Can homepod play bbc radio stations?

Matthew Postgate CC'd Andrew Webb (VP Product Strategy) into the email thread and he has offered a response too, you'll find it lower in this chain.

They made it a lot more difficult to find with the iTunes update after Apple Music was launched!

The HomePod will stream purchased content from iTunes. As in content located on your hard drive, not in the cloud.

I suspect the real issue is Siri’s ability to recognise radio stations.

I'd echo JarScott's thoughtful post. I haven't contacted the BBC on this, but following reading the below article, I was tempted to email their head of tech. The article is about the Amazon Echo, but gives hope to me that Apple would be missing a trick to not do the same, but also be inconsistent given their support on other Apple platforms. For me CarPlay is the closest equivalent - and arguably much more niche than Apple TV - and that now has a BBC app, which is a great asset if you like downloading programmes.

So I would expect HomePod to have BBC, TuneIn (both on CarPlay) apps in due course.

http://www.cityam.com/277306/bbc-brings-radio-and-podcasts-amazon-echo-alexa-voi ce-skill

And I am totally with you on the ability to ask Siri to play BBC R4 or download Annie Mac's dance show without having to go through the iPhone. If you are replacing a kitchen radio, you need a one-step way to get your station playing, or it's just too much hassle (or at very least, a step backward).

Thanks for emailing him and posting. I think the issue is Siri. I'm sure the app could port across given HomePod runs an iteration of iOS, but needs more solid Siri integration to use it. Siri actually does more on my iPhone for iPlayer/Radio iPlayer than I thought. Not sure if Siri does anything in CarPlayer to open the app, or play stations or downloads. Probably same as the iPhone.

Just saw another article on the release of CarPlay BBC app - head of iPlayer is Dan Taylor-Watt. Doubt he will be able to add more colour though!

Thanks