Sportsnet and TSN Streaming Subscription - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

curves2000 · 04-01-2022, 01:03 AM

Hi all,

So with the final month of the season upon us, I may find myself out of Alberta for a few games and would like to keep up with the team if possible. Please excuse my newbie questions.

I am a TSN and Sportsnet cable subscriber for watching sports at home. Say a game is on Sportsnet West and I am not in the Sportsnet West region, can I log in using my cable subscription and watch the game? Or do I need to pay for a subsequent package for out of market games for a short time?

I was discussing this issue with a friend who's a Jet's fan and lives in Calgary. Unless the game is a national broadcast, he isn't able to watch the game. I am wondering if he can log in using his home's cable log in for TSN games since they are the rights holders for the Jet's?

Sorry about the newbie questions as I am a traditional guy and watch the games on TV or a local bar if need be when I am out of town but in the chance I can't, I may just stream via a laptop.

Thx!

getbak · 04-01-2022, 02:00 AM

You will not be able to watch the regional broadcasts if you are outside the Flames region (which is all of Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). In order to view the regional broadcasts, you would need to subscribe to the Sportsnet Now Premium tier: https://secure.snnow.ca/pricing -- which is $35 for a month. Also, if you have access to an Alberta-based VPN, you could log into that and your computer would think you were in Alberta no matter where you were.

If you are going to be in Canada, you should be able to log in with your cable subscription credentials to watch any of the national broadcasts.

It looks like 9 of the Flames' remaining 15 games are national broadcasts -- All 4 Saturday night games will be on HNIC, the 2 Monday night games will be on Hometown Hockey, and the Wednesday night game will be part of Wednesday Night Hockey. Plus, the home games against Seattle and Vegas are also national broadcasts.

You can see the breakdown here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...cast-schedule/ -- any games without an asterisk are national broadcasts. This is from last summer, so it doesn't include the 2 rescheduled games in Chicago and Nashville, but the Chicago game will be national and the Nashville game will be regional.

It looks like 8 of the next 9 games are national broadcasts (the only one that isn't is next Thursday at San Jose), then 5 of the final 6 games are regional broadcasts (the only one that isn't is the final HNIC against Vancouver).

Then, of course, all playoff games are national broadcasts, so you won't have to worry about regional broadcasts if you'll be out of town in May/June/July.

curves2000 · 04-01-2022, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

You will not be able to watch the regional broadcasts if you are outside the Flames region (which is all of Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). In order to view the regional broadcasts, you would need to subscribe to the Sportsnet Now Premium tier: https://secure.snnow.ca/pricing -- which is $35 for a month. Also, if you have access to an Alberta-based VPN, you could log into that and your computer would think you were in Alberta no matter where you were.

If you are going to be in Canada, you should be able to log in with your cable subscription credentials to watch any of the national broadcasts.

It looks like 9 of the Flames' remaining 15 games are national broadcasts -- All 4 Saturday night games will be on HNIC, the 2 Monday night games will be on Hometown Hockey, and the Wednesday night game will be part of Wednesday Night Hockey. Plus, the home games against Seattle and Vegas are also national broadcasts.

You can see the breakdown here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...cast-schedule/ -- any games without an asterisk are national broadcasts. This is from last summer, so it doesn't include the 2 rescheduled games in Chicago and Nashville, but the Chicago game will be national and the Nashville game will be regional.

It looks like 8 of the next 9 games are national broadcasts (the only one that isn't is next Thursday at San Jose), then 5 of the final 6 games are regional broadcasts (the only one that isn't is the final HNIC against Vancouver).

Then, of course, all playoff games are national broadcasts, so you won't have to worry about regional broadcasts if you'll be out of town in May/June/July.

Many thanks for this and all your hard work. Almost all the games I watch I watch at home or a bar/friends house. A few bigger games over the years I have missed out on if I was out of town but couldn't make it work schedule wise.

Someone mentioned cable subscription and logging onto packages for HBO, CRAVE, Sportsnet, TSN etc.

It's not really an issue for me at the moment but a friend who wants to watch some Jet's games when they play at home is limited so I was looking for a way to help him out too.

Thanks again!

Nufy · 04-01-2022, 06:55 AM

To me its crap...

I pay for all 5 S-Net and TSN channels as part of my package.

But I cant watch a Flames game because I am out of region...

If I pay for SNW why cant I watch SNW anywhere...

No wonder there are grey market websites that stream games...

Boblobla · 04-01-2022, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nufy

To me its crap...

I pay for all 5 S-Net and TSN channels as part of my package.

But I cant watch a Flames game because I am out of region...

If I pay for SNW why cant I watch SNW anywhere...

No wonder there are grey market websites that stream games...

