Playing BBC Radio on Home Hub

[Block]

I have always been able to play BBC radio stations on my Home Hub by asking 'play radio 4', but today it just responds 'i can't do that on here'. What has changed?

[Stennerz]

A familiar thread over the past couple of day.

I've spent too much time looking into the problem as its a real pain to me and my thought is that the problem is BBC created. Their online help is pretty rubbish but my hunch is they've done something to strengthen their issues with VPN/non UK use, and want everyone to cast from a tablet/mobile to a speaker.

Feels completely out of touch with what people need and what smart speakers are about. Hopefully they'll revert to original.

I've reported to BBC a few ways.

[kickmaleerie]

Yes, that is my conclusion too and as you say it goes completely against the idea of smart speakers! The BBC is shutting down Shoutcast streams in favour of HLS and DASH and this may be the root cause of this problem. I have reported to BBC as suggested elsewhere.

[JCParsons100]

It is only my theory - but it happened to me when I asked my Google Hub to play Greatest Hits Radio so I could hear Ken Bruce's show. Since that day - I've not been able to receive any BBC Radio stations. As you said, this is a BBC originated problem. But I think it's manifested of bitterness and sour grapes because they knew they were going to lose thousands of listeners to Ken Bruce and the  DJ's they made famous. And to commercial radio stations. Nasty....

[Stennerz]

That's a little deranged mate.

But heyho

[Gjay]

Yes, I agree about the BBC not allowing content. This is a bit off-topic but it's a general point. I pay the BBC licence for 12 months but only get UK-based services for 6 of those months. It's basically an incompetent ripoff because they have all sorts of 'rights issues'. I can't watch TV replay when out of the UK, and I can't download TV programmes for later watching on a removable hard drive to take with me, only on to a PC. Their help is hopeless and rather peremptory. Wait til the Olympics start, what messes with their news service. The only way I can get some programmes is on satellite TV. I'm getting disinclined to pay the licence when out of the UK, and only pay monthly when there.

[Michael42]

Same for me too, it was working this morning, but now all my Nest speakers and Google Home hub return the same message "I can’t do that here, but you can ask me to play it on one of your other devices."

I live in UK.

[Filler]

Exactly the same problem for me. Suddenly stopped playing any BBC live stations giving the 'I can't do that...." response. Plays all other live radio ok. 😨

[Themrsmann]

I am having exactly the same issue! Worked perfectly fine yesterday, and yet this morning when I ask it to stream BBC radio 2 it tells me it can't do that......and now I have my 82 year old father calling me with the same issue! 

[ShipleyOne]

I have reported it online on BBC sounds. I won't hold my breath waiting as I may go purple doing so. It can be cast to the speakers if that helps. 

[Jude4]

Same here. 

[Jude4]

Everything was working fine until yesterday. All three devices have stopped steaming live BBC Radio. Using BBC Sounds for now. What's going on do you think?

[Stennerz]

I'm pretty certain it's something the BBC have done.

They are difficult to communicate with so I've gone to bbc sounds help on the subject and given feedback that their help is out of date and then explained the problem.  Hopefully someone reads feedback and they are bothered to fix, or just explain the situation 

[Jude4]

Just found this on BBC website. Looks like it has happened. 

'The BBC’s live radio streams are no longer available via TuneIn on the following platforms in the UK.  

The BBC’s radio stations can be accessed on the BBC Sounds website and apps for Android and iOS devices, which also let you play programmes on a wide range of speakers via wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, Chromecast and Apple AirPlay.  

[Stennerz]

Hi, I think that's an old message, not helpful as bbc don't put a date against their updates. Up until last week google accessed bbc live radio via their own bbc sounds. 

However it does indicate the bbc want to restrict access which gives me the view the issue is related to them.

I wouldn't be surprised if the thinking is users will have to access sounds via a tablet or mobile and then cast to a speaker, which is pretty rubbish.

[Filler]

Just checked the website https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/tunein-changes and it says this:

 "And, if you have a Google Home device, you can listen to BBC stations using either Chromecast or your voice"

which suggests to me that the voice control to play BBC radio should still work 🙄

[Brock1]

Except it doesn’t anymore 

[Dougal]

I doubt BBC are trying to enforce casting. They are still trailing the Scottish-voiced thing about smart speakers being smart and “asking” it to play stuff from BBC Sounds. Which is kinda inappropriate right now. 

However, I think that the BBC has had some policy issues with TuneIn, and it may possibly be that the Google issue is collateral damage from the removal of BBC from TuneIn. 

[Stennerz]

Try logging a report to BBC Sounds, the more the better I guess. Link below

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/contact-sounds-help/#/Need%20more%20help?

[Fru]

Same problem here, report submitted to BBC. Thanks for the link👍

[Brock1]

I did this too

[Brock1]

Ive tried a factory reset of a speaker to no avail. 

[Muddi]

Hey everyone,

I'm happy to hear that some of you are able to listen to the BBC Radio on your speakers now. I'll still duplicate this thread to a similar trending issue on this link. Our team is looking into this issue at hand and I suggest following the main thread for update.

Best,
Muddi

[hil58]

none of my speakers are working i have had to resort to my old dab radio they havnt been working since last thursday 6th april

[ShipleyOne]

It's streaming BBC Sounds again. Fingers crossed the same for everyone else. 

[Filler]

Yes, it's working for me too!!

[Tim54]

All good now.  Seems to have sorted itself out.  Thanks to the hardworking support team who have responded quickly to this glitch.

[Jillreidy]

I still can’t get radio stations on Google device 

[hil58]

how did you get it to work not working for all of us

[Stennerz]

I think Tim's post was last week when bbc came back briefly, and then went down a few hours later

[KatyY]

It has stopped working for me also, but randomly, works for my husband!!! 

[Brock1]

It worked for a day and then stopped working again 

[Rosejeffmo]

Nope still not working.

[Stevieleedd]

I have always been able to play BBC radio by asking my Nest devices, "Hey Google, play Radio 2", but this no longer works as of last night.

"Hey Google, play Radio 2": Answer "I can't do that here, but you can ask me to play it on one of your other devices"

"Hey Google, play BBC Radio 2": Answer "Got it, here's a Youtube playlist called BBC2 sounds of the 1980's"

"Hey Google, play BBC Radio 2 from the BBC": Answer "I looked for BBC2 on the BBC, but is unavailable or can't be played right now"

"Hey Google, play Radio 2 on BBC Sounds": Answer "Voice actions aren't available for that app".

[Stennerz]

Hi, I and a few other have posted the same problem, so you're not on your own.  reports logged with BBC sounds and Google so hopefully a fix soon. 

[ThebFizzter]

Ditto here, seems to be a problem,  I had to cast BBC Radio 2 to my nest from my phone this morning. 

[Stennerz]

Try logging a report to BBC Sounds, the more the better I guess. Link below

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/contact-sounds-help/#/Need%20more%20help?

[Stevieleedd]

I've logged a fault report with the BBC, will report back if I hear anything.

[Pazdaq]

Strangely, my Google speakers have also started doing the same however its only when I ask Google to play BBC radio. If my wife asks then Google plays it without any errors.

[Nick254]

I have the same problem now is there any updates

[Stennerz]

Try logging a report to BBC Sounds, the more the better I guess. Link below

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/contact-sounds-help/#/Need%20more%20help?