Google Assistant does not play Radio Stations

There’s one thing one should know about.

Usually, when requesting the Google Assistant to play Radio 4 on a Google speaker it says “playing BBC Radio 4 from the BBC”, meaning it does not play it on TuneIn, but from the BBC directly.

This is also apparent when telling a Google Nest Hub to do the same thing; instead of the TuneIn logo displaying a BBC Sounds logo is shown.

When asking Sonos to play Radio 4 on the BBC it doesn’t work but when issuing the same command to a Google speaker it always works.

Also, when telling a Google speaker to play Heart 80s it always plays it, but on Global Player instead of TuneIn.

When telling Sonos to do the same it says that it’s doing it but then fails to do so. Heart 80s on TuneIn doesn’t work. Only on Global Player, which doesn’t work on Sonos.

More and more radio stations seem to be switching from TuneIn to their own actions (apps) on Google Assistant whilst dropping TuneIn support outside the UK as well. Their own actions work fine outside the UK though, just not on Sonos.

This is a issue on Sonos speakers only and needs to be addressed quickly. Having not received a direct response from Sonos is pathetic. Do not say a problem is solved when it hasn’t been solved fully.

Again, I’m talking about basic stuff here: playing radio stations using voice commands.

Hi folks. Just wanna ask, the radio that isn’t working with Sonos speakers using Google Assistant, are they working when using the Sonos app? Keep us posted here. Thanks!

No, R2 and R4 not working with voice or via the Sonos app. 

Hi @martinski, thanks for your response and confirmation that it’s not working when using the Sonos app as well. Have you only tried it from TuneIn? Is it okay if we try to use the Radioplayer service for listening to BBC Stations within the UK? Let us know how it goes. Thanks! 

Ok. That now works from within the app. 

The app has always worked well for me! The problem here is voice commands though, which don’t work well, if at all. This includes BBC radio stations being played directly from the BBC via voice commands as well as Global radio stations played directly from Global Player via voice commands instead of TuneIn (as Global has slowly but surely been switching to their own platform).

This needs to be addressed quickly, as it has been going on for far to long if you ask me.

Asking Google Assistant on a Google speaker works fine. Just try saying “play Heart on Global Player” and you’ll find it won’t work on Sonos but it will on Google speakers.

Hi, @martinski! So the Radioplayer is working when using the Sonos app?

I’m just thinking if the specific radio is not really gonna work if it’s also not working in the Sonos app. Were the radio stations working before? 

@JamesDan, we'd be happy to share your interest with the team.

Thanks!

Yes, it’s working using the app, but not voice. All BBC stations worked before the app update using voice and app. 

Hi @martinski, if it’s working before using the Sonos app and voice, I’d suggest call 800-680-2345 from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 9 pm ET to further check and resolution, as I’ve checked there shouldn’t any problem anymore. If you still have questions, please let us know. 

Clearly still a Sonos problem and just saying it’s no longer an issue to try to bury it is terrible service.  Obviously Sonos isn’t fully integrated with GA and behind the scenes there is something else going on and they didn’t pay enough royalties or fees and they only get 60% integration.   Very disappointed as a new Sonos customer.