Streaming Flames (*legally) - riddle me this... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

taxbuster · 12-04-2016, 02:39 PM

Background: Bell Satellite and cell subscriber with SNW-SNP-SNO-SNF (but not SN360).

So the other night I finally decided to check out Sportsnet NOW. As an "SN subscriber" I get "free" access. The interface kinda sucks, and the quality was OK (I'm currently in Victoria using Shaw Open from my RV site). So I thought I'd see how watching the Flames-Minny game would be last Friday night.

Game wasn't available on Victoria TV (I have access to Shaw cable here as well).
It wan't available on SN NOW (out of market game streamed out of province?)
It WAS available on my "BellTV" app on my iPad. (huh?)

I'm glad that I got to watch it, as I do virtually every Flames game, on my iPad using the BellTV app -- but I can't figure out why that's OK and it isn't OK on SN NOW....though I'm streaming from the same place and my account is registered to the same city (Calgary) in each case.

Even though I'm a techie and a sysadmin, I haven't spent any real time trying to figure out the mechanics of XBMC, Kodi or other technologies, and really, I'm pretty OK with paying (reasonably) for access as long as I get the games. But I can't figure out exactly how/why some work and some don't - and I don't have a clue about GCL.

I travel to BC a lot in the winter, and really don't have a taste for watching the team I'm "supposed" to watch according to the NHL when here.

Can someone clue me in?

IgiTang · 12-04-2016, 05:28 PM

I'm in the same boat.. eff you Rogers!

Finger Cookin · 12-04-2016, 06:06 PM

Do you use a VPN? Do you have a different mailing address on your Bell account than your service address?

I agree that it seems strange that it would be on the Bell app but not on SN NOW. You'd think it would be on both or neither. Puzzling.

Galakanokis · 12-05-2016, 10:42 AM

Sounds like Bell is registered to the Calgary address and should work anywhere, it is not geo locked. Sportsnet Now, even though, I assume anyways, is logged in with your Bell credentials is geo locked and uses your current location to determine service not your billing address. Kind of lame but that's how they do it.

Roger's Center Ice sucks big time but its really the only legal way to stream hockey anywhere.

EldrickOnIce · 12-05-2016, 10:53 AM

That's the only value of Rogers mobile is NHL Gamecenter is included. So two crap services for the price of one?

Galakanokis · 12-05-2016, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

That's the only value of Rogers mobile is NHL Gamecenter is included. So two crap services for the price of one?

Ha ha, pretty much yes. I wouldn't pay for Game Center that's for sure.

I have had a long running twitter DM with their service guys and every second post from me is, That's really stupid, why would you do that? On mobile, you can start the game from the beginning? How dumb is that?

McG · 12-05-2016, 04:17 PM

I watched the flames v ducks game last night on my iPhone using shaw free range tv. I was on a shaw Wi-Fi in alberta and as I understand it, it should just work. I just wanted to add that I was impressed with the quality and with the ease of getting it to work.

I am sure that this doesn't help the OP, but thought I would dump that in here just in case.

socktape · 12-08-2016, 10:58 AM

From what I heard there are big issues with licencing for sports/shows from shaw, rogers, etc. They may have a licence to show the game in one place, ie. on your tv, but not stream it. It can change from game to game and show to show what they have the licence for. For example, it may be on channel 302 on shaw but you can't watch it on free range.

kermitology · 12-09-2016, 09:20 AM

Not sure how to explain this..

I watched the game last night on NHLtv, but curiously, if I loaded it up on my phone, it was blacked out. On my Apple TVs it wasn't, but the Canucks game was.

Also, Sportsnet One and SN Flames is available on the web interface, but not on their mobile app or Apple TV.

Stealth22 · 12-09-2016, 10:22 AM

SN Now uses your GPS location, I believe, to tell what market you're currently in. If it's not a national broadcast, blackouts apply. I could be wrong on that, but that seems to be consistent with your experience.

I've had issues with blackouts on Bell Mobile TV in the past (that was before Rogers bought all the rights though), but in your case, it worked because you subscribe to SN on your Bell satellite at home (assuming your home/billing address is in Calgary?)

