No on the first one. Assuming it's the same for next season, they're only showing the NHL game of the day that was already available for free. You'd still need the NHL.tv subscription to get everything else.
Signed up. Used my existing ESPN username to get started. Had to download the ESPN app for my phone (not the WatchESPN app which I already had). You can already watch the NYCFC v. RSL replay. However, since it was a national broadcast is gave me a "Authentication Failed" notice. In the settings you can add WatchESPN Provider, I'll get to that and find out if I can add my normal ESPN access later. Interestingly, the app has under Settings a "About Nielsen Measurement" section that can allow you to opt out of being measured. EDIT: Oh, and ESPNFC is listed available on ESPN+ at 6pm ET tonight.
Another program we were "told" we wouldn't lose access to as an ESPN cable subscriber... ESPN’s soccer studio show, @ESPNFC will air exclusively on ESPN+ starting April 12, adding to the hundreds of matches already scheduled for the new Disney direct-to-consumer service https://t.co/1r1uRmY7bS pic.twitter.com/LzIbgq2iFb— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 9, 2018 Thx, Jay!
Without condensed games, ESPN+ is useful for me only for watching Quakes away matches. I'll sign up for the 30 day free trial just before its offer expiration, then cancel and sign up for new months as needed. I'm not going to use the service for anything else, so why pay for unused days. It looks like I can cover the 2018 season with the free trial, and then three additional paid months, so $15 total. The condensed match situation still irks me. Only available on the MLS mobile app, inapplicable to semi-luddites like me, with apparently one game per week available on its Youtube page. A big step down from past years. Oh well. MLS is clearly on top of its business metrics. Save The Crew. Gratuitous, but necessary.
"Hi because I know everyone is going to freak out about this re: ESPN+, I got official word this morning that condensed matches are staying on the free MLS app ok"
Yeah, just noticed this has been updated, all of my series set recordings are gone. Boooo. Hope it's available on demand on ESPN +
That game was only broadcasted locally. MLS Live has the archived full match video. I checked. I read somewhere else that ESPN+ will have the on-demand archives available for matches starting tomorrow (4/13), not for those previously available on MLS Live. A bit awkward and confusing. I hope the local blackout policy carries over from MLS Live to ESPN+. It should, but.....
I do not know about USL but every Stanley cup playoff game from Wed. Night was available for replay this AM and I also checked and the all play fine. What the next regular season will be like I do not know but it is looking promising.
I'm just guessing BUT I suspect that the games were not available live (clearly ESPN+ was not active when the games were played), and will not be available live in the future and ESPN has a deal that allows delayed playback. Contracts for live broadcast and delayed broadcast are probably somewhat different. Those were all nationally televised games so they were not even available live on the NHL app on my Roku. We will just have to wait to see exactly how this pans out as the MLS match from last night is not playable on ESPN but plays fine on the MLS's Roku app. ESPN+ is not even active on the Roku yet. I am happy I have a Fire TV and a Shield TV as well as Roku because the Fire and Shield have updated to work fine with ESPN+.
I signed up for Plus today and watched some of the Bradford City - Shrewsbury match and found the video quality to be on par with MLS Live. ESPN3 was often a blocky, pixellated mess for me, so this is pleasing.
One of the things I don't like is the integration with the ESPN app rather than WatchESPN. The app defaults on the "Home" page that shows the scores of the teams you designated as favorites. I had to unfavorite the Revs because if I want to watch a game after it starts or after it finishes, there would inevitably be spoilers. It is supposed to be integrated with Chromecast, but I didn't see a casting function when I was playing around with it. I wonder what MLS is going to do with it's Roku channel. Hopefully they decide to put their original video content and condensed games there. It would seem like a waste not to continue to utilize it.
This depends on your tv provider. As a sling tv subscriber I can only watch 1 stream on WatchESPN at a time.
Tried to watch the Championship game this afternoon but it kept defaulting to commercial break and then became unavailable. I guess this service is still a work in progress? All the women's softball and baseball anybody would ever want though.
Is ESPN+ available on Roku? I don't see the channel available to add there, but maybe I am missing something.