Sprint picks up ESPN TV in place of the NFL 70
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 2:52 pm EDT 
If you were mourning the loss of Sprint’s NFL contract, fret not, as they’ve signed a new sports entity that’s bound to appeal to more sports fans: ESPN. So while folks on Verizon may soon be enjoying all that the NFL has to offer, Sprint subscribers can now fire up the Sprint TV app and start watching the new ESPN Mobile TV channel. In just the next two months ESPN Mobile TV will be broadcasting 23 men’s NCAA basketball games, 19 women’s NCAA basketball championship games, 9 NBA playoff games, 10 regular season MLB games, and plenty of ESPN-exclusive news and reviews content - all live.
And that’s just through the end of April. 2010 will bring more than 800 sporting events to Sprint TV subscribers (which is anybody with a Pre or Pixi on Sprint), including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, college football, MLB, NBA, Grand Slam tennis, and more.
Thanks to orawas for the tip!
70 Comments
cool. 1st
More ubiquitous sports portal ftw.
Yes, this is way better than having a single sport portal. Way to make a good move, Sprint. Super excited about this. 8^D
Now if only Sprint would allow us to choose to add this to our Pre/Pixi it would be that much better. I could personally live without this crap. NASCAR too.
I'm sure the webos-internals gurus will come up with a patch to hide this app, just how they did for the Nascar one and a few other pre-loaded apps.
It is not a new app. It is part of Sprint TV. Just go to Sprint TV, then Live & one of the choices is ESPN Mobile TV. Doesn't take up a single bit of extra space. If you don't like the "crap," no need to use or watch it. I like it. Gives a great variety of sporting news.
Cheers
I agree. I used the NFL app occasionally during football season but I'm pretty much a casual fan. Could care less about NASCAR. I'd prefer to have these as downloads rather than built-in just so people could choose what things they like to follow.
Wow that sounds amazing. Its a shame we don't get anything like this in the UK. O2 have no interest in the Pre. I would love either espn or sky sports and a navigation app. I'll keep dreaming
"which is anybody with a Pre or Pre Plus on Sprint"
Typo, or foreshadowing?
.... I want a PrePlus on Sprint.... This would be impossible, correct? Can you steal the ram? Waaaaaaa!
it's in sprint tv. No other app needed for palm
much better if you ask me. i don't care at all about football, but sometimes watch other sports. not often enough that i'll probably ever use this actually, but still, ESPN>NFL for sure.
Yes, now that is what I am talking about. I am so looking forward to the World Cup this year!! Forget the nfl network.
Hmm, as long ESPN gets me some decent NFL coverage Ill be happy. I used the NFL app alot.
+1
I think it's a good thing to land a contract w/ ESPN since the much loved (by me) NFL app jumped to Verizon...but I don't agree w/ having them incorporated into the Sprint TV app. Anyone agree w/ me?
I loved how the NFL app was just that...its own app. I didn't have to put up w/ media/material/ads unrelated to football. Could this just be a way for Sprint to lure more consumers (like you & I) to actually unhide the preloaded Sprint TV app and use it?
my assumption ---> yes!
ok. Koodies too all you sport fans. Unfortunately I'm not so it doesn't matter to me. I don't even use SPRINT TV! I want a discount for that.. Haha
Unfortunately, it is awful to watch. I tried watching it last night and it is so pixelated its barely watchable. I don't understand why Sprint TV has to look so bad when you see Youtube look almost HD quality on the same phone, same network connection. Wish they'd improve it!
It's because Sprint TV is only 15 FPS. It sucks, especially because ATT and Verizon TV is at full 30 FPS. I'm not sure what youtube is at on the Pre, but I'd assume with its quality it's going at 30 FPS as well.
i can't believe that people are complaining about the quality of tv on their CELL PHONE. am i the only one who's blown away by the fact that tv is actually accessible on a cell phone to begin with??
I am truly grateful as well, but I think it is legitimate to complain when other carriers have it better.
Does this mean we could get an ESPN app?
Well, what is the point if you cannot really watch? have you guys tried espn mobile? the picture quality is so bad it is unwatchable.
I agree. I've never been able to watch anything on the Sprint TV app. Has anyone ever gotten anything even vaguely watch-able on this?
I will miss the nfl app but this could be pretty sweet. Looking forward to the coverage of the french open.
I'll miss the NFL game day audio...
+1, I was thinking though, if you have a local team, with local coverage you could just use Radiotime, if the station is listed.
I think Radio Time uses the internet feeds and most stations block the live game feeds. When I want to listen to my White Sox here in Chicago I have to use the MLB feed. During the game the local broadcaster (WSCR) runs taped re-runs or Sporting News radio until the game is over.
This is why we need Flash. Then I could use my MLB.com season pass to listen via the web.
I posted this under WEBos software earlier. The more games I can watch the better, excpept for the battery.
This is much better than the NFL app but hopefully they improve the quality, because if you try to watch a game now you can barely see the picture good.
WC 2010!!! AWESOME!!!!
