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Fishter
Contributor I
March 4, 2021

BBC radio on TuneIn going away March 22nd 2021

  • March 4, 2021
  • 92 replies
  • 7773 views

I listen to BBC Radio 4 every morning on my Sonos system. It's my alarm clock.

This morning there is a short audio insert just before each hour telling me that the service will be stopping on March 22nd 2021 and that I should contact my service provider to ask them how I can continue to access the BBC content.

I'm not in the UK, so the TuneIn service is still available (until now). What are the options for me to still receive my daily dose of British content over my Sonos system?

iPhone related options are not applicable in this house.

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    92 replies

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    iansandraward
    Lyricist II
    March 4, 2021

    I think we can safely assume that BBC will no longer be available directly through Sonos. If you have Alexa enabled Sonos speakers then ‘Ask BBC to….’ functionality will still exist if you have the BBC Sounds skill setup.

    I expect that BBC channels will disappear from Sonos Radio, like it did from Tunein, this time last year.

    I have had a dig on the BBC sounds website and finally found this:-

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/supported-devices/internet-radio-closure

    It is my understanding that it is the BBC that would need to develop a BBC Sounds add-in to Sonos not the other way round. As previously said, I do not know how many Sonos users there are in the UK, but I am sure it is not insignificant. 

    I work in IT, so have the technical ability to find ways round this change, using Alexa, IFTTT etc., but I feel for those that don't have these skills and are being let down by the BBC.

     

    wendyjg
    Lyricist I
    March 4, 2021

    Have the same message every hour since this morning on BBC radio Scotland. Strange that Sonos looks unaware of the change, you would think that the BBC would notify them? 

    John B
    March 4, 2021

    Have the same message every hour since this morning on BBC radio Scotland. Strange that Sonos looks unaware of the change, you would think that the BBC would notify them? 

    Probably..… if Sonos is really  affected... by whatever is happening..

     

    controlav
    controlav
    Lead Maestro
    March 4, 2021

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/supported-devices/sonos-airplay says the BBC are “looking into ways of making it possible to use the BBC Sounds app through Sonos from Android devices. “

    Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
      controlav
      controlav
      Lead Maestro
      March 4, 2021

      Use AirPlay: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/supported-devices/sonos-airplay

      Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
      Darrengg
      Contributor I
      March 4, 2021

      Today just before the news I started getting a message to say from 22nd March that BBC radio stations will need the BBC sounds app. Are S1 users about to lose BBC radio from Sonos?

      FishterAuthor
      Contributor I
      March 4, 2021

      This announcement will also affect Sonos Radio, as they pull their BBC content from TuneIn.

      That might make them sit up and take notice. BBC content includes all the World Service content which has a much wider reach than the domestic radio channels.

      Nifty50
      Trending Lyricist I
      March 4, 2021

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/supported-devices/sonos-airplay says the BBC are “looking into ways of making it possible to use the BBC Sounds app through Sonos from Android devices. “

      Will the desktop controller still work? Since my CR100’s became defunct and my iPad is no longer capable of updating I only have my desktop to be able to control my system. I tried a Sonos One for a week but returned it as it has very limited functionality for the rest of the system. 

      James L.
      James L.
      Retired Community Staff
      March 4, 2021

      Hi everyone,

      Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’re aware of the BBC’s messaging and are investigating how this will affect BBC streams on Sonos going forward. We don’t have anything else to share at this time, but we’ll update this thread with any further information going forward.

       

      I’ve also merged a few similar topics into this one to make things a bit easier to follow.

       
       
       
       
       
      Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
        DavidJS
        Avid Contributor I
        March 4, 2021

        Just to clarify I got this message whilst using Sonos Radio AND MyTunerRadio on the S2 system.

        From my understanding one workaround is to play a live stream through the BBC Sounds app and airplay to a compatible device, if you have one - unfortunately I don't have any.

        Another is to use voice control, but again, no good if you don’t have compatible products

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