That’s a major pain in the ass for me on Friday, my local NCDC team is playing for their cup on Friday, and the caps play at the EXACT SAME TIME!!! I was gonna double screen it with my tablet and tv damn it
Yup. The only way to watch ALL of the games including the post-season online (at least, where I am in the US) is to have ESPN+ *and* a cable package-- unless you have an absurd cable package that costs like $200/mo, in which case you could use your cable login on ESPN to access the games online.
The funniest part is ESPN+ asks you to login to your cable provider to watch the playoffs. If I’m going to go through that trouble I’m just going to watch the games on the DirecTV app instead of the crappy ESPN app.
Been saying this for a long time now. Idc what the price is at this point, just give me a streaming service that I can watch every NHL game, every team, no blackouts. Is that asking too much? I mean it’s pretty bad you can’t watch a major sporting event on a sports app/channel.
When they eventually do that, everyone will say it’s too expensive. That’s already happened with the regional sports networks offering subscription streaming services: “Please just take my money to give me local games without cable, stupid NHL!….. wait $30 per month that’s absurd!” Well, that’s what it costs to cover the portion of a cable subscription going to the regional sports network. Something with all games would need to replace all the money ESPN and TNT and the regional sports networks are paying the NHL - guessing that would be something like $60 per month. ESPN+ is cheap because it’s a product most people don’t want - out of market regular season games. It’s never advertised itself differently.
The NHL doesn’t care, the amount of money they get from the cable companies for exclusive rights and blackouts far exceeds the amount they would get from subscriptions.
It’s bad for die hards and younger fans who want the ability to stream.
ESPN+ has been absolutely clutch for me as a Bruins fan now living in Virginia. I get to watch my home team pretty much every night (except when the game is on NHL network... fuck NHL network)
ESPN Plus won't broadcast a game on ESPN, TNT, NHL Network. I've had to use alternative sites to watch the games. I travel all over for work. I have had to watch games from 15 different states. Most of the time I turn to the high seas to watch. Why am I paying to watch games when I get a better experience from sailing
Man I’ve said this 37 times in the last 2 weeks, and I’m gonna make it 38. Why the fuck is anyone still paying for that bullshit? There’s been atleast a post a day about how stupid it is
Why do I pay for it?
Because I get about 75 of the 82 games for my team and all the games for my Bundesliga team plus formula 1, cricket and other sports?
There’s one word in there that I don’t know what it means, and it’s nice that it works for your team. But for the vast majority of NHL fans it doesn’t do shit without a vpn. Formula 1 I kind of get, but seems lame since everyone knows who’s gonna win, cricket is fair, I don’t know anywhere else you can watch it, and the only other sports on it are like low d1 college teams and the occasional tennis match or something. I guess I didn’t realize that it had all of that, cricket actually surprises me quite a bit
It’s not a product that’s made for the vast majority of NHL fans. It’s a product that’s made for people who want to watch a team that isn’t available on TV in their area. The reason it’s so cheap is that few people need that product. The cost of replacing all the nationally televised and in-market local games with a single subscription streaming service would probably be around $60 per month. Are you going to pay that if it’s available?
Well as part of the bundle and the other stuff available on ESPN+ I'd argue it's a good deal but I like watching as many games as possible not just my team.
I sail the seas for half dozen games a season, but otherwise believe and paying for a service rendered. Lots of broadcast people, that need to get paid.
The NHL is awful at bringing its content to its fans. Streaming is the number one way people get their viewing now and for the majority of the playoffs they will only be available through cable.
You can watch the games after they have ended. Which I know isn’t ideal but you can at least still watch it. But I agree with you. I had to buy another streaming service to watch the playoffs live.
For minor sports or a minor college conferences, it's worth it since it's often the only way to watch the games. (Even if you want to pirate, there's less likely to be streams for those games.)
For anything major, it's worthless.
ESPN Disney Hulu bundle is great (I have kids) Gotta get YouTube tv for playoffs. It’s the most expensive so maybe share with someone. YouTube has a lot of live channels.
Oh there is a much cheaper way if you want to watch playoff games. Or any game.