Does the picture quality depend on connection speed or based more on ESPN? I am watching it now connected to my home network. It's not HD, nor is it as good as Slingbox used to be on the Treo, but mine is very viewable. I used the NFL App a lot, but glad to have this.
Awesome I got to have my NBA action on the go and this will be welcomed with open arms! :D
Oh and FIFA World cup is a welcome!
Much Better.
Was Happy to hear NFL was gone.
Just taking space in my Apps.
Sorry, don't like living Chess games ;-)
as compared to non living chess games?
so does this mean you don't have to pay a monthly fee anymore if you want to watch ESPN its already there you just have to pay a monthly fee to use it. sweet live nascar racing
Two words - Hell. Yes.
I'll take ESPN Mobile over NFL Network anyday. While I enjoyed being able to watch the occasional Thursday games when I was away from my TV, I can now watch ESPN anytime, and anywhere. Its all I watch all day long and most of the night, now I don't have to worry about missing anything.
Thank you, Sprint. This is too awesome.
here here.
Don't like the NFL, glad it's gone.
This is much, much better.
World Cup!!!
AWESOME!!!!!
Work productivity could take a hit...when CFB roles around this will be beyond awesome. Now I can take the kids to the park or the beach and still catch a football game or two.
Unless it has every single NFL game's radio broadcast this is not better than the NFL app we had. Not for NFL fans, at least.
yeah i see that point. i hate baseball but i love soccer so the world cup will be nice. but i'm a niner fan so if flash means i can stream knbr 680 from SF i'm good cause then i can get the radio broadcast.
I hope espn makes an ESPN360 app
I am so happy the NFL App is gone, I was trying to deleted, but I couldn't.Looks like Sprint will do me the favor. ESPN is much, much better, especially with the world cup games!!. Good! Sprint is smart now they have an sport app, that is not limited to the NFL!.
World Cup!!! Sweet. Just in case I'm not home to watch it HD.
Hmm, just started up the Sprint TV app to check this out and I got an error message stating I wasn't authorized to use this app. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. (3000) Anyone else getting this?
Didn't realize so many people had problems with Sprint TV.
I use it often enough, and it looks great. No pixelation.
I even watch live content w/o problems.
My wife has had her Pre for about a week and seems to have no problems, either.
I'd be happy about this if I could play Sprint TV over wifi. Unfortunately, unless something changes, Sprint TV can only be accessed via EVDO... this is a problem in a town with 1xRTT only. The NFL app worked via wifi, why not Sprint TV?
At least I know the "force broadband" code (##3836#)... but still. Most folks don't.
thanks sprint. Now I am not so sad we lost the NFL app.
This was an awesome pick up for Sprint. While I'll hopefully be watching the World Cup on a larger screen, the Pre will come in handy if I need it!
WHERE IS THE MLB GAME DAY AUDIO APP, DAMN YOU MLB????
*shakes fist*
....sorry, it's been a long winter.
World Cup! Awesomesauce!
Sweet! Glad I could somehow contribute!
yes thank you sprint!
so should we expect the next Update to hit when the NFL app expires? Even a minor update...
will we get a decent espn app?
How about SPRINT letting us have some live SPRINT Cup video.
Wait, so its free like the NFL app? That would be cool. Would totally not pay for it as DVR is much better at home but on the go free espn ocassionally, awesome.
This will be a better app. Period.
YES!!! THANKS PALM I NEED SOME LIVE BASKETBALL ON MY PRE
hell yeeeeeaaa! World cup awesomeness while at work!!!
if only the espn stream didn't loop the same content when not playing live game content. Still good, same as it was in sprint tv before for a price...now free!
And here I was thinking Sprint had taken ANOTHER step down to Almighty Verizon! Nice comeback like Lebron dunking on Dirk. LOL
Never mind (what was in this comment before...)
so ur saying that with my pre I get espn tv for free? It won't cost me anything else?
so ur saying that with my pre I get espn tv for free? It won't cost me anything else?
so ur saying that with my pre I get espn tv for free? It won't cost me anything else?
When will this app be ready or will it be on Sprint TV? I just checked Sprint TV the ESPN channel and it is wanting to charge 5.95/month. Thanks
Agreed. When I go to it, it's says it costs $9.99/month. NFL Network was free. This isn't really an improvement. It's difficult to justify paying $5-$10 per month for pixelated video. I loved the NFL App and didn't mind the pixelation (frames per sec) since it was free...can anyone answer this question? Thanks in advance.
Something is wrong and I can't find out from Sprint.com either. When ESPN mobile was announced here I went to check it out and there was some live NBA on and I was happy to think of the World Cup etc.. Then I went back today and clicked on recently played in Sprint TV and before my eyes "ESPN mobile TV" changed into "ESPN news" as it refreshed the screen. There is an ESPN of uncertain content available for a $5.95/month charge. It is not clear if this is even the ESPN mobile TV that was announced in this article.
UPDATE: If you look at the channel called "NFL Network Announcement" there is a scrolling news line that says Sprint TV's sports coverage lineup is changing 4/1. So we'll just have to wait to see if that brings us ESPN mobile.