Watch ESPN via smart device

You should have access to the app, and access to the WatchESPN, just not all the content. WatchESPN is the content page for alot of stations; ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer Beate. The only one available to non video subscribers is ESPN3. ESPN3 is used for special and current events, and ESPN decides what goes on that station. ESPN3 is a online only station(no cable broadcast), so it is sometimes difficult to know what is on what station, and hence what access to content you have. For more info, see here.

Health, that's an interesting post.  The difficulties I have are that I can't ever see anything via the Watch ESPN app.  I always get the following message:  Unable to Play Video.  You are not authorized to play this content.  Please contact your provider."  So, ESPN is saying it's Cox preventing me from seeing it.  You are saying its ESPN preventing me from seeing it.  Interesting.

Can you provide a link to one of the videos that gave that message? You would only be able to play videos listed under ESPN3  schedule. 

BigDad said:
I don't understand why they'd be listed under the watch ESPN app and not allowed to be shown.

Because some content can't be viewed on the app at all, video subscriber or not. You have access via the app any content you could view from a computer. To watch things on ESPN and ESPN 2, you need to subscribe to video package with those channels. 

BigDad said:

Health, that's an interesting post.  The difficulties I have are that I can't ever see anything via the Watch ESPN app.  I always get the following message:  Unable to Play Video.  You are not authorized to play this content.  Please contact your provider."  So, ESPN is saying it's Cox preventing me from seeing it.  You are saying its ESPN preventing me from seeing it.  Interesting.

Please note that WatchESPN often shows that error for any kind of problem.  If there is a network problem on their end (because everyone and his brother is watching college football on Saturday, for example), they show you that message.  Or if you are at work and your work blocks such things, you could see that error.

BigDad said:

Sorry for all of the questions. What does it mean that I need to subscribe to those video packages?

If you look at the program list on WatchESPN, if it has a "key" icon by it, then you can only watch that program if you receive the indicated network as a part of your TV package.

ESPN doesn't want you to quit paying for cable TV and just watch things for free over the internet - so they won't show you a game that airs on ESPNU unless you actually get ESPNU through your cable TV provider.

So the game that comes on Longhorn Network, if you have Cox Cable, you're probably not going to get because Cox Cable doesn't offer Longhorn Network (at least not in my area).  But if it's on ESPNU and you have ESPNU as a part of your TV package, you can watch the program - you just have to log in using your Cox credentials (the same user/password you use to access Cox's website).  If Cox is not your cable TV provider, then you need to log in using your cable TV provider's credentials, not your Cox credentials.