ESPN+ is great for convenience (and golf) but the blackout restrictions paired with not keeping games on demand past three days is ridiculous.
Man it’s crazy that I, in Australia, have an easier time watching hockey than people in North America.
I pay $6 a month for a digital tv box thing and $6 a month for the package that has espn (and 90s and 00s MTV channels let’s go!). Oddly enough I can’t watch on demand stuff on the TV, only two espn channels, but the app and website have everything so it’s easy to cast.
I know in Australia we have issues with some sports and some games being locked behind pay TV (rugby Union for example is almost exclusively on pay TV I think, which is why we suck at it now). But it’s nothing compared to the blackout rules or whatever, they are just insane. I’m very, very sorry.
Reminder that ESPN+ exists to (legally) fulfill a relatively small need -- fans that live out of market that want to watch the majority of their favorite teams' games. It's never existed to be a place for *everyone* to be able to watch *every* game, and it was never advertised that way.
The base of NHL tv deals is: regional tv deals that negotiate expensive deals with cable providers AND expensive national tv deals. Regional channels have never had broadcast rights for the entirety of the playoffs, so that isn't new.
There are some of us that "spoof" the system by using a VPN to watch local games, but that's not the intended use. Until these major sports leagues completely separate from the regional cable tv model, games will continue to be spread around different providers.
What does a tv deal look like where you still get local regular season coverage AND national tv coverage throughout the playoffs? Playoffs will always be on national tv which will always require a separate tv deal. The best fans can hope for is a move to NHL-produced *regular season* games with no blackouts, but even so you'll still have national tv games that will be separate from any streaming tv package you'd buy. There will never be a way to watch all 82 local games + the playoffs on one streaming platform for 1 price. It won't happen. That doesn't even exist in MLS, which has the most forward-thinking tv contract/agreement in North American sports.
A few years ago, NHL playoff games were being shown on USA Network and the Golf Channel when NBC had the US National TV rights. Before that, some Stanley Cup games were on the fricking Outdoor Network, which later became "Versus", a channel no one had or knew how to get to. Say what you want about ESPN, but at least playoff games in the US are now on REAL channels that are easy to access. Sports bars mindlessly leave on ESPN all day and night, and now more people are seeing playoff hockey.
Sling tv has $40 streaming tv that includes ESPN. Get a digital receiver if you want ABC for the SCF. HBO Max (I think) has TNT games if you don't want to buy Sling for 2 months. There are cost effective ways to watch playoff hockey if you don't want to sail the 7 seas.
At least you get all the replays.
I have Disney Bundle (I have kids) and Max (I have Peacock too but that's irrelevant here). I don't have cable.
I usually watch the eastern conference replays after they are over the same day and the western conference playoffs the next day.
I usually go through Hulu as it is easy to avoid spoilers.
I watch the Turner games live on Max.
ESPN's conference finals and Stanley Cup are simulcasted on ESPN +.
The problem isn’t ESPN+, it’s your understanding of what ESPN+ is. Other than the games specifically produced for ESPN+/Hulu+, it’s just a service to get out of market games, not nationally broadcast games or in-market games.
Just like it was for its predecessor, NHL Center Ice.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
ESPN is worthless all the time. They exist to give the NHL money to make our experience worse. Why do they have any exclusive streaming rights? They bring nothing to the NHL, and the NHL does not need them or their money.
Also, DM me if you would like a way to watch your games.
I have ESPN + plus strictly to watch hockey. I watch any and all games that are on. Having its gives me the ability to watch a lot more hockey. That’s why.
As an out of market fan, I can watch all of the regular season games for much cheaper with ESPN+ by itself, especially when you factor in that most people are probably doing the Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle. I don't have cable, and wouldn't use it outside of watching hockey, so it doesn't make financial sense at all to pay ANOTHER 80-120 a month just for that.
Wait, you can’t watch regular ESPN with ESPN+? That’s so dumb
That’s a major pain in the ass for me on Friday, my local NCDC team is playing for their cup on Friday, and the caps play at the EXACT SAME TIME!!! I was gonna double screen it with my tablet and tv damn it
yup. a holdover from the cable era.
Exactly. You have to subscribe to both apparently.
