Super rugby streaming options

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#2032192 8-Jun-2018 14:59

GeekGuy:

...and it use to be free for the Rugby.

I have been watching it on ESPN for the last couple of years now.

How does the streaming video quality compare between ESPN+ and ESPN (assume you were watching via streaming previously?)

There doesn't appear to be any video quality setting options within the ESPN+ Android app.

Rugby Pass seems a more certain bet, obviously being Rugby Specific, but it costs more and I'm not sure if the quality is better yet?

I personally don't need these services for a full year either, as we watch mostly season sports like F1, League and Rugby in our house.

If a annual subscription is less than the individual months though, we'd obviously go that way.

GeekGuy

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#2032203 8-Jun-2018 15:09

Basically the same as it was before.

I usually use Rugby Pass for the AB's tour to the northern hemisphere at the end of the season.

Earbanean

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#2032221 8-Jun-2018 16:16

For the ESPN+ app, can you subscribe directly through it, or do you have to have a subscription for ESPN elsewhere?

GeekGuy

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#2032240 8-Jun-2018 17:01

I share a Direct TV account and have an account on the ESPN website as well.

Jaxson

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#2032300 8-Jun-2018 18:17

Earbanean:
For the ESPN+ app, can you subscribe directly through it, or do you have to have a subscription for ESPN elsewhere?

Through it in my case. Linked to the google account of the device.

GeekGuy

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#2032310 8-Jun-2018 18:51

Earbanean:

For the ESPN+ app, can you subscribe directly through it, or do you have to have a subscription for ESPN elsewhere?

I misread what you wrote ... my subscription is through Amazon.

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Wiggum

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#2033531 11-Jun-2018 10:40

Earbanean:

For the ESPN+ app, can you subscribe directly through it, or do you have to have a subscription for ESPN elsewhere?

You can subscribe directly. its very reasonable at only US$4.99 which includes all games. Even had the All Blacks vs France live on Sat night. Quality was supurb. Using DNS4Me.

I have my laptop connected to my TV via HDMI cable. Have not managed to get any app working with ESPN+ yet. I tried installing the ESPN3 app on my iphone but the app needs location services enabled for it to play. Also tried installing the ESPN3 Kodi addon, but that needs to be enabled via a cable service (no option for the direct subscription of ESPN+ it seems). So I gave up on that.

Kiwifruta

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#2033532 11-Jun-2018 10:45

Wiggum:
Earbanean:

For the ESPN+ app, can you subscribe directly through it, or do you have to have a subscription for ESPN elsewhere?

You can subscribe directly. its very reasonable at only US$4.99 which includes all games. Even had the All Blacks vs France live on Sat night. Quality was supurb. Using DNS4Me.

I have my laptop connected to my TV via HDMI cable. Have not managed to get any app working with ESPN+ yet. I tried installing the ESPN3 app on my iphone but the app needs location services enabled for it to play. Also tried installing the ESPN+ Kodi addon, but that needs to be enabled via a cable service (no option for the direct subscription of ESPN+ it seems). So I gave up on that.

The only ESPN+ related app I’ve had consistent success with is the FireTV app. Mostly fail on Android and iPhone.

Wiggum

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#2033534 11-Jun-2018 10:49

Kiwifruta: The only ESPN+ related app I’ve had consistent success with is the FireTV app. Mostly fail on Android and iPhone.

Maybe I should purchase one of those US$29.00 fire sticks. Are they any good?

Jaxson

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#2033600 11-Jun-2018 12:05

Feedback re my weekend test of ESPN+ and dns4me:

Both worked really well.

Quality was excellent, much better than Sky Go levels. Coverage started around the anthems, and included the Haka. Direct Sky NZ feed with commentators etc.

Used the official android app, running directly on my sony TV, which runs android 7 now.

Coverage dropped out at half time, so was a bit of fun getting it started again for the second half.

Had a moment of weirdness in the second half, but came right within a minute.
A few messages from the App saying content not available etc. Odd but brief.

dns4me works almost seamlessly. Was able to change dns server settings on just the TV, so the rest of the house is untouched.

All in all a totally viable option.

Only negatives would be:
The app is currently pretty crap in terms of search ability for Rugby.
Coverage starts very much on time, so no lead up period.
By the very nature of ESPN+ not a lot is guaranteed. If a show makes it onto one of their broadcast TV channels, it might not be available on ESPN+
Luckily rugby is so minority that's unlikely to happen.

tukapa1

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#2033951 11-Jun-2018 21:14

I had some issues with ESPN+ for the AB's game on Saturday night (using DNS4Me).

I managed to get into the game but after about 10 minutes it dropped out saying content not available. It did the same thing at halftime.

Quality was average - it would come and go. Watching through laptop connected to TV via HDMI and on ethernet. VDSL at home but that should be enough to have a stable stream.

I'll try it again next week and see what happens, but funnily enough I've had better quality through 'other' streams....

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Kiwifruta

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#2034039 11-Jun-2018 23:01

@tukapa1 Have you let dns4me know of the issues? I find they are pretty good at sorting things out. Otherwise I suggest giving rugbypass a go, I never had dramas with them, but ESPN+ has been finicky for me.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of clearing the caches on the router, the PC OS and the browser.

Kiwifruta

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#2034040 11-Jun-2018 23:04

Wiggum:
Kiwifruta: The only ESPN+ related app I’ve had consistent success with is the FireTV app. Mostly fail on Android and iPhone.

Maybe I should purchase one of those US$29.00 fire sticks. Are they any good?

Sorry, I’ve never used a Fire stick, I have the 1st gen Fire TV box, which performs really well. I would expect the Fire TV stock to perform as long as you have decent WiFi or buy one of those micro USB to Ethernet adapters.

tukapa1

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#2034059 12-Jun-2018 06:01

Kiwifruta: @tukapa1 Have you let dns4me know of the issues? I find they are pretty good at sorting things out. Otherwise I suggest giving rugbypass a go, I never had dramas with them, but ESPN+ has been finicky for me.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of clearing the caches on the router, the PC OS and the browser.

I've had rugbypass with DNS4Me before and it was great. unfortunately when Rugbypass lost the NRL and put their cost up I didn't think they were value for money anymore and stopped using them.

I'll try clearing the caches and then give ESPN+ another whirl this weekend - no issues with DNS4Me - they've been great and the service works well.

Cheers.

DeepBlueSky

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#2034523 12-Jun-2018 15:25

I booked RugbyPass for a month its good value if you look at it that way; love the HD content and very easy to use just cast from my phone to the Chromecast on the TV also works with AppleTV. Interesting needed the VPN to instate the stream then no VPN needed on the Chromecast.

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