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Contributor II
December 10, 2021

BBC Sounds now available (finally!!) on Sonos

  • December 10, 2021
  • 36 replies
  • 7949 views

Just heard today that BBC Sounds app is now compatible with Sonos.  Just uploaded to my system!!  This came fm BBC :

QUOTE

Thank you for contacting BBC Sounds regarding support for Sonos.

We just wanted to get back in touch to let you know that BBC Sounds is now available on Sonos, meaning that whether you’re using iOS or Android, you’ll be able to listen directly on your Sonos device, and make the most of what BBC Sounds has to offer.

For more information, have a look at our FAQ:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/listening-on-a-smart-speaker/sonos

We know it’s been a long wait, so we want to thank you for your feedback, and most of all, for your patience whilst we completed the work on this.

Hopefully this comes as good news and you can enjoy the BBC Sounds experience on Sonos.  

 
Kind Regards

BBC iPlayer & BBC Sounds Support Team 

 UNQUOTE

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36 replies

bockersjv
Local Superstar
December 10, 2021

Wow, and it looks good from my quick check.

el rubio
December 10, 2021

yep that’s what we were informed a couple of days ago

 
salu2.eu
jgatie
December 10, 2021

Oh, so the BBC is the ones who needed to work on this?  So why did we keep getting bombarded with the suggestion that Sonos could just do it alone without the input of the BBC? :thinking:

brookheather
Contributor I
December 11, 2021

Just installed the BBC Sounds app and what’s there seems good but I can’t find the station schedules to listen to previous broadcasts - is that feature coming later?  Will have to keep using LMS to access these prior broadcasts until support is added to the app.

December 11, 2021

Just heard today that BBC Sounds app is now compatible with Sonos. 

Just installed the BBC Sounds app and what’s there seems good but I can’t find the station schedules to listen to previous broadcasts - is that feature coming later?  Will have to keep using LMS to access these prior broadcasts until support is added to the app.

Let’s be clear here.  The BBC Sounds app isn’t involved here.  What has happened is that the BBC Sounds service has been integrated into Sonos.  This will have required the BBC and Sonos to work together, using Sonos’ open API.  It won’t have been possible to incorporate every feature, and it will probably never be possible.

But what has been achieved comes as a welcome and pleasant surprise to me.  I wasn’t really expecting the BBC to devote resource to a fairly small subset of its users (i.e. Sonos owners).  I also wasn’t sure that Sonos would see the appeal in investing resource in something that can only be used by Sonos users living on a small island off the coast of Europe.  So hats off to both organisations for making this happen!

(By the way, I have already been using the actual BBC Sounds app on Sonos for some time, and there are many ways of doing so, depending on which speakers and controllers you have, such as:

Airplay

Bluetooth

Line in

App on TV

App on media streamer (e.g. NVidea Shield)

Chromecast HDMI)

 

lewisc
Headliner I
December 11, 2021

Oh, so the BBC is the ones who needed to work on this?  So why did we keep getting bombarded with the suggestion that Sonos could just do it alone without the input of the BBC? :thinking:

BBC are very funny and weird with their licencing. All UK Sony TV’s last year went without any BBC owned streaming services all because the licencing wasn’t put in place within the specified time frame.

Authorised Sonos Installer
Lyricist I
December 23, 2021

The BBC Sounds integration is welcome, albeit not comprehensive (and not as easy to navigate as the actual app).  

One big feature that seems to have been added and now removed: it’s now possible to add BBC Sounds stations to “My Sonos”. Any reason why that is? (I was able to add BBC 6 Music to My Sonos but, when I went back to add Radio 2 and Radio 4, the option to do so has gone.) 

controlav
Lead Maestro
December 23, 2021

The BBC Sounds integration is welcome, albeit not comprehensive (and not as easy to navigate as the actual app).  

One big feature that seems to have been added and now removed: it’s now possible to add BBC Sounds stations to “My Sonos”. Any reason why that is? (I was able to add BBC 6 Music to My Sonos but, when I went back to add Radio 2 and Radio 4, the option to do so has gone.) 

The BBC could have changed it (being able to Fave an item is an attribute in the metadata) or it could be a bug in their service. You’d have to ask the BBC.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
Lyricist II
December 25, 2021

I'm absolutely thrilled with this update, I've been a long suffering tunein user who loves bbc podcasts and shows. Well done Sonos absolutely the best xmas present I've had 😎👌

Contributor I
December 30, 2021

The BBC Sounds integration is welcome, albeit not comprehensive (and not as easy to navigate as the actual app).  

One big feature that seems to have been added and now removed: it’s now possible to add BBC Sounds stations to “My Sonos”. Any reason why that is? (I was able to add BBC 6 Music to My Sonos but, when I went back to add Radio 2 and Radio 4, the option to do so has gone.) 

Pfff ‘At the moment, BBC Sounds is available on the Sonos controller app within the UK only.’ So I can listen on my phone but not on Sonos….:confused:

Miriam