Typically, an app/channel will ask for your provider to determine if you have a TV viewing package that is part of your internet/cable subscription. For example, if you have Comcast, Spectrum , or one of the others as one of your TV/Internet providers and want to watch ESPN+, which is typically part of their packages, then ESPN+ will ask you to verify your provider by either automatically checking once you select it if you are on the same home network where you pay for the service or will ask you to log into the app with your cable/internet provider username/password. Then if your provider gives you access to that channel as part of your subscription, you can view the channel/app with no issue. If not, then you have to access the channel as part of a paid subscription or if the channel has a free version, then you can view that way.