We pay for GCL as we like to watch some other market games, and it's useful for watching Flames games when you're not at home, or when travelling. As long as it's a national broadcast, you can still watch Flames games with GCL in Calgary.

Regional Flames broadcasts are blacked out on GCL, but if you're not near a TV, there's SN Now (if you're in the broadcast region) or in my case, Shaw FreeRange TV, which is their equivalent of Bell Mobile TV. I haven't tried FreeRange or SN Now outside of AB yet, but for me, that's where GCL comes in, lol.

My GCL subscription works in the States, but be forewarned, the blackouts in the U.S. are a little more strict. If you want to watch a game that's being nationally broadcasted on NBC or something, it will be blacked out on GCL. That is not the case in Canada with games on SN or CBC.

That being said, I've read somewhere that you can get around the blackouts on GCL by using an NHL add-on for Kodi. I've successfully watched NHL games with Kodi before, because we wanted to watch in 60 fps on a laptop. The web interface doesn't stream in 60 fps, even though the mobile apps and Chromecast do.

I haven't tried Kodi with a regionally blacked out game though, may have to give that a try at some point.

dino7c · 12-09-2016, 02:18 PM

Much easier to stream illegally...not sure why they make it so complicated to give the consumer what they want for a fee they are more than willing to pay

DJones · 12-09-2016, 04:17 PM

Gamecenter with Yonder TV is my go too(Pretty much a VPN that works selectively). Works great.

EldrickOnIce · 12-09-2016, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth22

SN Now uses your GPS location, I believe, to tell what market you're currently in. If it's not a national broadcast, blackouts apply. I could be wrong on that, but that seems to be consistent with your experience.

I've had issues with blackouts on Bell Mobile TV in the past (that was before Rogers bought all the rights though), but in your case, it worked because you subscribe to SN on your Bell satellite at home (assuming your home/billing address is in Calgary?)

We pay for GCL as we like to watch some other market games, and it's useful for watching Flames games when you're not at home, or when travelling. As long as it's a national broadcast, you can still watch Flames games with GCL in Calgary.

Regional Flames broadcasts are blacked out on GCL, but if you're not near a TV, there's SN Now (if you're in the broadcast region) or in my case, Shaw FreeRange TV, which is their equivalent of Bell Mobile TV. I haven't tried FreeRange or SN Now outside of AB yet, but for me, that's where GCL comes in, lol.

My GCL subscription works in the States, but be forewarned, the blackouts in the U.S. are a little more strict. If you want to watch a game that's being nationally broadcasted on NBC or something, it will be blacked out on GCL. That is not the case in Canada with games on SN or CBC.

That being said, I've read somewhere that you can get around the blackouts on GCL by using an NHL add-on for Kodi. I've successfully watched NHL games with Kodi before, because we wanted to watch in 60 fps on a laptop. The web interface doesn't stream in 60 fps, even though the mobile apps and Chromecast do.

I haven't tried Kodi with a regionally blacked out game though, may have to give that a try at some point.

That Is one of the great things about Kodi and GCL is the 60Fps.
It would be simple to accommodate regional blackouts with GCL simply by showing the actual stream, including commercials, wouldn't it? Or is it more about selling the cable package?

There are addons that work with your valid subscription that may provide relief from regional blackouts.

flamesrule_kipper34 · 12-26-2016, 04:26 PM

So I have a Rogers GCL subscription and I have a PlayOn server and Kodi.

Any thoughts on the best way to watch games both in Calgary and Toronto since I bounce back and forth for work and not be blindsided by blackout restrictions?

I know people have referenced as such on this thread so thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance!

EldrickOnIce · 12-26-2016, 04:35 PM

I sent you a PM

kermitology · 12-26-2016, 05:24 PM

So.. I have a feeling that if you have an Apple TV and set your DNS to use the OpenDNS IP for your DNS, it seems to think you're in Vancouver. I've been trying this and noticed that Flames and Oilers games that are blacked out on my phone are viewable on my Apple TV.

I don't pay for openDNS, I just prefer it to the Telus DNS.

Anyone else want to try?