No. This has been explicitly stated and has been already pointed out in this thread. Access to espn cable network streaming will continue to require a cable/satellite/streaming subscription. You will not be able to purchase ESPN, ESPN 2 etc access.
ESPN + will be a separate service. It is designed for mobile users, and chord cutters. That said, it will be interesting to see if users will have access to the ESPN cable networks if they are getting internet service only from a cable provider. Some ISP's allowed access to the ESPN networks through their internet service without having a TV subscription.
Aside from hating ESPN in general...(I'll spare you the rant). I couldn't be happier with this deal. I get my MLS package and all of the ESPN Plus content for $60 per year. Which includes the D2 Football games that I can't see anywhere else. No brainer!!!
Dude. Espn+ will not have access to espn networks. It was stated explicitly in the interview by the head of Disney. ESPN+ is what I was discussing. My comment is directly talking about what espn+ will not offer. I am more aware of what it is than you are. This is not a hard concept. ESPN has a deal with providers. They cannot offer access to their cable networks directly and stated as such.
You're right, not the networks, but it is possible that some events will be available on both TV and ESPN+. Right now I don't get ESPNU but through the online streams there are some events on ESPNU I can watch. It varies not just by league/sport but by event int hat league/sport. Sometimes I can watch a Pac-12 basketball game that's on ESPNU, sometimes I can't
That isn't what was being discussed. You are right sometimes content from ESPN networks is also available (simulcast) via espn3 streams/access.
Sounds like it’s not going to be ready for the beginning of 5e season. I don’t want to watch on a ********ing laptop at the website. This is starting off on the wrong foot.
Completely NOT what I was referring too.... I was referring to customers who say, get internet access via Xfinity(Comcast) but do not get cable TV. In the past if the ISP had access to ESPN you were still able to watch the networks online via their internet service even if you did not have a cable TV subscription....
+ free for a while + cheaper than previously + more sports content + will reach more casual sports fans, which hopefully leads to more MLS fans and better ratings down the line. No news yet on Canada & Abroad access, condensed matches and highlights though. Hope it still will be access-able trough the MLS App, even if it's run as ESPN+ Until all that is known I don't know what to think of it.
This article gives me some new optimism. It presents this as though MLSLive, as we know it with condensed games and all of that good stuff, will exist within the espn+ platform! Had they said "MLSLIVE will be discontinued and fans may now enjoy all out of market games on espn+" that would infer that we only get live games. We won't know until we know, but I'm thinking that MLSLIVE may have it's own interface within the new espn+ platform. Oh, and I'm so happy that I can now finally watch ESPN and espn2 live without a cable bundle!
I could be wrong but I think what you are referring to is access to espn3 via your isp. I have never heard of espn access without a subscription. Espn3 does not equal ESPN. It is confusing but they are completely separate things. Sometimes what is on espn is simulcast on espn3 but not always. I have comcast/xfinity and they do not offer espn access without a subscription. They do offer espn3 access.
FWIW I emailed MLS Live support and told them the 2 features from MLS Live I would like them to carry over to ESPN + were: 1) condensed games; and 2) the ability to start games from the beginning that are in progress (which seemed to only be a feature on Roku, as far as I've experienced) They did respond and thanked me for my input, so at least I know it got read...
Outside of MLS, NHL and MLB that will be in this extra package, we already get most of that for what we are paying now. Thx, Jay!
NHL has added that this year. It's excellent as you don't have to squint, mute and hope your mouse clicks work. I'd also ask for the option to hide the scores. Thx, Jay!
I don't know how long they last, but MLB.TV offers condensed games. http://www.espn.com/watch/schedule/?endDate=20180214&startDate=20180207&type=replay lists replays going back a week, so if that's what they do for MLS I think fans will be happy. You can open a replay without seeing the score. ESPN3 allows that, but the games open live before you can go back, so unless you start during a commercial or cover part of the screen you will see the score.
I'm confused. I'm moving in with a cord cutter so: Can I get MLS Live without a cable subscription? Can I get games on Fox Sports without a cable subscription? Can I get games on ESPN without a cable subscription? Can I get games on Univision and Unimas without a cable subscription? Can I watch local matches without a cable subscription?
Chris Schlosser, Senior Vice President & General Manager, MLS Digital, might be able to answer questions about the transition of MLS Live to ESPN+: Chris.Schlosser@MLSsoccer.com or chris.schlosser@mlssoccer.com.
It appears that MLS Live will be available without a cable subscription. Live MLS games on Fox Sports and ESPN require some sort of subscription to those channels. That can be done with streaming services like YouTube TV or DirecTV Now so you don't specifically have to have a cable subscription. Univision and UniMas can be seen in some areas with an antenna. Otherwise you are probably going to need some sort of subscription. Local matches would depend on how they are broadcast. Here in Houston most are on KUBE, a broadcast channel, so you wouldn't need cable for that. MLS Live might also work in some markets depending on the blackout policies. I'm sure if others have different information they can correct this.
As a lifelong member of the rabbit ears brigade, I will try my best to answer your questions. Can I get MLS Live without a cable subscription? Yes, if you pay. Can I get games on Fox Sports without a cable subscription? No, unless you purchase Fox Soccer Match Pass (7 day free trial). The old MLS Live had these matches available 48 hours after conclusion. Can I get games on ESPN without a cable subscription? No. If your ISP gives you access to ESPN3, you can watch the matches there soon after conclusion. Same 48 hour delay on the old MLS Live. Can I get games on Univision and Unimas without a cable subscription? If you still own a television, you can get these networks over the air depending on your location. 48 hour delay on the old MLS Live. Can I watch local matches without a cable subscription? Again, it depends on the market. Some teams broadcast these matches on over the air channels. Most do not. Under the old MLS Live, some teams allowed local users to watch the games live; others did not. For those blacked out, you could watch the game as soon as it ended, like with ESPN3. As you can see, the transition to ESPN+ raises questions about match availability.
They worked really really hard at ignoring the handwriting on the wall for far too long and now they're playing catch up. The money was so good that nobody wanted to see the signs.Now it may be too late.