MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has launched its first music podcasts. These offer a range of regular compilations including pop, folk, hip hop, jazz, indie, rhythm and blues, dance, punk and Asian music.

The podcasts contain material from programmes previously broadcast on BBC Radio and ?“ for the first time ?“ also include 30-second clips of music.

BBC Radio 1`s Chart Show offers clips of the hits played on the show along with the run down of the Top 40.

Later this week, a range of new podcasts will be available, containing highlights from Radio 1 specialist music shows.

From 17 November, the portfolio expands to offer podcasts including Folk & Acoustic with Mike Harding from BBC Radio 2, Stuart Maconie`s Freak Zone from BBC 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network Chart.

1Xtra BBC has podcasts from a range of music genres including hip hop, dancehall and garage.

All of the podcasts are available from bbc.co.uk/podcasts.

BBC Audio and Music controller, multiplatform and interactive Mark Friend said, "Including clips of music in our podcasting service allows us to represent the incredible breadth of BBC Radio`s output.

"We now have a service that offers highlights of both music and speech programming, giving listeners a much wider choice of great content to download."

The BBC`s podcast service already offers more than 120 speech-only titles, including The Archers, Best Of Moyles and Russell Brand.

The BBC was the first British broadcaster to podcast when it offered Radio 4`s In Our Time as a podcast in November 2004.

It was part of a trial launched to help understand podcasting technology, audiences` appetite for downloads and their preferred content.

A formal podcasting trial started in May 2005.