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At the end of this article it says "people who already have a pay TV subscription that includes ESPN will be able to access the streaming service for free." Does that mean if we subscribe to YoutubeTV we will get the new ESPN streaming service for free.
https://www.theverge.com/news/719716/espn-live-sports-streaming-service-launch-date-price
Watch ultimate on ESPN channels: A guide
For a few tournaments a year, ultimate is broadcast on an ESPN channel such as ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, etc. There are usually a number of folks with questions on how to watch ultimate on these platforms, so I've compiled a few of the most common questions and put them below for easy reference.
Definitions
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ESPN2 and ESPNU are traditional television channels. These can be watched on television or online.
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ESPN3 is an online-only platform that typically requires a cable TV package to access (or utilize a free workaround). Watch games through your computer, phone, or devices such as Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.
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ESPN+ is an online-only platform that requires a standalone monthly subscription to access (or it can be bundled with other TV services like Disney+ and Hulu). ESPN+ does not include access to ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN3.
When can ultimate be found on ESPN channels?
The following tournaments usually broadcast games on an ESPN channel:
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D-I Championships (College)
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US Open (Club)
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Pro Championships (Club)
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National Championships (Club)
Typically, pool play games and early bracket play will be broadcasted by USA Ultimate or a third party such as Ultiworld, while ESPN covers semifinals and finals.
How can I watch ultimate on ESPN2 or ESPNU?
ESPN2 and ESPNU games are easy to access since they are dedicated TV channels. Here are several methods:
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Just turn on your TV and cycle through. Your cable package may have it, even if you didn't realize.
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Go to ESPN.com/Watch on your computer or the Watch section of the ESPN app and login with your cable TV credentials. To find ultimate, scroll through the 'Also Live' section (you may need to click See All). You can also try searching directly for 'ultimate' or 'USA' or click a direct link on the USAU broadcast page.
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Go to a bar or restaurant and ask a bartender/server to change the channel. Be patient and friendly.
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Google "free ESPN2" or "free ESPNU stream" or something similar. Look for sketchy-looking URLs and domain names. I'm serious - there are many sites streaming these channels for free, and they ALL have dodgy URL names. Just close any pop-ups that appear. A couple sites I recommend are tv247us[dot]com/watch/espn-u/ and bigbro8fan[dot]weebly[dot]com.
How can I watch ultimate on ESPN+?
Unlike the other ESPN platforms, there are essentially no free workarounds to watching ultimate on ESPN+. On the bright side, it's very easy to set up and watch:
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Go to Plus.ESPN.com and follow the steps. The cost is $10/month for the standard bundle or $13/month for a bundle including Disney+ and Hulu. There are no free trials.
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Once subscribed, visit ESPN.com/Watch and login with your credentials. You can also watch ESPN+ on a variety of devices and apps including the ESPN app on your phone.
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To find ultimate, scroll through the 'Also Live' section (you may need to click See All). You can also try searching directly for 'ultimate' or 'USA' or click a direct link on the USAU broadcast page.
Cost-Saving Methods
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Annual plans include two months free.
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Rakuten offers cash back on monthly and annual plans.
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Verizon customers with a 5G Get More or 5G Play More plan may qualify for free access.
How can I watch ultimate games on ESPN3?
If you have a cable package with ESPN3 access, it's easy:
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Go to ESPN.com/Watch on your computer or the Watch section of the ESPN app and login with your cable TV credentials. To find ultimate, scroll through the 'Also Live' section (you may need to click See All). You can also try searching directly for 'ultimate' or 'USA' or click a direct link on the USAU broadcast page.
If you don't have a cable package with ESPN3 access, there are several workarounds:
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First, if you have ANY cable package, visit ESPN.com/Watch and login, just in case. Sometimes ESPN3 is complimentary, or you have an ESPN package you don't know about.
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If you have access to a college campus or military base, simply connect to its wifi and visit ESPN.com/Watch above. ESPN3 is free and included for most colleges and military bases in the US.
Note: You can often access college campus wifi even if you're not a student. Connect to the Guest wifi or ask at the local visitor center. For military base wifi, just hop the fence or charge the gate. Free access for a year or more.
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Try a free trial of a service that includes ESPN3 access, such as Fubo, Hulu TV, or Youtube TV. Some of these services may let you register for a new free trial on the same account/card if enough time has passed. After subscribing, visit ESPN.com/Watch and login with your account credentials, or follow the instructions of the respective TV service.
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If nothing else, try a bootleg stream. RareTode (u/saswink) often streams games. Other users are EatPrayFartSomeMore (u/EatPrayFart) and Sascha (u/ultimatesascha). These links have worked in the past: TV247US[dot]com/espn-3, tv247[dot]us/espn-3/, MyGoodStream[dot]pw/espn. Finally, try this suggestion.
I'm an international viewer. How can I watch?
For years watching ultimate on ESPN channels has been difficult if not impossible for international viewers. In 2023 USAU introduced a solution, offering a paid package covering the ESPN games for individuals outside the United States. The package varies per event but is usually $10-12. Click here to buy it.
Note: The site apparently has a geofence that prevents users in the United States from watching, but I'm curious how rigid that is, or if it could be exploited with a VPN like Hola. If anyone tests it, let me know.
Other Options for International Viewers:
If USAU is not offering a paid package for international viewers, you may still have some options to watch ESPN games. First, try the steps listed above for the respective ESPN channel. You never know, it just might work. If it fails, some common troubleshooting methods are below:
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If you are not allowed to register for a service due to your location, try using a VPN such as Hola (free) or Express VPN (paid). You can also try this non-VPN method.
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If you are not allowed to register for a service due to not having a US credit card, try using Paypal or buy a Google Play gift card and use that.
You can also try a free trial of ESPN Player. This is an official service provided by ESPN to viewers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. See this post for more details. Note that ultimate is not always offered on ESPN Player.
The event is over. Can I still watch the ESPN games?
Probably, and you might have to wait.
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If you have ESPN access, go to ESPN.com/Watch and login with whatever method you have or open the ESPN app on your phone. Go to Schedule & Replays, click Replay, then use the filters to find the games. However, some games may not be viewable, even if they have direct links to the games. See this thread for details.
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If you don't have ESPN access, or the games aren't listed or viewable online, try visiting USAU's Watch page or Youtube account. There may be a delay of anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before games get uploaded here.
Was able to sign up and can now watch all the ESPN channels.