Chromatic Producer I

News from BBC regarding BBC Sounds and Shoutcast streams

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 3, 2022
64 replies
5091 views

This would likely apply only to the UK … unless you use a vpn to get BBC Sounds on Sonos.

Currently in the USA you can listen to the BBC Radio stations via TuneIn.

And not sure that BBC Sounds in the UK on Sonos uses Shoutcast…. but thought i would post it for general information

I heard the announcement today after a news program.

the link below is on the BBC website

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/shoutcast-closure

The BBC uses several streaming technologies to deliver BBC Sounds. If you are hearing a message informing of this change, you are listening using Shoutcast. The BBC will stop supporting Shoutcast by mid-2023.

Why are we making these changes?

Shoutcast is an older streaming technology and many connected radio devices in the UK no longer use it. Ending support for Shoutcast will enable us to focus on the two most popular technologies currently used – HLS and DASH. As well as delivering better value, it will allow us to understand more on how our content is consumed. This forms part of our strategy for BBC Sounds and is important to help us improve the services we offer to our listeners.

We informed manufacturers and other service providers of this change in May 2022.

I hear the message – what should I do?

If you are using an internet radio or smart speaker, please contact the manufacturer. It might be possible for the device to be updated to use another of our supported streams.

If you can hear the message when listening to BBC services via the web or mobile phone, please listen on BBC Sounds instead.

Other ways to listen to BBC Sounds on a Hi-Fi

There are multiple ways to listen to BBC Sounds on your Hi-Fi. If you hear the message when listening on your Hi-Fi, please contact your manufacturer. Additionally, you might find our FAQ useful – How can I get BBC Sounds on my Hi-Fi?

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Pinned Reply By Corry P

Hi All

I have an update:

The BBC are making changes to the way they distribute BBC radio services. We recommend that if you are listening in the UK you add the BBC Sounds content service to your Sonos app for continued uninterrupted listening. If you are not in the UK we recommend you install the BBC Sounds app on your mobile and cast to your Sonos device. For further information please see here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/shoutcast-closure

The BBC are removing all of their content from TuneIn (and therefore Sonos Radio) in mid-2023 - although they are switching to different technologies, they are not doing so on TuneIn, which contradicts the assumption I now realise I made. My apologies for any confusion.

To be clear, if you are outside the UK, then the only ways to play BBC content will be through the BBC Sounds app for your smartphone or tablet - this can then be sent to Sonos via AirPlay, Bluetooth or Line-In, if you have compatible players - or with the Alexa BBC Sounds skill which will also work, and play on Sonos, but multiroom playback will not be supported.

UK listeners should add BBC Sounds to their Sonos system.

I realise this will not be what many of you wanted to hear, but I can only recommend feeding back to the BBC - this is not under our control.

Show previous replies

I

ian02054

Enthusiast II

I tried the Links from John B’s Post above, and realised the links were for teh UK streams, so didn’t work for me (you can see “UK” is mentioned in the url.

This page contains the links to the Worldwide streams (“nonuk” is in the URLs)
https://en.everybodywiki.com/List_of_BBC_radio_stream_URLs

So BBC Radio 1 is: http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/nonuk/sbr_low/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

Rather than John’s link of http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

sbr_Low (96 Kbps) is the highest they go for non-uk streams

Thx John for the pointer though.

J

John B

I tried the Links from John B’s Post above, and realised the links were for teh UK streams, so didn’t work for me (you can see “UK” is mentioned in the url.

This page contains the links to the Worldwide streams (“nonuk” is in the URLs)
https://en.everybodywiki.com/List_of_BBC_radio_stream_URLs

So BBC Radio 1 is: http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/nonuk/sbr_low/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

Rather than John’s link of http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_med/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8

sbr_Low (96 Kbps) is the highest they go for non-uk streams

Thx John for the pointer though.

And thanks for tracking down the non-UK streams and posting them here.

J

JayWorm

Lyricist I

Hi,

Just found this on the BBC site, I haven’t heard the pre-recorded message… yet. Unfortunately this doesn’t restore voice assistant control.

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

Regards,

JayWorm

Corry PPinned

Sonos Staff

Hi All

I have an update:

The BBC are making changes to the way they distribute BBC radio services. We recommend that if you are listening in the UK you add the BBC Sounds content service to your Sonos app for continued uninterrupted listening. If you are not in the UK we recommend you install the BBC Sounds app on your mobile and cast to your Sonos device. For further information please see here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/shoutcast-closure

The BBC are removing all of their content from TuneIn (and therefore Sonos Radio) in mid-2023 - although they are switching to different technologies, they are not doing so on TuneIn, which contradicts the assumption I now realise I made. My apologies for any confusion.

To be clear, if you are outside the UK, then the only ways to play BBC content will be through the BBC Sounds app for your smartphone or tablet - this can then be sent to Sonos via AirPlay, Bluetooth or Line-In, if you have compatible players - or with the Alexa BBC Sounds skill which will also work, and play on Sonos, but multiroom playback will not be supported.

UK listeners should add BBC Sounds to their Sonos system.

I realise this will not be what many of you wanted to hear, but I can only recommend feeding back to the BBC - this is not under our control.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

Airgetlam

May I suggest pinning this information?

;)

Bruce

J

John B

May I suggest pinning this information?

;)

Yes, please pin it to the backside of the BBC executive responsible for all this

J

John B

But see earlier post on this thread from @ian02054 referencing my even earlier post

Santa Clauz

Lyricist I

Merry Christmas everyone
https://github.com/public-broadcasting/bbc-sounds-community-edition-for-sonos

controlav

Lead Maestro

Merry Christmas everyone
https://github.com/public-broadcasting/bbc-sounds-community-edition-for-sonos

An interesting hack! Nice.

Still seems simpler to switch one’s Sonos country to the UK, setup BBC Sounds, then switch back to the original country.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.

el rubio

Hi All

I have an update:

The BBC are making changes to the way they distribute BBC radio services. We recommend that if you are listening in the UK you add the BBC Sounds content service to your Sonos app for continued uninterrupted listening. If you are not in the UK we recommend you install the BBC Sounds app on your mobile and cast to your Sonos device. For further information please see here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/shoutcast-closure

The BBC are removing all of their content from TuneIn (and therefore Sonos Radio) in mid-2023 - although they are switching to different technologies, they are not doing so on TuneIn, which contradicts the assumption I now realise I made. My apologies for any confusion.

To be clear, if you are outside the UK, then the only ways to play BBC content will be through the BBC Sounds app for your smartphone or tablet - this can then be sent to Sonos via AirPlay, Bluetooth or Line-In, if you have compatible players - or with the Alexa BBC Sounds skill which will also work, and play on Sonos, but multiroom playback will not be supported.

UK listeners should add BBC Sounds to their Sonos system.

I realise this will not be what many of you wanted to hear, but I can only recommend feeding back to the BBC - this is not under our control.

the BBC seems consistent to kick out all non-UK residents, in line with the BREXIT strategy :-)

salu2.eu

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