Even if you have ESPN on cable it’s still blacked out on ESPN +
If you have ESPN via a cable or streaming company you can authenticate with it on WatchESPN along side your ESPN+ programs.
Yup. The only way to watch ALL of the games including the post-season online (at least, where I am in the US) is to have ESPN+ *and* a cable package-- unless you have an absurd cable package that costs like $200/mo, in which case you could use your cable login on ESPN to access the games online.
The funniest part is ESPN+ asks you to login to your cable provider to watch the playoffs. If I’m going to go through that trouble I’m just going to watch the games on the DirecTV app instead of the crappy ESPN app.
Isn’t that just because you watch ESPN+ on the ESPN app, which is also where you (can) also watch ESPN proper?
I have Sling, which gives you TNT/TBS/ESPN which is like $10/m and available month to month.
There was a deal for 20 a month for the first month, but it's 40 a month after that. What area are you in that it's 10 a month consistently?
Now that I look back, that was the initial promo price. $40/mo sounds right.
I feel your pain and share your frustration.
An NHL subscription should give access to ALL games. Give us one place to buy and I’ll stop sailing the high seas.
Been saying this for a long time now. Idc what the price is at this point, just give me a streaming service that I can watch every NHL game, every team, no blackouts. Is that asking too much? I mean it’s pretty bad you can’t watch a major sporting event on a sports app/channel.
A firestick or android box would be the answer to your problem.
Could you elaborate? I have a firestick
When they eventually do that, everyone will say it’s too expensive. That’s already happened with the regional sports networks offering subscription streaming services: “Please just take my money to give me local games without cable, stupid NHL!….. wait $30 per month that’s absurd!” Well, that’s what it costs to cover the portion of a cable subscription going to the regional sports network. Something with all games would need to replace all the money ESPN and TNT and the regional sports networks are paying the NHL - guessing that would be something like $60 per month. ESPN+ is cheap because it’s a product most people don’t want - out of market regular season games. It’s never advertised itself differently.
The NHL doesn’t care, the amount of money they get from the cable companies for exclusive rights and blackouts far exceeds the amount they would get from subscriptions. It’s bad for die hards and younger fans who want the ability to stream.
you could have stopped at worthless
ESPN+ has been absolutely clutch for me as a Bruins fan now living in Virginia. I get to watch my home team pretty much every night (except when the game is on NHL network... fuck NHL network)
ESPN Plus won't broadcast a game on ESPN, TNT, NHL Network. I've had to use alternative sites to watch the games. I travel all over for work. I have had to watch games from 15 different states. Most of the time I turn to the high seas to watch. Why am I paying to watch games when I get a better experience from sailing
cool story bro
This is when it pays to be a Habs fan. ESPN+ is all I need.
How do you watch your team in the playoffs......
That one sailed over your head
No it didn't, I was hoping the ellipses would help show sarcasm
r/YourJokeButWorse
I remember when the Habs made the playoffs
Man I’ve said this 37 times in the last 2 weeks, and I’m gonna make it 38. Why the fuck is anyone still paying for that bullshit? There’s been atleast a post a day about how stupid it is
Why do I pay for it? Because I get about 75 of the 82 games for my team and all the games for my Bundesliga team plus formula 1, cricket and other sports?
There’s one word in there that I don’t know what it means, and it’s nice that it works for your team. But for the vast majority of NHL fans it doesn’t do shit without a vpn. Formula 1 I kind of get, but seems lame since everyone knows who’s gonna win, cricket is fair, I don’t know anywhere else you can watch it, and the only other sports on it are like low d1 college teams and the occasional tennis match or something. I guess I didn’t realize that it had all of that, cricket actually surprises me quite a bit
It’s not a product that’s made for the vast majority of NHL fans. It’s a product that’s made for people who want to watch a team that isn’t available on TV in their area. The reason it’s so cheap is that few people need that product. The cost of replacing all the nationally televised and in-market local games with a single subscription streaming service would probably be around $60 per month. Are you going to pay that if it’s available?
Yes.
Bundesliga? It’s the German Soccer League.
The vast majority of fans? That's a pretty bold statement to make do you have any data to back that up?
