Due to rights restrictions…!

As I’m sure that you’ve read elsewhere, it is the BBC that is restricting access to it’s content from certain content providers.  Sonos aren’t in the loop of this discussion, so why make a statement that Sonos is so unreliable? If you had an LG TV would you blame LG if the BBC stopped access to a TV channel?

Hmm that’s not really the same is it??  The channel is  BBC Radio 4 as far as users are concerned. If I couldn’t get a TV channel on my LG TV but I could on a different TV device then I would be blaming LG….

this is how it feels to users….

So Sonos is providing the hardware and the ability to connect to different content providers.  The BBC decide which content providers they will allow access to their content.  In this instance the BBC have removed their content from TuneIn, please explain why this makes Sonos unreliable?

Ok yes but from the user’s viewpoint what it means is that ‘I can’t play Radio 4 on my Sonos system’ - and that is why I see so many complaints about this on the Sonos community forum… it may not be Sonos’s fault directly but it effect is the same. 
I guess what we need to know is why Sonos is unable to use a reliable content provider… what is it about Sonos/TuneIn that the BBC objects to…?

I’d suggest you frame it in the opposite way. ‘Why does the BBC restrict their content from certain providers at times’? The rest of TuneIn seems to be working fine, so it’s apparent that it isn’t a TuneIn problem. Since BBC owns the servers that support these streams, there must be some reason why they restrict it. My personal guess is that the content hasn’t been approved for ‘outside the UK’ streaming rights, I.e. licensing issues of some type. For instance, there were recent issues particularly with both the Olympics and Paralympics, and I frequently have trouble with F1 coverage. 

Many folks have found relief by trying other streams, such as RadioTuner, etc, but the ultimate responsibility here is owned by the BBC. They are the ones who are choosing to cut off streams provided to various companies. Those companies don’t have a radio tower and a license, they actually get their data directly from servers operated by the BBC.

Let’s hope you don’t get a power cut because you’re probably going to blame that on Sonos from a user’s viewpoint!

amjl,

In the US many sports teams do not want their games broadcast over the Internet. For listeners using an Internet player, SONOS or otherwise, the radio station feed will switch to some sort of dummy content while a game is playing. Away games might be broadcast on the local terrestrial radio station. Local games will play on the local terrestrial radio station only if the stadium is sold out.

Terrestrial radio coverage is managed by geography. Internet coverage must be managed by messages and dummy content.

Thanks for this helpful information. I’m within the UK so a little puzzling still. I switched to Radioplayer and could then play Radio 4 fine. So it seemed to be a problem between TuneIn and BBC. But I still think Sonos should get involved in this (I’m not dignifying one other responder’s comment re electricity supply with an answer! All systems need electricity) - for the end user it’s Sonos that seems the problem when every other platform works fine…I know I’m far from the only one that thinks this. Thanks again.

My 👅 in cheek comment about electricity was in reference to the multitude of issues that can impact your Sonos devices, from power, your ISP, location, andcontent providers. You have decided to focus on placing the responsibility on Sonos but you fail to mention if you have raised a similar complaint to both the BBC and TuneIn.