how do i stop google assistant using tunein

Hi all, I recently joined the Sonos community after some Christmas pressies! But so disappointed this issue exists as playing bbc radio via voice is one of the main features I use. Having to open the app to play it feels like such a backward step. Having an old hifi was faster! 

A fix I tried was adding a custom radio station to tune in using the streaming URL, but then when I ask google assistant to play it, it cannot find the new custom station, so this didn’t solve it unfortunately.

Update: 

I have spoken with tech support and they’ve raised this as a feature request with the development team. I did say it was almost certainly already a request and could I bump that one instead but they said they couldn’t access the list). This is opened as case number **********

I have also emailed the CEO with this email:

Hello Mr Spence,

I wanted to first thank you for Sonos being such an awesome company. I always wanted to buy in to the system and have at last been able to afford to.

However I have been deeply disappointed that the main feature I wanted does not work.

I have replaced a google home speaker with 2x Sonos One speakers as a stereo pair, one with google assistant. The sound is astonishing, I love it! I was telling everyone how great this was.

However when I asked the voice assistant to play radio 2 it kept playing BBC radio 2 Wales. I thought this would be a simple location fix.

However I have now discovered it is not possible to play bbc radio stations through google voice assistant.

This is a huge issue for me as it was the main feature I wanted. I now have to get out my phone to launch radio 2, which is more faff than even an old hifi! I can imagine this sounds like a small thing to some people, but it is literally the thing I do multiple times a day every day.

There are many in the community who cannot believe this problem exists and also looking for a solution. (see here: https://en.community.sonos.com/google-assistant-and-sonos-229109/issue-using-google-assistant-to-play-tunein-radio-on-sonos-6864774) 

I have also spoken with Sonos technical help who have opened a feature request for this, though they couldn't tell me if there was already a request (which I assume there are many of the same already).

It is case number ********.

I hope this can be fixed soon, or I will be reviewing the speakers very poorly unfortunately as they are not the same as the google home, but with good sound quality, which is what I understood they would do for me,

Moderator Edit: removed case numbers

Another UK user. here.  It doesn't work on Alexa or Google Assistant on a play 1 or 3 for UK users. TThe speaker always tries to use tune-in.  This all worked fine before the tune-in to BBC sounds change.  Support will not help unfortunately.  Just say its not supported for my speaker even though it used to work fine and all other music services work.   Not happy with Sonos on this one.

Any update on this, seems to be a pretty basic function that's missing?

And is there any reason Sonos keep closing older threads on the same issue, hoping it’ll go away?

Can I pointlessly add my opinion 

it’s such a shame it doesn’t work because its perfect on my other Google devices. The G Devices use BBC Sounds and even gives you a picture for the radio station on the Google Max ( shame it doesn’t give you current listening info but it works other than that ).

I presume that BBC Sounds is another casualty of the stupid war between Sonos and Google. Like the inability to properly link Google and Sonos speakers this will just be another problem that never gets fixed.

Hi All,

Me again,  I emailed "the ceo" using Sonos' link om their support page. I'll paste the reply below but in tldr fashion: 

- Sonos are not fixing it

- Sonos say it is not their fault 

- They don't seem to acknowledge the importance of this

So MY SOLUTION:

- i have put a google nest speaker next to my sonos unit and use it for everything assistant related 

- i have switched Sonos to use Alexa instead of google assistant and this supports bbc sounds with no problems

- im actually pretty happy with this setup overall because the google nest hears me better than the sonos One gen2 did and seems more reliable with shopping lists etc, and Alexa on the sonos seems more reliable with asking for playlists, or spotify tracks or radio stations too so best of both worlds

- for google loyalists, I am one too and this is the first time i had to use Alexa

- it also let me finally use my ring doorbell system with Alexa as had never done this before.

Hope this helps!

The email back from Sonos:

Hello XXXX

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to Sonos. 

My name is Ünal, and I'm an Escalation Specialist on the Customer Experience team here at Sonos.
Our CEO, Patrick, let me know that you had contacted us and asked me to reach out to you in order to be of assistance.

Thank you very much for your kind words! 

I understand that you are having difficulty using your Sonos system and the voice assistant from Google when you try to listen to BBC Radio, which can be frustrating, and I would like to let you know that the feature to play BBC Radio via a voice assistant does not work on Google Assistant given that BBC has changed the way they handle their radio stations. They make announcements about this change even on their own radio stations. If you're a listener of theirs, you've more than likely heard the changes they make. 

As 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 it 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.

Besides, the commands that Google Assistant accepts are not controlled by us. Everything is controlled by the Google team. They also determine what actions the Google Assistant can perform. 

As my colleague told you, we will treat this matter as a feature request. I want to assure you that all of these requirements go forward to our engineering team, who will take all necessary actions to try to add the features requested by customers to Sonos products. I can't promise that this will happen as it is a more sensitive situation due to the changes the BBC are making.

Your case number is xxxDELETEDxxx.

I would like to thank you in advance for your understanding. 

If there is anything else that I can help you with, please let me know and I will be more than happy to assist you! 

I wish you a great rest of the day! 

With best regards,

Ünal C

Just to add my frustration to the general discontent.  I bought Sonos One speakers after hearing the quality of the sound and in the belief they work fine with google only to find, as others, that you can’t get BBC radio on them except through the app not voice control.  So infuriating and thought it was me initially.  I can see not now and agree with all others whoever needs to resolve it should do so ASAP for all our sanity.  Customers getting caught in corporate crossfire I fear.

My wife refuses to use an App to listen to the radio in the kitchen. This leaves me feeling bit shame-faced after investing significant money on a Play Five and a Move.

She now hates Sonos with a vengeance and takes every opportunity to castigate me for spending so much for something she can't easily use. I have now went back in time and bought a radio for the kitchen. She's happy - I'm not!

Oh this is awkward, I think we might be married to the same person 😂

Ha-ha! There is however a serious point. This anomaly is alienating many people. Just think you are cooking in the kitchen. Your so-called Sonos Smart speaker not so smart that if you want to listen to BBC 6 Music you have to down tools - wash your hands - find your phone - and use an App simply to get the radio. It is just bonkers! I have another cheap Onkyo Smart speaker in a bedroom - absolutely no issue asking Google to put BBC Radio on.