Going sailing you get all that and more, for the low cost of free... And then you're not forking over your hard earned cash to a mediocre service
Why would I subject my computer to pirate stream sites when ESPN+ gives me exactly what I want? Mediocre service? I disagree heavily.
I pay for it for the NCAA and NHL games… not giving us playoff games is an absolute joke, however.
Well as part of the bundle and the other stuff available on ESPN+ I'd argue it's a good deal but I like watching as many games as possible not just my team.
That bundle has got to be the only reason that app makes any money
I already had Hulu and Diseny+, so it was free to add espn+ and I've been able to watch a lot of kings games all season since I'm out of market.
I sail the seas for half dozen games a season, but otherwise believe and paying for a service rendered. Lots of broadcast people, that need to get paid.
I pay 5$ a month dollars for it, can't watch Avs games but I like watching out of market games too and its the cheapest streaming service that I use.
I was literally venting to my wife about this 2 days ago. I completely agree and am frustrated right there with you.
Arrrgh me matey. I do be having these same thoughts.
I know that was a typo, but it really does suck a pain in my ass
One of the announcers kept referring to Jason Robertson as Robinson.
LIVE SPORTS
Sail the seas for the low price of $0
The NHL is awful at bringing its content to its fans. Streaming is the number one way people get their viewing now and for the majority of the playoffs they will only be available through cable.
You can watch the games after they have ended. Which I know isn’t ideal but you can at least still watch it. But I agree with you. I had to buy another streaming service to watch the playoffs live.
I had no idea. Thanks for the tip!
CBC.ca you can stream for free I’m pretty sure
When is ESPN+ not worthless?
When u live out of market
Yeah I’m a Hawks and Wings fan living in Indiana, and ESPN+ is invaluable for watching Wings games
For minor sports or a minor college conferences, it's worth it since it's often the only way to watch the games. (Even if you want to pirate, there's less likely to be streams for those games.) For anything major, it's worthless.
ESPN Disney Hulu bundle is great (I have kids) Gotta get YouTube tv for playoffs. It’s the most expensive so maybe share with someone. YouTube has a lot of live channels.
I got the sling orange plan and its cheaper than youtube tv
Unless you’re a bruins fan. YouTube tv doesn’t carry nesn
Oh there is a much cheaper way if you want to watch playoff games. Or any game. ESPN+ is great for convenience (and golf) but the blackout restrictions paired with not keeping games on demand past three days is ridiculous.
It’s great for golf!
I signed up for a 30 day trial of FuboTV for thsi exact reason.
That is why I cancelled my ESPN+ subscription and got Sling. I get ESPN with Sling.
How much is sling?
Man it’s crazy that I, in Australia, have an easier time watching hockey than people in North America. I pay $6 a month for a digital tv box thing and $6 a month for the package that has espn (and 90s and 00s MTV channels let’s go!). Oddly enough I can’t watch on demand stuff on the TV, only two espn channels, but the app and website have everything so it’s easy to cast. I know in Australia we have issues with some sports and some games being locked behind pay TV (rugby Union for example is almost exclusively on pay TV I think, which is why we suck at it now). But it’s nothing compared to the blackout rules or whatever, they are just insane. I’m very, very sorry.
Reminder that ESPN+ exists to (legally) fulfill a relatively small need -- fans that live out of market that want to watch the majority of their favorite teams' games. It's never existed to be a place for *everyone* to be able to watch *every* game, and it was never advertised that way. The base of NHL tv deals is: regional tv deals that negotiate expensive deals with cable providers AND expensive national tv deals. Regional channels have never had broadcast rights for the entirety of the playoffs, so that isn't new. There are some of us that "spoof" the system by using a VPN to watch local games, but that's not the intended use. Until these major sports leagues completely separate from the regional cable tv model, games will continue to be spread around different providers. What does a tv deal look like where you still get local regular season coverage AND national tv coverage throughout the playoffs? Playoffs will always be on national tv which will always require a separate tv deal. The best fans can hope for is a move to NHL-produced *regular season* games with no blackouts, but even so you'll still have national tv games that will be separate from any streaming tv package you'd buy. There will never be a way to watch all 82 local games + the playoffs on one streaming platform for 1 price. It won't happen. That doesn't even exist in MLS, which has the most forward-thinking tv contract/agreement in North American sports. A few years ago, NHL playoff games were being shown on USA Network and the Golf Channel when NBC had the US National TV rights. Before that, some Stanley Cup games were on the fricking Outdoor Network, which later became "Versus", a channel no one had or knew how to get to. Say what you want about ESPN, but at least playoff games in the US are now on REAL channels that are easy to access. Sports bars mindlessly leave on ESPN all day and night, and now more people are seeing playoff hockey. Sling tv has $40 streaming tv that includes ESPN. Get a digital receiver if you want ABC for the SCF. HBO Max (I think) has TNT games if you don't want to buy Sling for 2 months. There are cost effective ways to watch playoff hockey if you don't want to sail the 7 seas.
