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?

[Clrhenry]

can someone provide a link to BBC so we can all ask them to sort this out asap   

If I knew the BBC link I would write to them. 

many thanks 

[Shanjp]

Just Google BBC complaints.  I did also see somewhere on their webpage they commented that they are working on the problem.

[Coadybum]

Morning  all,

We still can't stream any BBC live radio stations, it's been like this for about a week now - any ideas as to when it might be be resolved?

[Owlsman]

I guess that Google is not bothered by this problem, or it would have been fixed by now. I'll give it another 48 hours and if it is not fixed, will buy an Alexander and scrap google.

[Soffed]

Bit frustrating that access to BBC radio hasn't been resolved yet ... never thought of going over the Amazon/Alexa, but wondering about it now. 

[TraumaDoc]

The BBC link has just been updated.

Apparently Google are now looking into it.

No suggestion of a fix or timeline as of yet.

[sumogo]

That's good - also this problem is also affecting  a number of Australian radio sites, so it does sound like it is a problem on the Google end, rather than BBC. 

[Gasman]

Just received from BBC after my completing their form.

Dear  Audience Member 

Thank you for contacting BBC Sounds Support regarding live BBC streams on your Google speaker.

We have raised this with Google who are now investigating.

We will send another message as soon as we know more. We also have an FAQ which will be updated with further information when we have it:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/issues/smart-speaker/google-live-issue

In the meantime, you will still be able to cast to your device from the BBC Sounds mobile/tablet app.

Thank you again for reporting this, and for your patience whilst this is being investigated. We will update you in due course.  

Kind Regards

BBC iPlayer & BBC Sounds Support Team 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help

[Bevrid]

This issue is about to be featured on today's edition of You & Yours on now, if you can listen to Radio 4, that is!!!

[GommsterUK]

The BBC  just reported this issue on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme where it was identified as the BBC's doing. Funny how unlike their Wi Fii Radio streaming service they gave no warning message saying they were planning to do it in the coming months they just did it. It was also stated that a lot of disabled and bedridden people rely on their smart speakers for their BBC radio listening.Who do the BBC think they are, talk about shooting yourself in the foot!  

[GuitarPete]

Two possible reasons/solutions:

1. Someone has pulled out the plug connecting the BBC stream to the Google system. In which case, just plug it back in again, or repair the faulty equipment.

2. The BBC and Google have some sort of dispute about streaming services. In which case, please be honest with your customers and get your heads together to sort things out as soon as possible. Your apparent indifference to this issue is a disgrace.

[GuitarPete]

This post from BBC Sounds suggests that it is being investigated, but I can’t understand why it is taking so long.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/issues/smart-speaker/google-live-issue

[pete365]

How about a reduction on the license fee? Not been working for over a week!

[pete365]

........and they keep saying that you can cast the programmes but you cannot cast live radio. Only voice commands can do this.

[Keighley]

Yes you can, by using the Sounds app. It allows you to cast to a device. Icon on the bar at the bottom of the live programme stream. I’ve been doing this all week.

[katyotter]

Yes you can, bur what's the point? You may as well listen on the device from which you are casting. Google Nest and Mini are supposed to be smart speakers - voice operated, that's certainly what I bought mine for.  If they cannot now stream the radio services they offered then they are 'not fit for purpose' in the jargon of consumer complaints.  Mine have all been out for a week now and I'm totally fed up with it, not least because of the apparent complete lack of care shown by Google.

[Keighley]

I agree entirely, I was just replying to the claim that you can’t cast live radio.

[katyotter]

Not criticising you at all - just the suggestion to cast that so many on here are making - including the BBC. ! What's the point of that? We have all, clearly, bought voice operated systems and that is what they  should be. If they no longer are then they are not fit for purpose.

