Skip to main content
James L.
James L.
Retired Community Staff
April 13, 2022

Important Update to BBC Live Radio Access

Related content:Partner
Important Update to BBC Live Radio Access

Hi everyone,

 

The BBC has made some changes to the way you can access BBC live radio in the United Kingdom.

BBC live radio will not be available through Sonos Radio, or TuneIn in the United Kingdom from Today, 13th April 2022.

Find all your favourite BBC radio stations, podcasts and music mixes on BBC Sounds, available on Sonos in the United Kingdom.


To keep listening, you can add BBC Sounds to your Sonos system:

 

iOS or Android:

  1. Open the Sonos app.
  2. From the Settings tab, tap Services & Voice.
  3. Under Music & Content, tap Add a Service.
  4. Tap on BBC Sounds
  5. Tap Add to Sonos.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to add the music service account.

Mac or PC:

  1. Open the Sonos app.
  2. Under the Select a Music Source section, click on Add Music Services.
  3. Click on BBC Sounds
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to add the music service account.

Users outside of the United Kingdom will still be able to listen to BBC live radio through Sonos Radio.

 

Cheers,

James L.

    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    119 replies

    Show previous replies
    Phumbla
    Contributor I
    April 30, 2022

    Outrageous that this no longer works with Google assistant (nor Alexa?) and the BBC have emailed me to state it is not their problem. Absolutley stupid that in 2022 we have ‘lost’ voice control over the playing of BBC on SONOS

      Ken_Griffiths
      Ken_Griffiths
      April 30, 2022

      Outrageous that this no longer works with Google assistant (nor Alexa?) and the BBC have emailed me to state it is not their problem. Absolutley stupid that in 2022 we have ‘lost’ voice control over the playing of BBC on SONOS

      I don’t know why or who the BBC person you spoke to said that, because if you look around these boards you will see a representative from BBC Sounds Product Team actually mentions something completely different and that they (the BBC) are still in negotiations with Google over this issue. 

      See here:

       

        Phumbla
        Contributor I
        April 30, 2022

        Received from the BBC 28/4/2022 12:49

        Hello Ian,

        Thank you for contacting the BBC Sounds support team.

        I understand you're not able to access BBC Sounds with Google Assistant on your Sonos device.

        You must use the BBC Sounds service on the Sonos Controller app to listen to BBC content on Sonos now.

        I do not believe it's possible to use the BBC Sounds service with Google Assistant but you can contact Google and they might know what commands you can use.

         

        nik9669a
        Senior Virtuoso
        April 30, 2022

        Received from the BBC 28/4/2022 12:49

        Hello Ian,

        Thank you for contacting the BBC Sounds support team.

        I understand you're not able to access BBC Sounds with Google Assistant on your Sonos device.

        You must use the BBC Sounds service on the Sonos Controller app to listen to BBC content on Sonos now.

        I do not believe it's possible to use the BBC Sounds service with Google Assistant but you can contact Google and they might know what commands you can use.

         

        Which pretty much echoes what @Ken_Griffiths said above. Until the BBC has resolved the issue with Google they (the BBC) cannot implement it. It’s a BBC/Google matter. Until then, to quote from the email you show above, “You must use the BBC Sounds service on the Sonos Controller app to listen to BBC content on Sonos now”. 

        The wording of the BBC comment is interesting. To me, the implication is “for now…” and that it will change in due course.

         

          windbag
          Avid Contributor I
          May 6, 2022

          Still concerned that my S1 system (Sonos V10.3, build 51166240, cannot upgrade as this was the last version my 7off controllers - Nexus 2013 tablets - can run) still is not properly working with BBC Sounds.

          Can install BBC sounds but cannot “browse” to the stations; still get “Unable to browse music”. Deletion & reinstall makes no difference (yes, I have a working, current BBC account & am in UK).

          Have managed workarounds to save stations to favourites (as prev in thread) but cannot use fav stations in alarms as it forces me to “browse” a service to do that.

          Am using “myTuner Radio” as a browsable workaround as that does give the BBC stations (puzzled why, if TuneIn is now not working), but am concerned that will cease to function the same way as TuneIn. 

          If myTunerRadio hasn’t got an “end-by” date, why was it not promoted as a viable alternative to TuneIn ?

          nik9669a
          Senior Virtuoso
          May 6, 2022

          Still concerned that my S1 system (Sonos V10.3, build 51166240, cannot upgrade as this was the last version my 7off controllers - Nexus 2013 tablets - can run) still is not properly working with BBC Sounds.

           

           

          There will always be a risk of issues such as interoperability and compatibility when running out-of-date software. I understand your reason for doing so, but the rest of the world is moving on...

            kaleidophone
            Lyricist II
            May 7, 2022

            Just a suggestion, but I’m still using CR100 controllers s/w 8.4 & S1 Android.

            I downloaded .m3u8 files from http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/ extracted the URLs, (as per sample below) by opening the .m3u8 file in Windows Notepad and then creating my own station in the Windows Sonos Desktop application from “Manage” - “Add Radio Station...” using the URL.

            http://as-hls-uk-live.akamaized.net/pool_904/live/uk/bbc_radio_fourfm/bbc_radio_fourfm.isml/bbc_radio_fourfm-audio%3d320000.norewind.m3u8

            I did this for all National BBC Radio stations. They now appear under My Radio Stations “Tune-In” list, (without station ident logos unfortunately), but each works perfectly and I’m now able to wake up to Radio 4 once again :-)

            By choosing the best quality streams from http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/ I now have a functional workaround. A bit of effort is required and no doubt the BBC or SONOS will kill this too eventually, but at least I am not going to create more SONOS landfill just yet.

            Martin Banham
            Martin Banham
            Trending Lyricist I
            May 12, 2022

            Outrageous that this no longer works with Google assistant (nor Alexa?) and the BBC have emailed me to state it is not their problem. Absolutley stupid that in 2022 we have ‘lost’ voice control over the playing of BBC on SONOS

            It does work with Alexa if you have the BBC sounds skill working in the Alexa app

            I am not Percy Sugden
              Bigtones
              Lyricist I
              May 17, 2022

              I have looked for the BBC Sounds station on the S1 app as instructed, but it doesn’t appear on the list. I have tried on my phone and desktop but its not there.

              Any ideas? We miss Radio 4 and 6Music!

              Airgetlam
              Airgetlam
              May 17, 2022

              Liable to be that your ‘region’ isn’t properly set on your account at www.Sonos.com. Sonos uses that data to filter what they present to you in the ‘add a service’ area. 

              Bruce
              Show more replies
              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement