Channels & viewing

[alignedbydesign]

I'm an Xfinity subscriber. My channel pkg includes all the ##ESPN channels. I use Roku to watch TV. A few times a year I want to catch tennis events, which are programmed on ESPN.

As of this year, the ESPN app on Roku WILL NOT ACTIVATE no matter what I try.

I've uninstalled the app, restarted my Roku, reinstalled it...

I've tried it on multiple Roku systems.

When I try to link ESPN app to my TV provider (Xfinity), i get the success message on my browser, but the app on Roku never updates...it never actually links up.

I spend $$$ on my Xfinity bundle, $$$ on Roku, plus I have a Disney+ login. What the **bleep**?! 

[RokuAustin]

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@alignedbydesign wrote:

I'm an Xfinity subscriber. My channel pkg includes all the ##ESPN channels. I use Roku to watch TV. A few times a year I want to catch tennis events, which are programmed on ESPN.

As of this year, the ESPN app on Roku WILL NOT ACTIVATE no matter what I try.

I've uninstalled the app, restarted my Roku, reinstalled it...

I've tried it on multiple Roku systems.

When I try to link ESPN app to my TV provider (Xfinity), i get the success message on my browser, but the app on Roku never updates...it never actually links up.

I spend $$$ on my Xfinity bundle, $$$ on Roku, plus I have a Disney+ login. What the **bleep**?! 

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Hi there! The channel is created by ESPN and the authentication happens on the XFINITY side, you could try reaching out to XFINITY. But XFINITY offers their own channel on Roku where you would be able to access your full cable lineup, have you tried over there? Add XFINITY here. 

If that doesn't work, try reaching out to XFINITY customer support.

[Docholliday03]

I have the exact same issue and have went through the same process as you. The messed up thing is if you look at the top left of the screen it says “ESPN xfinity” as if it recognizes the provider is logged in. 

[RokuCarly]

Welcome to the Roku Community, @Docholliday03!

Thanks for reaching out. We'd be happy to help you access the ESPN app on your Roku. 

Kindly refer to @RokuAustin's post above for more information on how to access the ESPN App on your Roku. 

Feel free to respond if you need further clarification and assistance.

Regards,
Carly

[alignedbydesign]

Thanks Carly.

Already saw that post.

Nothing mentioned there resolved my issue. 

Still unable to get the app to link up. 

[alignedbydesign]

I already have the Xfinity channel on Roku.

For ESPN, the app actually offers more programming than the ESPN channels on Xfinity (provided I can link the two services on Roku 😣)

So your suggestion, while logical, isn't realistically acceptable.

[RokuCarly]

Hi, @alignedbydesign.

Thanks for keeping us posted here in the Roku Community.

In cases like this, we highly recommend coordinating this with the service providers.

Please note that Roku doesn't manage channel logins or authentication and that the majority of content on the Roku platform comes from streaming channels maintained and updated independently by the channel's provider. 

Roku simply hosts the channel on the platform and does not have direct management control over it.

You may reach them here: ESPN+ Support

We hope you find this information helpful and that it will be sorted out soon so you can start streaming ESPN+ on your Roku.

Warm regards,
Carly

[IHiJump]

I don't gave Xfinity. I have an ESPN+ subscription and I'm having the same issue. Espn starts and then goes back to the home screen.

[Asellus]

I posted the below on a similar thread (starting on second paragraph). I don't know if it will help you. I suspect the issue is related if I am interpreting your issue correctly. I have AT&T U-verse as my internet provider. