(8/1/23) So I took an offer -for Sonos subscribers- for a 3 month trial of TuneIn Premium. Just by going to services and adding the new Sonos API for TuneIn. There are currently two Tunein API’s I am obviously referring to the one titled “Tunein (New)”.
One thing I like about the new Tune API for Sonos is the log in access that has all my favorites (and family favorites) by folder -yes we do listen to a lot of international and niche radio, alt, indie, etc.
The bad part (and pain point) as I let Tunein know via Twitter (or X) DM, is that none of the BBC radio stations were working on their Sonos API, including my daily favorite BBC6 “6 Music”. When I was re-adding my Sonos favorites through the Tunein (New) API I made the (so regretful) error of removing BBC6 (the one with the old Tunein API) and guess what? BBC 6 now does not work on old or new Tunein APIs! ...only via airplay (or chromecast) which to me defeats the point, deplete’s phone battery and add little steps plus possible interruptions for different media we listen to every day. This applies to the main 6 BBC national stations” (BBC 1 through 6, their iterations like Extra, 1D, 1R, Asian Network, 4 Extra, etc… and the regionals and language BBC stations across the UK and for diverse communities). The only signal we are able to get directly on Sonos is BBC World Service. Great, but we need other BBC stations daily ...I have been a listener of “6 Music” since the day it started!
While, here in the States, one can play BBC stations (most) via Google Play or Alexa or airplay or chromecast or on tunein via web browser or BBC Sounds (on browser) one bought a sound system for a reason. BBC website does not give much hope either. ANY HOPE THAT DECISION MAKERS AT SONOS (and competitors), Tunein (and competitors) and the BBC are expediting this discussion to go back to make it work? Points on legalities are neither here nor there, in my opinion, when one can (fortunately) access 90% of their content through the methods mentioned above.
