NHL.tv replaced by ESPN+, and not available in Australia/NZ

[BurgoShark]

You can currently watch past games on the ESPN app that were aired on ESPN, it's a pain to find though. under the 'watch' tab, you can choose 'schedule & replays'. select ice hockey -> day

Cool. Thanks.

 

[ItWasJustified]

or “use a free/illegal” method.

You aren't doing anything illegal by watching a free stream though.

 

[OrangePMD]

We can watch, but not what we want to. As a Preds fan it is impossible to catch every game through Viasat.

Not even on NHL.tv ? Really ? And we are talking about official games, not pre-season games.

 

[castle]

You can currently watch past games on the ESPN app that were aired on ESPN, it's a pain to find though. under the 'watch' tab, you can choose 'schedule & replays'. select ice hockey -> day

This makes it sound like you can only watch past games that they actually aired. What about the other 1000+ games? They don't air any Jets games so that would pretty much leave me with nothing. There must be some way to access all of the games on demand... I hope. Otherwise the NHL has really screwed this up.

 

[Shrimper]

Still no idea on options in the UK

 

[pemulis]

This makes it sound like you can only watch past games that they actually aired. What about the other 1000+ games? They don't air any Jets games so that would pretty much leave me with nothing. There must be some way to access all of the games on demand... I hope. Otherwise the NHL has really screwed this up.

Currently yes. But it sounds like there are plans to air all of the games and we can watch them on demand. If not I'm gonna be pissed. We'll see how this develops.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Currently yes. But it sounds like there are plans to air all of the games and we can watch them on demand. If not I'm gonna be pissed. We'll see how this develops.

That's what ESPN are saying. We'll know in a couple of weeks how things are really going to work. The ESPN app is clunky but workable. At present it clearly doesn't have the ease of functionality and ability to quickly find and play multiple feeds of each game that NHL.TV had, and I'm far from convinced that will change, but as long as they really do provide streaming on demand for all games and they are available on demand for at least a few days after each one is played, then it should be fine. Annoying that Fetch doesn't allow direct access to the ESPN app through its box, but we'll just have to make do.

Even if everything works as intended, clearly at least in the short term this is a step backwards for NHL coverage in Aus/NZ. But money talks and ESPN getting exclusive rights to the NHL in our little part of the world is clearly worth more to the league than a few individual stream subscriptions. Frustrating but fingers crossed that what we get turns out to be ok.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Not even on NHL.tv ? Really ? And we are talking about official games, not pre-season games.

NVM, I just found out that you CAN watch every game through viasat but that'll set you back 35€ /mo.
The package also comes with all these other sports I would never watch so it's an easy thing to pass on.

I swear the last time I looked this up it was only possible to watch the games Viasat picked + playoffs, nothing more. So yes, it is possible. But you have to jump through some dumb loops to get to the content, which isn't even "NHL" content, it's an all-around package.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Still no idea on options in the UK

NHL.tv will continue as per usual in UK

 

[jackjohnson]

Poor guys down under. Here in Norway we simply lost all access to any legal online NHL products when Viasat bought all the rights (in order to basically only show Zuccarrello games).

I have not watched a full game in probably seven years. Unless it’s a shoddy illegal stream come playoff time. I just watch highlights in the morning. Won’t share the websites here, but willing to PM.

That’s the NHL for you. A bungling, user-stringent niche-market unable to provide product to consumers willing to pay and too dumb to grow the reach. It’s why I started watching the NBA again.

And these morons want to "expand" into other markets and "grow" the game yet they dont provide a proper streaming service worldwide. Its pretty pathetic as NHL.tv should have been kept alongside ESPN+. Except have ESPN+ for US market and NHL.tv for the rest of the world.

 

[jackjohnson]

Poor guys down under. Here in Norway we simply lost all access to any legal online NHL products when Viasat bought all the rights (in order to basically only show Zuccarrello games).

I have not watched a full game in probably seven years. Unless it’s a shoddy illegal stream come playoff time. I just watch highlights in the morning. Won’t share the websites here, but willing to PM.

