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Stewartroney
Contributor II
January 26, 2022

Alexa still not able to play BBC Radio?

  • January 26, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 280 views

I find it difficult to believe (but maybe it’s just me) but I still don’t seem to be able to ask Alexa to play ‘BBC Radio 2 in the Lounge’ (Lounge grouped to a Sonos 5). It’s fine with other (non BBC) radio stations though and even okay playing BBC Radio on the internal Alexa speaker. Is it a Tunein problem? 🤷‍♂️

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    2 replies

    John B
    January 26, 2022

    Hi.  I am using Alexa to play BBC stations but you have to set it up right.

    What is ‘Lounge’?  An Echo device?  I assume you mean you have an Alexa group with the Lounge Echo as the Alexa device and a Sonos Five as the speaker?  What is the Five called?

    Have you installed the BBC Sounds skill for Alexa?

    I assume you don’t have the Echo connected to the Five’s line in?

    John B
    January 26, 2022

    I might as well just explain my setup in one room, as it works fine for me.

    Sonos skill for Alexa and BBC Sounds skill for Alexa enabled.

    Echo Dot named Dining Room Echo

    Sonos Play:5 named Dining Room

    Echo Dot is NOT connected to line in

    Alexa group set up with Dining Room Echo as the Alexa device and Sonos Play:5 ‘Dining Room’ as speaker

    Required command is ‘Alexa, play BBC radio 2’.

    If you specify the room - either Dining Room or any other room, it won’t work.  As I only ever want to start music in the dining room when I am in the dining room, I don’t find this a problem at all.

    I have identical setups for Living Room and Bedroom.

    I am not confident about the explanation, but I think the origins lie in the BBC’s withdrawal from TuneIn (which Alexa uses), and so you are essentially using the BBC Sounds skill for Alexa.  This doesn’t have a clue what you mean by ‘in the Lounge’, so it goes haywire.

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