WTH can't I see if an echo device is playing a radio station

Month of "What the heck?!"
1

If I ask Alexa to play a BBC radio station there doesn’t seem to be a way for HA to test if this is playing. This makes it impossible for an automation or script to avoid disrupting playback.

For example, I’d like a script to be able to play something UNLESS something is already playing.

2

Core home assistant doesn’t have any ability to extract information from echo devices. There is a custom integration which enables this data integration, but we cannot put this WTH of home assistant, it should go into custom integration repository owner.

On the other hand, custom integration allows me to fetch the state of echo devices if they are playing something. Have you checked it?

3

I have the same issue, it is only with BBC, all other stations I have tried work. There was an issue open on the custom components github a while ago and seems its not possible to fix, something to do with how the BBC sounds app sends data. I used to use an Alexa app TuneIn instead but the BBC pulled out of it.

EDIT: Just checked on the Alexa app and BBC channels don’t even show up there when they are playing

4

Thanks @anon63427907 and @Holdestmade for your replies. I’ll see if I can find another way.

5

The limiting factor is alexa and it’s undocumented API.

6

Did you have any joy?