BBC aware of bug where Radio 3 doesn't play on Google Home & Nest speakers

The BBC has officially acknowledged an ongoing issue preventing listeners from accessing BBC Radio 3 via voice commands on Google Home and Nest smart speakers. The problem, which appears to have resurfaced after similar reports in 2023, is currently under investigation.

According to the BBC’s status page updated on Monday, June 24, the broadcaster is aware that “BBC Radio 3 can’t be accessed by voice command on Google speakers.” While other BBC radio stations, including Radio 1, 2, and 4, remain unaffected, numerous users have reported difficulties specifically with Radio 3.

Have been experiencing the same problem for several days. Plays ALL BBC radio channels OK, just not Radio 3. Told either it could be played on another device, or some Spotify song plays. (Source)

I have always been able to play BBC radio stations on my Home Hub by asking ‘play radio 4’, or ‘play radio 3’ but the last few days it just responds ‘i can’t do right now, but you may be able to play it on your other devices’ or ‘I’ve looked for BBC radio but can’t find it’. (Source)

Listeners attempting to play Radio 3 through voice commands are met with various error messages, including “I can’t do that right now” or “Sorry, YouTube TV isn’t available in your country.” Some users have also reported being redirected to unrelated content on YouTube Music when requesting Radio 3.

The issue seems to have emerged in the past week, with multiple users reporting failed attempts to resolve the problem through router and speaker resets. The BBC has not provided a timeline for resolving the bug but is actively investigating the cause.

In the meantime, the corporation has suggested an alternative method for Radio 3 enthusiasts. Listeners can still access the station by casting the stream to their Google speakers from the BBC Sounds mobile app or the BBC website.

As the BBC works to resolve the issue, classical music lovers and Radio 3 regulars may need to temporarily adjust their listening habits or explore alternative playback methods. That said, it’s likely that the bug will be resolved sooner rather than later. I’ll keep track of the situation and will post an update if and when there are any further developments.