Root sports and ESPN + question

[Ursa Major]

There is a difference this year because there has been tremendous confusion about Root games being televised on ESPN +. This confusion started with the BSC rollout of the ESPN + coverage. Since the start there has been a lack of clear and consistent communication about the broadcast of Root Sports games on ESPN +.

This isn’t hard. Get the correct answer and do a press release. #bsc

https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/8/18/football-bigskyfb-set-to-broadcast-64-games-on-espn.aspx

A total of 64 football games will be available on ESPN+, while the four games being televised by ROOT SPORTS this fall will be available to ESPN+ subscribers outside of the ROOT SPORTS/AT&T Sports Net footprints.

Thanks for posting this :thumb:

 

[Yukon]

I should add that access was with my Cellphone. I hear others in Montana had success with thier phones too, but computers and streaming devices were blocked.

Good info, Bertram!

What we have seemed to gather is that some of us that live in the PNW without cable providers were unable to get the game on ESPN +. In addition, Yukon was in the same boat in Colorado (Root Sports Rocky Mountain?).

Yukon—please let us know if you get the cats replay on ESPN + today. I’ve already showered and I would rather not soil myself by watching the cats.

Next week Root is broadcasting the Idaho vs Ew-U game. It will be interesting to see if it is blacked out on ESPN + for some of us. And, if there is an option getting the game via phone/toaster. Following that is UM vs. Southern Utah on October 30th and cat Griz on November 20th.

I found this recent article on how to stream Roof Sports on Fubu and Direct TV.

https://www.groundedreason.com/how-to-watch-root-sports-northwest-without-cable/

It looks like a few of us will need to get creative to be able to watch these games.

Tried the Cat game a few minutes ago and still blacked out. Guess we know now. My issue in Colorado is I'm in the ATT Sports network area. That's okay for me as I've got the folks stream info and they live in Kalispell.

 

[grizpsych]

Subscribe to a VPN that is outside of Root's footprint and you will get the game on ESPN +

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/free-vpn-for-chrome-vpn-p/majdfhpaihoncoakbjgbdhglocklcgno?hl=en

 

[Ursa Major]

:thumb: Thank you Yukon and GrizPsyc! Sounds like there are options to get past this.

 

[Cuervohola]

Only a handful of games on Root conference wide, with the Griz having 2. Hopefully that ends this year. As far as watching the Root games on ESPN+, there is one way to find out, and unfortunately that might be at game time for us.

This weekend's Idaho / Eastern game on Root IS LISTED on ESPN+ also, and I will try to view it. If it gives me the blackout error or whatever, I will try again with my VPN switched to Uzbekistan or something.

Other than that, there are no "free trial" options for streaming services because none of them have Root.

Root themselves claim to be on Directv Stream and Fubo, but they aren't.

So, as of now it looks like you either go to the game or go to the bar for our 2 root games if the VPN / ESPN+ option doesn't work.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Sorry to be Debbie downer, but I don't necessarily think the VPN option is going to work with ESPN+. Reason being, ESPN+ is a subscription service, meaning they have your billing information, meaning they know where you live. A VPN isn't going to change that.

 

[Ursa Major]

Only a handful of games on Root conference wide, with the Griz having 2. Hopefully that ends this year. As far as watching the Root games on ESPN+, there is one way to find out, and unfortunately that might be at game time for us.

This weekend's Idaho / Eastern game on Root IS LISTED on ESPN+ also, and I will try to view it. If it gives me the blackout error or whatever, I will try again with my VPN switched to Uzbekistan or something.

Other than that, there are no "free trial" options for streaming services because none of them have Root.

Root themselves claim to be on Directv Stream and Fubo, but they aren't.

So, as of now it looks like you either go to the game or go to the bar for our 2 root games if the VPN / ESPN+ option doesn't work.

Try to tune into the Idaho game this weekend. It will likely be blacked out and provide you with more evidence that the upcoming Griz games will likely be blacked out.

 

[Yukon]

Only a handful of games on Root conference wide, with the Griz having 2. Hopefully that ends this year. As far as watching the Root games on ESPN+, there is one way to find out, and unfortunately that might be at game time for us.

This weekend's Idaho / Eastern game on Root IS LISTED on ESPN+ also, and I will try to view it. If it gives me the blackout error or whatever, I will try again with my VPN switched to Uzbekistan or something.

Other than that, there are no "free trial" options for streaming services because none of them have Root.