[iRzapper]

For anyone who hasn't already, see the link below. Google sucks right now for all things "radio", "music", "SiriusXM", and some "Spotify" 

https://support.google.com/assistant/thread/210746628?hl=en

[pete365]

Yes it seems you can cast from the app but not when using the BBC Sounds website

[Rktjenke]

Doesnt work in South Australia either

[iRzapper]

Hey Rktjenke,

Update on my end in Seattle, the problem started for me late on April 11th, here it is now early in the morning of April 13th, so a little over 24 hours now and all my Google Assistant requests/commands have been restored to where I can easily connect to Sirius XM, Spotify, and iHeart Radio once again with no problems and without having to hear that ridiculous response of: "I looked for (insert your music or channel name) and it either isn't available or can't be played right now". 

All's back to somewhat normal.

Hopefully the fix is working its way toward you and it's justa short time before you are up and running again with your BBC connections, if not already.

[GuitarPete]

Let’s hope that this is mostly a BBC issue, as Google have been “investigating” a Bluetooth breaking up problem for the last three years, without a fix!

[Boxing_Nelson]

Come on Google, surely you can fix this issue......it's a pain listening to other radio stations and not great for your reputation...

[r505]

All my  Google smart speakers say ' I can't do that here but you can ask me to play it on one of your other devices '   Started  this morning - was working fine last week before we went away for a short break.
Also Google often  plays the wrong content   eg  the speaker will play a random play list from youtube  musics in response to a specific request.   This seem another 'change'  to Google smart speaker  performance .
Is it getting much worse now - in the last few months ? or am i expecting too much?

[Robin123]

Mine is back on this morning: it feels  like the return of an old girl friend !

If it is of any significance, I live in West Wales

[stephen100]

Yep. I can know play BBC radio Sussex/6 music on the BBC by words of mouth

[Kevinsssss]

That's mine fixed too. (I didn't reset/reinstall/anything)

So 'investigations' must've fixed it. (I wonder if we will ever get an answer to this issue?)

[Jonesy2367]

Working again for us this morning 🙂

[katyotter]

My two nest hubs started working last night and are still OK today, a great relief although my level of confidence in this continuing problem free is vanishingly low. Interesting that the screen banner now says BBC Sounds as it tunes in.

[Paul63]

Likewise. Within the last ten minutes. 

[Janet58]

Glad to say my speakers are working again now. 
checked the BBC site and no post from them today so maybe it was a Google issue

[SM56]

Pleased to report that thus is no longer an issue. 'Hey Google play BBC Radio 2' and it does it. Same for all my Google Nest devices. Normal serviced resumed

[Filler]

Having had a week away from Radio 2, I'm now a fan of greatest hits radio!!

[mjwilko]

Hi. Try saying this to the google speaker "ask bbc sounds to play bbc radio 4 "

[Jules99]

Had this reply to my BBC Sounds query yesterday:

Dear  Audience Member 
Thank you for contacting BBC Sounds Support regarding live BBC streams on your Google speaker.

We raised this issue with Google who were able to identify the problem as part of a wider issue on their side. They have investigated this and we're pleased to let you know that they are in the process of releasing a fix.

The fix is being rolled out gradually, so hopefully if the streams aren't back as normal now, they will be very soon.

And happy to report is now working OK!!

[Muddi]

Hey folks,

Thanks to @Jules99 for sharing the information here. For those users still having the same issue, let's wait for a few more days because the fix is being rolled out slowly. 

@bartparnell: Could you tell us your location?

Cheers,

Muddi

[bartparnell]

Gainesville, FL

[hazelfoster]

It's possible that there could be limitations or restrictions specific to your Home Hub device These limitations could be related to the device's software version, regional settings, or compatibility with certain streaming services. 

[Missus]

Just to say.  It started to work again perfectly about 2 weeks ago.  And now again, I am getting my stream from Tune In, which it really shouldn't be happening.   Even though it is going through Tune In, I haven't heard that awful message that you should switch streams, because the stream will no longer be available when the change over happens. 

But, it still shows, that there are still some issues at the BBC and with the Google in supporting this change over. 
I am located in Switzerland this happens with the BBC Radio 2 stream.  In regards to BBC 1 and BBC 4 everything is working as expected.