Direct Hopper access to WatchESPN

[D. Manley]

Been scouring for any new information on this and all seems quiet. Other than the initial ESPN/Disney/DISH press releases announcement of the new contract that strongly suggest it's coming, nada. Sure would be nice to have primary TV access without 3rd party streaming hardware, anyone have any new information?

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[Scott Greczkowski]

As far as I know there are no plans to add a Watch ESPN app to the Hopper.

They are supposed to switch ESPN Classic over to a VOD service at some point but not sure when that will happen.

 

[D. Manley]

As far as I know there are no plans to add a Watch ESPN app to the Hopper.

They are supposed to switch ESPN Classic over to a VOD service at some point but not sure when that will happen.

Hmmm. Scott, the ESPN press release announcement of the new contract stressed that Dish customers would have WatchESPN access at home and, via mobile device. Why would they differentiate to include "Home" separately if mobile devices were the only option. I've read that thing a dozen times and whether accurate or not it certainly indicates that the content will be available for in-home viewing. If not, I see a Roku in my future but obviously, I'd prefer not.

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[Scott Greczkowski]

Yes home means you can watch it at home, using your PC, or other device.

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index To watch on your PC.

For other devices you can watch ESPN on check out...

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/about

Nothing has even been said about a Hopper app in the press release.

 

[Tampa8]

You are reading into it something that isn't there! "Home" means a Roku, Apple TV, etc etc. Available to Dish subsribers means they will make the sign in to those home devices available.

 

[D. Manley]

You are reading into it something that isn't there! "Home" means a Roku, Apple TV, etc etc. Available to Dish subsribers means they will make the sign in to those home devices available.

Not to be argumentative but the release clearly states Dish customers will receive both live and on-demand content from numerous, streaming-only channels including, ESPN3. Certainly sounds like Dish supplied content to me.

This is the referenced press release:

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...undbreaking-long-term-wide-ranging-agreement/

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[Scherrman]

Isn't VOD completely different than ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app? I myself didn't get what you got out of it. I would except to see something along the lines of a statement from Dish saying they now have a WatchESPN app available on the Hopper. As for ESPN3, I think that is only a website for viewing sports, not an app.

 

[D. Manley]

The Wall Street Journal had a recent article on Dish's venture into Internet-based TV. I can't locate the original article on my phone but it's cited & summarized here:

http://thestreamingadvisor.com/2014...e-gets-rights-to-disney-and-espn-programming/

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[lparsons21]

Isn't VOD completely different than ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app? I myself didn't get what you got out of it. I would except to see something along the lines of a statement from Dish saying they now have a WatchESPN app available on the Hopper. As for ESPN3, I think that is only a website for viewing sports, not an app.

There's some overlap, but not too much. WatchESPN on my AppleTV is wonderful!!

 

[Bobby]

There's some overlap, but not too much. WatchESPN on my AppleTV is wonderful!!

and the same on my Roku!

 

[Tampa8]

Ok, we must be living in alternate universes. I don't see even a hint of WatchESPN being seen directly on the Hopper. I see what I replied, you will be able to watch on set top streaming boxes, I see a rumor or someone's thoughts that Roku will become a DISH set top box, but nothing about it being tied to a Hopper.
The description "Live and streaming on demand" is exactly what WatchESPN is, I don't see it as a description that it will be on the Hopper.

 

[DustoMan]

Not to be argumentative but the release clearly states Dish customers will receive both live and on-demand content from numerous, streaming-only channels including, ESPN3. Certainly sounds like Dish supplied content to me.

No, that isn't at all what it means. They are just talking about Dish customers now having access to on-demand and streaming content much like other providers do for things like HBO Go or Showtime Anywhere. What people don't understand is that access to those offerings usually require new contracts to be drawn up. Not everyone gets them just because their "insert name of TV service here" gets the channel. Those services do not provide the streaming offerings, they just provide the authentication. The rest is up to the content owners to come up with ways to send that content to customers. Could Dish and ESPN built a "WatchESPN" app for the Hopper? Sure. But that's not at all implied anywhere in that press release. You are ment to use your Xbox or tablet or phone or whatever.

The Wall Street Journal had a recent article on Dish's venture into Internet-based TV. I can't locate the original article on my phone but it's cited & summarized here:

http://thestreamingadvisor.com/2014...e-gets-rights-to-disney-and-espn-programming/

Right. This has been rumored for a while. The Dish World service on Roku could be considered a trial run of how such a service would work. All the contract means is that whenever Dish is ready to start a linear streaming service to set top boxes over the Internet. The contract is in place for ABC channels to be allowed to be broadcast whenever that happens. Not that it's happening any time soon. More of these contracts need to be in place before Dish will have enough content to make such a service worth anything.

 

[D. Manley]

I don't know when or even if, this will happen but the blocks are in place. See:

http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+...ong-Term,+Wide-Ranging+Agreement/9239741.html

Here's the salient point which is the reason the new contracts are such news and is being heralded as groundbreaking with potential to change the way TV is delivered:

" DISH First to Secure Rights to Carry Disney, ABC and ESPN Networks for Over-the-Top, Personal Subscription Service".

Bottom line, DISH is now poised to deliver Internet TV content from Disney, ABC & ESPN directly to consumers. When they might choose to do so is surely unknown but there's a reason that the OTT provisions were carved into the contracts.

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[Scott Greczkowski]

That basically means they have the ability to off those channels as part of an internet only package. Aka a cord cutters package.


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[Scola77]

Resurrecting this old thread to see if (hope for) the Watchespn app coming to the Hopper 3. It would be a killer feature.