NHL CI/Gamecenter Live

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

I had problems with buffering on my Ps3. This was with high-speed internet plugged directly into the PS3, no wireless.

[megatron]

I've never bought CI or GC, but it's nice to read experiences from people who are overseas. I had Shaw cable when I lived in Calgary, but moved early this year so basically missed all of the lockout season.

From what I have read it seems I have to get Game Center Live (for $99). I don't have a PS3 or an Xbox360, just my laptop, an iPad and my HDTV.

Can I just sign into the website and watch on my laptop (and plug an HDMI cable from my laptop to my tv)? Is there an iPad/iPhone app?

[Esoteric]

Unblock US is a service that people use to watch US Netflix. It works for game center as well, and let's you watch every single NHL game.

[da_nige]

Originally Posted by megatron

From what I have read it seems I have to get Game Center Live (for $99). I don't have a PS3 or an Xbox360, just my laptop, an iPad and my HDTV.

Can I just sign into the website and watch on my laptop (and plug an HDMI cable from my laptop to my tv)? Is there an iPad/iPhone app?

Yep you can just plug your laptop into your TV (that's how I do it). Alternatively there is an iPad and iPhone app which also work well

Neil

[greentree]

I notice the GCL prices are posted at $150/season, but nothing for CI. Are they usually the same?
(I bought GCL last season and thought it was quite good, certainly convenient and portable, but the quality was spotty sometimes. Would be nice to get a two-fer but I guess that's a thing of the past.)
If there's no price difference my decision this year comes down to: Quality or convenience. Leaning to the latter.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

Unblock US is a service that people use to watch US Netflix. It works for game center as well, and let's you watch every single NHL game.

Except playoffs? Or including?

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Except playoffs? Or including?

Does not include. I remember trying to catch some playoff games last year on NBC using a proxy. Even though the NBC site may recognize you as having a US IP address, they still would prompt you for your US cable-service provider log-in.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by hah

Hockey streams dot com is another site that shows ALL hockey with no black outs. The price goes up Sept 1, they are cheaper than Game Centre.

Originally Posted by hah

It appears they have been in business since 2007. This will be my first full year with them.

I'm interested to hear your experience... I don't see how a legit business could show the streams while not abiding by blackout rules though.

[Tinordi]

Paying for Unblock-US is not illegal to get around blackout restrictions.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

I'm interested to hear your experience... I don't see how a legit business could show the streams while not abiding by blackout rules though.

Laws are a complicated bunch, but in a lot of cases they are applied based on where the servers are.

[Young-Sneezy]

+1 for Game Center on Apple TV with Unblock-US. No issues, and yes, I got playoffs no problem.

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Except playoffs? Or including?

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

Does not include. I remember trying to catch some playoff games last year on NBC using a proxy. Even though the NBC site may recognize you as having a US IP address, they still would prompt you for your US cable-service provider log-in.

This was not my situation. It worked for all playoff games for me. I was using the ipad application, and had no issue streaming any playoff game.

This was using the GameCenter application, not through the NBC site though.

[Falclore]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

The game would be blacked out completely. One of the major faults of the product IMHO. Understand they need to protect TV rights, but maybe they should patch into the network on blackouts for seamless service, commercials and all.

I agree!

[vicarious]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

Does not include. I remember trying to catch some playoff games last year on NBC using a proxy. Even though the NBC site may recognize you as having a US IP address, they still would prompt you for your US cable-service provider log-in.

Originally Posted by Esoteric

This was not my situation. It worked for all playoff games for me. I was using the ipad application, and had no issue streaming any playoff game.

This was using the GameCenter application, not through the NBC site though.

^This^
Last year I got every game right through the Stanley Cup finals with my single subscription although I don't know if that was due to the lockout-induced special price or the norm.

[Flash Walken]

What a stupid business model, to offer streaming that more or less necessitates a secondary montly expenditure from a third party company to utilize fully.

Charge me the extra 5 dollars a month for un block us, game centre, and let me watch the local games.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

What a stupid business model, to offer streaming that more or less necessitates a secondary montly expenditure from a third party company to utilize fully.

Charge me the extra 5 dollars a month for un block us, game centre, and let me watch the local games.

And walk way from millions of dollars from CBC, NBC and local affiliates?

[jschick88]

Looks like a few games on NHLCI free preview tonight on Shaw.

Flyers vs Leafs-4pm Channel 350
Sabres vs Habs-4pm Channel 351

Edit... Guess you have to purchase NHLCI to watch the exhibition games. Free preview is only for October regular season games.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

+1 for Game Center on Apple TV with Unblock-US. No issues, and yes, I got playoffs no problem.

Hang on a tick... you got playoffs via your apple tv in Canada just by combining Gamecenter and unblock US?

That would really make GC worthwhile.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Is Shaw offering the GCL code withCI purchase?

[expatflame]

Also use GCL + Apple TV + VPN (I use Astrill though) and works beautifully.