Root themselves claim to be on Directv Stream and Fubo, but they aren't.

So, as of now it looks like you either go to the game or go to the bar for our 2 root games if the VPN / ESPN+ option doesn't work.

Don't get too creative. Sask says you can't get espn+ outside of the country.

 

[Cuervohola]

Sorry to be Debbie downer, but I don't necessarily think the VPN option is going to work with ESPN+. Reason being, ESPN+ is a subscription service, meaning they have your billing information, meaning they know where you live. A VPN isn't going to change that.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything. I have subscribed to MLB TV for Mariners games in the past and set my VPN to the East Coast. I was too lazy to fly in my Lear Jet to Seattle everyday, so the VPN was my only option.

 

[Cuervohola]

Only a handful of games on Root conference wide, with the Griz having 2. Hopefully that ends this year. As far as watching the Root games on ESPN+, there is one way to find out, and unfortunately that might be at game time for us.

This weekend's Idaho / Eastern game on Root IS LISTED on ESPN+ also, and I will try to view it. If it gives me the blackout error or whatever, I will try again with my VPN switched to Uzbekistan or something.

Other than that, there are no "free trial" options for streaming services because none of them have Root.

Root themselves claim to be on Directv Stream and Fubo, but they aren't.

So, as of now it looks like you either go to the game or go to the bar for our 2 root games if the VPN / ESPN+ option doesn't work.

Don't get too creative. Sask says you can't get espn+ outside of the country.

Maybe not in Canuckia land... Berlin just told me YA! Bring me Beer and Leiderhosen and pay me Euros for monthly or yearly. Same with Finland. So, no I can't choose an out of the country site if I don't want to pay for it. I'll settle for the East Coast.

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Sorry to be Debbie downer, but I don't necessarily think the VPN option is going to work with ESPN+. Reason being, ESPN+ is a subscription service, meaning they have your billing information, meaning they know where you live. A VPN isn't going to change that.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything. I have subscribed to MLB TV for Mariners games in the past and set my VPN to the East Coast. I was too lazy to fly in my Lear Jet to Seattle everyday, so the VPN was my only option.

Okay well we need people to try this out and see if it works on ESPN+.

 

[grizpsych]

Sorry to be Debbie downer, but I don't necessarily think the VPN option is going to work with ESPN+. Reason being, ESPN+ is a subscription service, meaning they have your billing information, meaning they know where you live. A VPN isn't going to change that.

Your belief in how the internet works is wrong. One, your billing address has nothing to do with where you live. Two, DNS servers are usually automated based on how close the user is to them but has nothing to to with billing address. VPN servers act as an anonymous tunnel to wherever they are located. In essence, ESPN+ and other subscription plans base your location on the DNS/VPN servers location rather than your physical address. Thus, moving your server has nothing to do with any sort of billing address.

Edit: To follow up, you will need to pick a VPN server in the USA that is outside of Root Sports footprint (e.g., something in the Midwest). ESPN + is not available outside of the USA. So, don't pick a VPN server outside of the USA.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Let's say I had ESPN+. Let's say I don't live in the area and maybe wouldn't be subject to blackouts. Maybe I have a friend or 500 who live in the blackout area. I would never do anything like this, but what if I shared my login info with said friend(s). Would my billing info mean they could watch, or would their VPN(s) still black it out?

EDIT: Psych answered this above while I was typing. Thanks!

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Sorry to be Debbie downer, but I don't necessarily think the VPN option is going to work with ESPN+. Reason being, ESPN+ is a subscription service, meaning they have your billing information, meaning they know where you live. A VPN isn't going to change that.

Your belief in how the internet works is wrong. One, your billing address has nothing to do with where you live. Two, DNS servers are usually automated based on how close the user is to them but has nothing to to with billing address. VPN servers act as an anonymous tunnel to wherever they are located. In essence, ESPN+ and other subscription plans base your location on the DNS/VPN servers location rather than your physical address. Thus, moving your server has nothing to do with any sort of billing address.

Edit: To follow up, you will need to pick a VPN server in the USA that is outside of Root Sports footprint (e.g., something in the Midwest). ESPN + is not available outside of the USA. So, don't pick a VPN server outside of the USA.

Haha you make me sound like a total blooming idiot, which I promise you I'm not (I'm only a partial idiot haha), but I do appreciate the info. It just seems strange to me that when they have access to your billing info (which is usually where you live otherwise how would you pay your credit card bill), they would base your location on something else. But I understand what you are saying.