On top of that, the grey market sites have a significantly higher quality stream than Sportsnet or CBC.

EldrickOnIce · 04-01-2022, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

On top of that, the grey market sites have a significantly higher quality stream than Sportsnet or CBC.

I want to pay for the content I consume, but I do not feel compelled to be bound by their antiquated 'rules'.
Do I have a subscription to Sportsnet, so that I am paying my way to watch Flames games? If yes, then I will watch from wherever I may be by whatever means I am able.

Funkhouser · 04-01-2022, 07:08 AM

I have a similar question and will be in Europe for most of the playoffs. Does anyone know what I need to subscribe to in order to stream delayed/on-demand games overseas??

Reaper · 04-01-2022, 07:47 AM

If only Mario Lemieux could help with this.

MrMike · 04-01-2022, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

If only Mario Lemieux could help with this.

I tried for many years to pay for an inferior product. I finally gave up.

powderjunkie · 04-01-2022, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

If only Mario Lemieux could help with this.

What league did he play in again?

I also can't seem to recall his jersey number...

Reaper · 04-01-2022, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

What league did he play in again?

I also can't seem to recall his jersey number...

Perhaps we could simulate finding those answers…

thewoodman · 04-01-2022, 09:34 AM

A VPN can circumvent regional restrictions. The one I've seen has searchable servers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. However, if your IP has IPV6 enabled, your location can sometimes still be detected. Resetting your IP and clearing the device cache can restore the stream. As a footnote, mobile devices seem to work the best with VPNs.

taxbuster · 04-01-2022, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewoodman

A VPN can circumvent regional restrictions. The one I've seen has searchable servers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. However, if your IP has IPV6 enabled, your location can sometimes still be detected. Resetting your IP and clearing the device cache can restore the stream. As a footnote, mobile devices seem to work the best with VPNs.

Most of the associated TV apps can detect if you're on a VPN or proxy. Generally they just refuse access. It used to work years ago, but I haven't been able to get a successful VPN connection to either Shaw or Bell's TV apps in quite a long while. There are other methods though.

taxbuster · 04-01-2022, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

If only Mario Lemieux could help with this.

Oh, ha....while typing my other response I just got this.....

Chi-Town Hustler · 04-01-2022, 09:47 AM

There are free streaming sites out there. You can use your TV's browser or fire stick/roku to access. Or use laptop/phone.

thewoodman · 04-01-2022, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Most of the associated TV apps can detect if you're on a VPN or proxy. Generally they just refuse access. It used to work years ago, but I haven't been able to get a successful VPN connection to either Shaw or Bell's TV apps in quite a long while. There are other methods though.

This is true, it's getting harder. Netflix is a good example. Depending how you open and close apps, clear caches and other devices, it still works. As I noted earlier, my phones never seem to get blocked, only streaming devices on home internet. Good luck, nonetheless! If you pay your bill in Alberta, you should be able to watch it anywhere in Canada, but that's my crappy opinion.

White Out 403 · 04-01-2022, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi-Town Hustler

There are free streaming sites out there. You can use your TV's browser or fire stick/roku to access. Or use laptop/phone.

The free streaming sites work better than tsn and on par with Sportsnet. Rogers and bell are garbage rip off artists. I'll often use the free sites instead of the paid apps; and I have tsn and Sportsnet thru my Dad's tv sub with Shaw.

bc-chris · 04-01-2022, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The free streaming sites work better than tsn and on par with Sportsnet. Rogers and bell can are garbage rip off artists. I'll often use the free sites instead of them both. And I have tsn and Sportsnet thru my Dad's tv sub with Shaw.

what i've always wondered is how the free streaming site feed is ahead of my tv feed??

i rarely use the streaming sites - only when i can't get the flames feed. how they don't offer both feeds for the canadian teams with centerice is beyond ridiculous!

Joborule · 04-01-2022, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The free streaming sites work better than tsn and on par with Sportsnet. Rogers and bell can are garbage rip off artists. I'll often use the free sites instead of them both. And I have tsn and Sportsnet thru my Dad's tv sub with Shaw.

I don't understand why they aren't trying to offer streaming quality that's on par (or quite frankly, should be better) than the illegal streams? You figured that if the streaming quality was good and consistent, there's a market that will pay for it? They're missing out on more subscribers due to half-assing the efforts.

Toonage · 04-01-2022, 11:26 AM

The timing of this thread is good. Tried watching the Jets/Leafs for a bit last night on TSN Direct (Apple TV) and the quality was horrid. It occasionally "snapped" into an HD feed but by and large sub HD and blurry as all get out. SN Now & NHL Live were fine though. Good even.

But yeah, with such a push for new subs for their digital platforms, the effort put into them is shockingly low.