That’s the NHL for you. A bungling, user-stringent niche-market unable to provide product to consumers willing to pay and too dumb to grow the reach. It’s why I started watching the NBA again.

Also if people are desperate, they could stream from a site that not only allows you to watch the games live, but it also is recorded so you never miss a game. I cant say the site name here but for $10 per month it provides great quality feed of games and allows chromecast. Of course its not a legal stream but NHL leaves no choice for people who dont even have a choice.

 

[Shrimper]

NHL.tv will continue as per usual in UK

I mean TV rights

 

[BurgoShark]

Some discussion on Twitter for this same issue.



One guy in there mentions that casting works, so I’m going to press forward with my “buy a box and then pay $6/month” plan.

 

[yada]

Thanks - but note this is not ESPN+. It’s a different service/app for Australia only, so we can only confirm this with someone who has tried it here.

No problem. Hope your different app works like espn+ here, meaning your not stuck to live or nothing.

 

[castle]

I can't find this other app, if it exists. And there appears to be no way to watch the Jets preseason game through ESPN right now. Or any other NHL game.

 

[Isi]

For those following along at home, I’ve done some research and this seems like path I will take (I looked in to buying Fetch via my ISP but it wasn’t worth it).

1. Buy a Fetch mini from a retailer for ~$170. I don’t actually need the box, but you can’t have an account without it
2. plug in the box
3. Activate Fetch TV (one off activation fee of $1)
4. From the menu, subscribe to the Fetch “Vibe” pack which includes ESPN for $6/month
5. Ignore the existence of the box for the next 7 months
6. Use the ESPN App with my Fetch credentials
7. Go back in to the box at the end of hockey season and temporarily remove the Vibe pack
8. Hope that casting from the ESPN App is supported

Not quite as tidy as just paying for NHL.tv and watching it however and wherever I like, but a passable solution, and if they don’t change it again next season I’m only on the hook for the $6/month

Yes, this is the best plan for us Aus folk, unless you actually have a reason for Foxtel Now. I suppose you can re-package the Fetch TV box to a family member or something. I happen to have a Fetch box in the family already so I've set it all up. I can confirm casting from the phone to the TV work but I haven't played around with other things. As is usually the case when a product moves from on platform to another, the new video player stinks. No rewind option for example

Is there a way to watch on a TV instead of a computer/phone? I'm not sure this is worth it, as I don't really trust that it will work at all. It really isn't clear that I'd be able to watch the Jets games live or on demand or how I'd even be able to find them. RIP to the good old NHL app.

I'm yet to try it, but you can watch online at ESPN watch . From there, I assume you could hook a laptop up to your TV with a HDMI cable and stream.

It's a much worse user experience and the upfront payment for the Fetch box sucks. I can only assume ESPN/Disney has content deals with Fetch/Foxtel which prevent ESPN from going at it alone in Aus/NZ

 

[castle]

I don't think you are right. There is nowhere in the espn watch site that they have the NHL games on demand. Or at least nowhere that I can find them. the only NHL i can find is something called in the crease.

It would appear that it is currently not possible to watch NHL games in Australia through ESPN. Or they have made it so convoluted that this may as well be the case.

there is also no way to watch them on my espn phone app either

there is no way to get access to espn+ here, you keep getting redirected to an espn site where the NHL basically does not exist

 

[BurgoShark]

Hi Guys.

Thanks again for the great feedback.

I got the fetch box, signed up, and have watched some pre-season games and also a bit of today's Penguins/Tampa game. Casting from iPhone the phone to both AppleTV and Chromecast both work fine, and the App actually remembers your last casting setup, so when I fired the game up today it automatically started casting (nice!).

It might actually be possible without the box. When you sign up online for $1 you get an activation code from Fetch, and that is what the ESPN App asks for. I had already entered the activation code into the box, but had I known this was the case I would have tried just signing up first (and saved myself $170 for a box that I don't use).

As others have said, finding things in the ESPN App can be a little clunky, since you can't set it up to be hockey-centric, but knowing the start times it is easy enough to just list all live events and find your game.

The news feature of the App is garbage. I've actually been using Breakaway beta to view my news/highlights (it was developed by a user on here who was frustrated with the NHL app and put together a cleaner interface). That's great for that stuff.