After discussing the topic with my techie son, he did tell me that some companies are now not allowing you to use a VPN, ie Netflix, so it remains to be seen if one will work with ESPN+ to allow us to get the Root games. Aforementioned son has a VPN that he uses all the time so I will have him figure it out this weekend to see if it will work with ESPN+. I want to be hopeful but sadly I'm a pessimist.

 

[grizpsych]

Your belief in how the internet works is wrong. One, your billing address has nothing to do with where you live. Two, DNS servers are usually automated based on how close the user is to them but has nothing to to with billing address. VPN servers act as an anonymous tunnel to wherever they are located. In essence, ESPN+ and other subscription plans base your location on the DNS/VPN servers location rather than your physical address. Thus, moving your server has nothing to do with any sort of billing address.

Edit: To follow up, you will need to pick a VPN server in the USA that is outside of Root Sports footprint (e.g., something in the Midwest). ESPN + is not available outside of the USA. So, don't pick a VPN server outside of the USA.

Haha you make me sound like a total blooming idiot, which I promise you I'm not (I'm only a partial idiot haha), but I do appreciate the info. It just seems strange to me that when they have access to your billing info (which is usually where you live otherwise how would you pay your credit card bill), they would base your location on something else. But I understand what you are saying.

After discussing the topic with my techie son, he did tell me that some companies are now not allowing you to use a VPN, ie Netflix, so it remains to be seen if one will work with ESPN+ to allow us to get the Root games. Aforementioned son has a VPN that he uses all the time so I will have him figure it out this weekend to see if it will work with ESPN+. I want to be hopeful but sadly I'm a pessimist.

Sorry, I didn't mean offense. I am too blunt sometimes.

Edit: With that written, you can always pm that one dude on the board that helps people watch the games live...

 

[grizpsych]

Let's say I had ESPN+. Let's say I don't live in the area and maybe wouldn't be subject to blackouts. Maybe I have a friend or 500 who live in the blackout area. I would never do anything like this, but what if I shared my login info with said friend(s). Would my billing info mean they could watch, or would their VPN(s) still black it out?

EDIT: Psych answered this above while I was typing. Thanks!

Of course, if some of you are having problems viewing games, you could always contact that one person on this board that has a history of helping people watch live games. I wonder who that could be...

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

Haha you make me sound like a total blooming idiot, which I promise you I'm not (I'm only a partial idiot haha), but I do appreciate the info. It just seems strange to me that when they have access to your billing info (which is usually where you live otherwise how would you pay your credit card bill), they would base your location on something else. But I understand what you are saying.

After discussing the topic with my techie son, he did tell me that some companies are now not allowing you to use a VPN, ie Netflix, so it remains to be seen if one will work with ESPN+ to allow us to get the Root games. Aforementioned son has a VPN that he uses all the time so I will have him figure it out this weekend to see if it will work with ESPN+. I want to be hopeful but sadly I'm a pessimist.

Sorry, I didn't mean offense. I am too blunt sometimes.

No it's all good. Just the way you said it reminded me of that commercial (and I don't even remember what it was for) of the grandma putting actual photographs on the wall of her house thinking she's posting pictures to her wall on social media and someone else saying, "That's not how any of this works." It cracked me up but then I had to wonder if I really was that dumb. Haha.

 

[Cuervohola]

Edit: To follow up, you will need to pick a VPN server in the USA that is outside of Root Sports footprint (e.g., something in the Midwest). ESPN + is not available outside of the USA. So, don't pick a VPN server outside of the USA.

It's in Europe. If you choose to go there to drink, then you will know..

 

[grizpsych]

Sorry, I didn't mean offense. I am too blunt sometimes.

No it's all good. Just the way you said it reminded me of that commercial (and I don't even remember what it was for) of the grandma putting actual photographs on the wall of her house thinking she's posting pictures to her wall on social media and someone else saying, "That's not how any of this works." It cracked me up but then I had to wonder if I really was that dumb. Haha.

I must admit that I thought of the same commercial while writing. See, you are smart. :thumb:

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

UPDATE:. Techie son put Nord VPN on the laptop, selected Atlanta for location, and we logged into ESPN+ and tried to watch the Cat game from last Saturday (which I couldn't access previously) and it worked. I make no guarantees that it will work live, but this is promising.