Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar: NRK Podcasts not syncing (NRK = Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation)

Hi!

You should reach out to NRKs testing department, NRK Beta.

Send them a mail on: [email protected]

I’m currently a Fenix 5x owner, with no possibility for music, but this is something a I’m going to miss when a get my new Tactix. So please update this post if there is a fix. 

Lykke til!

Hello.

I have been in contact with NRK.

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They have informed me with this:

This is a known issue with Spotify Connect.

Spotify offers two types of podcasts:

- Files that are uploaded to Spotify and which they have full control over.

- RSS / "Passthrough", ie files that are accessible to everyone via an RSS feed (traditional podcast functionality).  

NRK has chosen "passthrough", since we do not want to give up control over our own content.

Unfortunately, the "passthrough" lead is not supported in Spotify Connect, judged via the Garmin watch. Spotify has informed us that they are looking into the matter, but can not promise that it will be put right any time soon.

Best regards NRK

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Therfore it looks like it is a Spotify issue, but in my opinion it is also a Garmin issue.

Garmin states (at least in their Norwegian website) that they have an strategic cooperation with Spotify.

(https://www.garmin.com/nb-NO/strategic-relationships/music/spotify/)

There they state the following:

Spotify is one of the world's most popular streaming services and gives you access to millions of
songs and other content from around the world. Create your own playlists, get personal 
recommendations and discover new music and new podcasts for any activity.

Since this is written in Norwegian and NRK is by far the biggest provider of podcasts in Norway, it is not satisfactory that the Spotify/Garmin cooperation can not play podcasts from the biggest provider in the country where they advertise the feature podcast.

I am so dispointed that I have spent a lot of money on a high-end watch, but it has a huge limitation. At the same time I am in doubt that I will pay for Spotify Premium when I can not use the "main" podcasts in my country. 

I hope this information is useful to others in the comunity, but if Spotify is important for you, I would not recommend Garmin until Garmin/Spotify make sure that RSS / "Passthrough", ie files that are accessible to everyone via an RSS feed (traditional podcast functionality) is functional in their cooperation.

BTW:

I will consider the Garmin APP "Runcasts" from Garmin Connect IQ, that actually play the NRK files. It is a free APP, but it has limitations to number of files. It also have a paid (monthly) feature with less limitations, but it does not seem to be a good user interface. 

Hello.

In my opinion it is not strange that one can not play anything from NRK through Spotify on garmin, since NRK explanes that it is because of Spotify's choise of technology (read my comment from Feb. 18 2020). So it is Spotify that is the "problem".

Anyway, I can verify that I have tried the Garmin app Runcast. It work fine (pretty much like Spotify), but unlike Spoitify it can play Podcasts from NRK, because they probably use the "other" tecknology.

I tried the podcast: "I det lange løp / I det lange loep" and it got loaded on to the Garmin and play nicely with my bluetooth headphones.

The "free" versjon of Runcast is limited to 3 tracks/episodes. Time of episode is not limited as far as I can see.

The premium versjon is $5/month. I beleive the premium is pretty useful, but is limited to 25 podcast subscriptions. It seem to have a few more nice features, but I have not tried the premium.

Best regards Leif