Paid streaming options for European soccer

[rousseau]

In the past few months I've started relying on apps native to my smart tv, or streaming from my computer to view sports. My TV has a native app for the MLB, but nothing for European soccer.

So ideally I'd like for some company, somewhere, to take my money, and in return offer streaming services for all major European leagues and tournaments, but at the very least the Premiership, La Liga, and Champions League.

I've done some searching and narrowing it down to quality services that happen to be available in Canada is much harder than it should be.

So, what does everyone else use to watch soccer?

 

[TSwizzle]

I just use my satellite provider, Direct TV and subscribe to the usual sports channels, ESPN, Fox, MLB. The EPL is broadcast live on ESPN and one game is broadcast on NBC network channel. But I don't watch the EPL much these days. Bundesliga is where it's at. I also get a few Mexican league games. For streaming, if there is a game on I particularly want to see I have used Firstrow (or something like that) but the popups are a nightmare even with a blocker in Google Chrome. Firstrow has most games available but it has some dodgy popups and can be difficult to get a consistent connection.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

In the past few months I've started relying on apps native to my smart tv, or streaming from my computer to view sports. My TV has a native app for the MLB, but nothing for European soccer.

So ideally I'd like for some company, somewhere, to take my money, and in return offer streaming services for all major European leagues and tournaments, but at the very least the Premiership, La Liga, and Champions League.

I've done some searching and narrowing it down to quality services that happen to be available in Canada is much harder than it should be.

So, what does everyone else use to watch soccer?

In the US, the rights are generally held by few players. NBC/Comcast just re-upped the EPL rights. You can only watch EPL through a subscription to Sat/Cable. You can watch every game, but you have to have a sat/cable package with NBCSN.

Bundesliga is on Fox now. There are two option. You can stream via the $20 a month or $100 or $120 a year foxsoccer2go site. This is entirely legal, in the sense it isn't pirated, but the streaming experience with them has been a mixed bag for several years now. fs2go also has Champions League, Scottish League, and a bunch of Rugby. The other option is to get FS1 or FS2 or Fox Soccer Plus mostly all via Sat/Cable, except FS+ is now available via Playstation Vue all by itself. Still not worth the price though.

La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue Un are all available via Bein Sports. They offer a mixed streaming deal. Bein Sports is available in a lot of ways. Fubo TV (an online streaming site (no cable/sat req'd)), SlingTV (a new product by Dish Network that is IPTV, no DVR, but some cloud content and you can get Bein as part of an add-on pack). I want to say there is a third option online, but it isn't as good.

There is one other online service, but only offers South American leagues, maybe the Dutch Eredivisie (sp?).

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I just use my satellite provider, Direct TV and subscribe to the usual sports channels, ESPN, Fox, MLB. The EPL is broadcast live on ESPN and one game is broadcast on NBC network channel. But I don't watch the EPL much these days. Bundesliga is where it's at. I also get a few Mexican league games. For streaming, if there is a game on I particularly want to see I have used Firstrow (or something like that) but the popups are a nightmare even with a blocker in Google Chrome. Firstrow has most games available but it has some dodgy popups and can be difficult to get a consistent connection.

Watched the Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich game. That was quite surreal.

 

[rousseau]

It looks like fubo.tv was disguised as an app on my tv called 'fubo.tv soccer videos', a really terrible name as it suggests that it's a highlight reel.

I signed up for a 24-hour free trial, and after using the app for 5 minutes I've gotten three 'you can't view this video in your area' messages, and one poor quality stream that's cutting out every two minutes. I'll keep my 6.99/month, thanks.

It really amazes me, given the magnitude of European soccer, that it's not easier to get something like this without getting a whole goddamn sattelite dish.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Companies like NBC/Comcast are paying records on top of record amounts for broadcasting rights. In general, the only way they can afford those bids is to force people who don't watch it to pay for it, hence cable/sat.

You probably had issues with Fubo.tv because you are north of the border and they don't have the Canadian broadcast rights. Doesn't look like you have much in the way of pure streaming options.

 

[rousseau]

Companies like NBC/Comcast are paying records on top of record amounts for broadcasting rights. In general, the only way they can afford those bids is to force people who don't watch it to pay for it, hence cable/sat.

You probably had issues with Fubo.tv because you are north of the border and they don't have the Canadian broadcast rights. Doesn't look like you have much in the way of pure streaming options.

It amazes me and doesn't amaze me at the same time that they haven't made it directly available as a streaming service, though. I'd assume that offering direct access to games for something like 150/year could only increase their revenue streams. OTOH, making something like that happen likely isn't an inconsequential process.

I guess I'll just have to wait until the internet kills ridiculous cable packages.

 

[TSwizzle]

Watched the Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich game. That was quite surreal.

Just watched that game last night. Strange game, had a few good moments and the outcome was a surprise. I have a string dislike for Vidal, I didn't know he had moved to Bayren.