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Swampthing 666768
Contributor I
September 30, 2022
Answered

BBC radio not working on Play 3 speaker

  • September 30, 2022
  • 18 replies
  • 363 views

Hi, 

I’ve got a number of Sonos products which generally work ok and can usually solve any problems that arise but I’ve got one now that has me beaten.

I’m trying to play BBC radio stations on my Play 3 speaker. It shows up on the system list OK and will happily play TuneIn stations but when I try BBC stations I get the message “Unable to play the selected item”.

My other speakers ( Play 1, Amp and Arc) all play the BBC stations ok, it’s just the Play 3 that wont.

The only thing I can think of is that the Play 3 has been disconnected for about a year and has only just been switched on again. I updated the software on it and have tried turning it off and on a few times. Not sure why this would be an issue but it’s the only thing that’s “different” about this speaker.

Any ideas?

Thanks

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Best answer by Mr. T

Okay thanks, it wasn’t clear from your initial post that you were using BBC Sounds.

What exact content is not playing? A live radio station? Podcast?

As you have updated the firmware, rebooted the Play:3 several times and it plays other content, I would submit a system diagnostic within 20mins of recreating the issue, then contact Sonos Support to discuss.

They will be able to evaluate the data within the diagnostic which hopefully uncovers the reason why the selection is not playing.

18 replies

Mr. T
Mr. T
September 30, 2022

The BBC have restricted how UK listeners can access BBC live radio.

You should not be able to listen to live BBC radio stations via TuneIn, unless you are not recognised as residing in the UK?

Add BBC Sounds as a music service within the Sonos app and listen that way.

See this thread for more details:

 

    Swampthing 666768Author
    Contributor I
    September 30, 2022

    Hi, 

    I’ve got BBC Sounds installed and working. As mentioned, all the other speakers on my Sonos system play BBC radio stations OK. It’s just the Play 3 that won’t.

     

    Mr. T
    Mr. TAnswer
    September 30, 2022

    Okay thanks, it wasn’t clear from your initial post that you were using BBC Sounds.

    What exact content is not playing? A live radio station? Podcast?

    As you have updated the firmware, rebooted the Play:3 several times and it plays other content, I would submit a system diagnostic within 20mins of recreating the issue, then contact Sonos Support to discuss.

    They will be able to evaluate the data within the diagnostic which hopefully uncovers the reason why the selection is not playing.

    John B
    September 30, 2022

    I am confused. You mentioned TuneIn in the original post. Where does that fit in?

    Mr. T
    Mr. T
    September 30, 2022

    I am confused. You mentioned TuneIn in the original post. Where does that fit in?

    I now think that they just meant other radio stations from TuneIn will play on the Play:3, but BBC stations from BBC Sounds will not.

    Swampthing 666768Author
    Contributor I
    September 30, 2022

    Hi Mr T, 

    Thanks for the suggestion. I will send in a diagnostic and see if Sonos Support Can help.

    Yes, you are correct in that other radio stations from Tunein will play on the Play 3 but not BBC stations.

    Thanks for your help.

      Owain81
      Contributor I
      September 30, 2022

      This is a big problem which has been going on for years. You just have to look through these forums to see that. Sonos seem to be blind to it.

      The Google  assistant  functionality on the Sonos beam is terrible and has hardly any functionality at all Compared to a Google smart speaker.

      Compared to a Google smart speaker.

      It won’t play anything from BBC Sounds, doesn’t have any voice recognition and there are many Google home commands and routines which it just won’t recognise.

       

       

       

       

      MarkRocketman
      Lyricist III
      December 5, 2022

      Yup same problem. Play 3 not playing BBC Sounds Stations. First click selects the station but it takes 2 or 3 more clicks or taps to play. This is both on iPhone and PC. The error in between clicks reads:

      “Monday, December 5, 2022 - 8:12 PM Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, London

      Unable to play 'Radio 2 ' - the connection to BBC Sounds was lost.”   

      Other Radio stations via TuneIn work perfectly. 

      John B
      December 5, 2022

      So is it playing OK after a brief delay or is it not playing at all?

      Mr. T
      Mr. T
      December 5, 2022

      Yup same problem. Play 3 not playing BBC Sounds Stations. First click selects the station but it takes 2 or 3 more clicks or taps to play. This is both on iPhone and PC. The error in between clicks reads:

      “Monday, December 5, 2022 - 8:12 PM Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, London

      Unable to play 'Radio 2 ' - the connection to BBC Sounds was lost.”   

      Other Radio stations via TuneIn work perfectly. 

      I have a standalone Play:3. Never had a problem playing BBC Sounds on it. I suggest you take a closer look at your local network environment.

      Have you ever submitted a diagnostic and contacted Sonos Support to discuss?

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