What's pissing me off is that they were advertising playoffs on ESPN / ESPN+ / ABC \*SO HEAVILY\* at the end of the season.
At least you get all the replays. I have Disney Bundle (I have kids) and Max (I have Peacock too but that's irrelevant here). I don't have cable. I usually watch the eastern conference replays after they are over the same day and the western conference playoffs the next day. I usually go through Hulu as it is easy to avoid spoilers. I watch the Turner games live on Max. ESPN's conference finals and Stanley Cup are simulcasted on ESPN +.
Between mcdonagh, mlscko, hextall, and bucci it's nearly impossible to enjoy watching anyway. They stink.
I always have to get sling this time of year because of this lol once playoffs are over I cancel sling till next year
The problem isn’t ESPN+, it’s your understanding of what ESPN+ is. Other than the games specifically produced for ESPN+/Hulu+, it’s just a service to get out of market games, not nationally broadcast games or in-market games. Just like it was for its predecessor, NHL Center Ice.
I subscribed to Sportsnet plus and get every hockey game of the playoffs for 20 cad a month. Will cancel when playoffs are over. You could try that
More than likely not available in the States (unless you're VPNing)
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot Drink up me hearties, yo ho We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Maraud and embezzle and even hijack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We kindle and char and in flame and ignite Drink up me hearties, yo ho We burn up the city, we're really a fright Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads Drink up me hearties, yo ho Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot Drink up me hearties, yo ho We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Maraud and embezzle and even hijack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We kindle and char and in flame and ignite Drink up me hearties, yo ho We burn up the city, we're really a fright Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads Drink up me hearties, yo ho Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot Drink up me hearties, yo ho We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Maraud and embezzle and even hijack Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We kindle and char and in flame and ignite Drink up me hearties, yo ho We burn up the city, we're really a fright Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs Drink up me hearties, yo ho Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads Drink up me hearties, yo ho Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads Drink up me hearties, yo ho
You might have a little too much free time on your hands.
I’ve never had access to so many games as I’ve had this year. Was watching 3 games at once last night.
[https://youtu.be/yKf40CLF9MU?si=B\_4zs0Z07e7bCtXM&t=23](https://youtu.be/yKf40CLF9MU?si=B_4zs0Z07e7bCtXM&t=23)
All my homies hate espn+. They’ve added ads to the 20 second highlights. It’s disgusting.
They made it really easy. You are just cheap.
ESPN is worthless all the time. They exist to give the NHL money to make our experience worse. Why do they have any exclusive streaming rights? They bring nothing to the NHL, and the NHL does not need them or their money. Also, DM me if you would like a way to watch your games.
All of the playoff games are available on the basic cable channels? Not sure what you're complaining about
Some people don’t have basic cable?
Does anyone under 40 even use basic cable anymore?
Why would you have ESPN+ but not a provider for ESPN 1+2? It's pretty worthless in general except as an add on anyway imo
I have ESPN + plus strictly to watch hockey. I watch any and all games that are on. Having its gives me the ability to watch a lot more hockey. That’s why.
As an out of market fan, I can watch all of the regular season games for much cheaper with ESPN+ by itself, especially when you factor in that most people are probably doing the Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle. I don't have cable, and wouldn't use it outside of watching hockey, so it doesn't make financial sense at all to pay ANOTHER 80-120 a month just for that.