’s ongoing commitment to expanding international coverage and innovating storytelling formats for digital platforms.
Episode Release Schedule and Availability
First Episode Date:19 November 2025
Release Frequency:Twice weekly
Platforms:
YouTube (visualised episodes)
BBC Sounds (audio streaming in the UK)
BBC.com and BBC App (internationally)
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts (global availability)
This hybrid release strategy ensures accessibility across multiple markets, appealing to both visual-first viewers and audio-only listeners.
BBC’s Multiplatform News Strategy: The Bigger Picture
The launch of Asia Specific represents the BBC’s next phase in digital-first journalism — combining TV-grade visuals, audio storytelling, and social media integration to reach diverse audiences.
Strategic Goals Include:
Strengthening engagement across the Asia-Pacific region, home to millions of digital-native consumers.
Building a younger, globally aware audience through video-podcast formats.
Expanding BBC’s brand presence in markets like India, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.
By investing in visualised podcasts, the BBC aims to bridge traditional broadcasting with the on-demand future — ensuring its journalism remains both credible and accessible.
The Growing Role of Podcasts in Asia
Podcast consumption in Asia has skyrocketed over the last five years. From Tokyo to Jakarta, audiences are turning to long-form audio and video content for news, analysis, and storytelling.
Recent research shows:
Podcast listenership in Asia-Pacific has grown by over 70% since 2020.
Countries like India, South Korea, and the Philippines are emerging as major podcast markets.
YouTube is now one of the top platforms for podcast discovery across the region.
Asia Specific capitalizes on these trends, positioning itself at the intersection of authentic storytelling and digital innovation.
Why Listeners Should Tune In
If you care about the future of Asia — its politics, economies, societies, and people — Asia Specific promises to be essential listening (and viewing). Each episode delivers:
Expert insights from correspondents embedded in the region.
Nuanced analysis beyond headlines.
Human stories that connect across borders.
Whether you’re an academic, policy watcher, or simply curious about the world’s most dynamic region, this podcast offers a window into the heartbeat of modern Asia.
Conclusion: Redefining Global Storytelling
With Asia Specific, the BBC World Service reinforces its legacy of truth, depth, and diversity in journalism — while embracing new ways of storytelling fit for the digital era.
By bringing together regional voices, expert reporting, and visual innovation, the series captures what it means to be part of an Asia that is connected, complex, and constantly changing.
From Singapore to Seoul, Mumbai to Manila — Asia Specific is the sound (and sight) of a region speaking for itself.