No condensed games yet, but I have tested just now and I am able to watch today's game as a replay. There is also a slider to skip forward etc.

All in all, not bad. It was confusing figuring out how to get to this point, but the App/streaming is actually pretty good. Condensed games would be nice, but I assume they are coming eventually so I can live without them for now.

For other users in Aus, I would suggest you try the Fetch signup before buying a box (like I did). It might actually work, and if not you've only lost $1.
Fetch > Activate

Good luck, and thanks again guys. It's good to have hockey back

 

[castle]

I did the fetch thing and it seems completely useless actually. I'll likely return the box. there are no archived games. I can't find the NHL anywhere on the site, or any way to watch today's games on the phone app. any attempt to watch them directs to espn+ and then says you can't do that here.

 

[PostM]

Hi Guys.

Thanks again for the great feedback.

I got the fetch box, signed up, and have watched some pre-season games and also a bit of today's Penguins/Tampa game. Casting from iPhone the phone to both AppleTV and Chromecast both work fine, and the App actually remembers your last casting setup, so when I fired the game up today it automatically started casting (nice!).

It might actually be possible without the box. When you sign up online for $1 you get an activation code from Fetch, and that is what the ESPN App asks for. I had already entered the activation code into the box, but had I known this was the case I would have tried just signing up first (and saved myself $170 for a box that I don't use).

As others have said, finding things in the ESPN App can be a little clunky, since you can't set it up to be hockey-centric, but knowing the start times it is easy enough to just list all live events and find your game.

The news feature of the App is garbage. I've actually been using Breakaway beta to view my news/highlights (it was developed by a user on here who was frustrated with the NHL app and put together a cleaner interface). That's great for that stuff.

No condensed games yet, but I have tested just now and I am able to watch today's game as a replay. There is also a slider to skip forward etc.

All in all, not bad. It was confusing figuring out how to get to this point, but the App/streaming is actually pretty good. Condensed games would be nice, but I assume they are coming eventually so I can live without them for now.

For other users in Aus, I would suggest you try the Fetch signup before buying a box (like I did). It might actually work, and if not you've only lost $1.
Fetch > Activate

Good luck, and thanks again guys. It's good to have hockey back

Tried doing what you mentioned without having the actual box. Doesn't work, the actual box needs to be validated.

But thanks anyway!

 

[Ratatoskr]

I feel you. Hockey fan in Germany here. I got up at 4am today, looking forward to start the new NHL season by watching Vegas host the Kraken on my newly renewed NHL.tv subscription, only to find out that the NHL had sold 300+ games to Sky, and the game was blacked out on NHL.tv. VPN didn't help either, unless I was doing it wrong.

NHL.tv used to be such a great product for me...

 

[Maelmoor]

In Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden, Viaplay streams all games.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I feel you. Hockey fan in Germany here. I got up at 4am today, looking forward to start the new NHL season by watching Vegas host the Kraken on my newly renewed NHL.tv subscription, only to find out that the NHL had sold 300+ games to Sky, and the game was blacked out on NHL.tv. VPN didn't help either, unless I was doing it wrong.

NHL.tv used to be such a great product for me...

Don't worry, there's a pretty simple solution to be able to keep watching NHL.tv

1. Go to ExpressVPN or any other VPN website and purchase an account.

2. Set the VPN to Singapore

3. That's it, that's all you have to do

My mate and I (Australia) freaked out when we thought we had to mess around with the ESPN/fetch crap until we tried this and everything's back to normal again

 

[Ratatoskr]

Don't worry, there's a pretty simple solution to be able to keep watching NHL.tv

1. Go to ExpressVPN or any other VPN website and purchase an account.

2. Set the VPN to Singapore

3. That's it, that's all you have to do

My mate and I (Australia) freaked out when we thought we had to mess around with the ESPN/fetch crap until we tried this and everything's back to normal again

I'll try that when I get back home tonight. Thank you!

 

[canuckster19]

In Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden, Viaplay streams all games.

The problem is a lot of the time we have to listen to the Swedish or American play by play, I don't want to listen to either when watching a Canucks game.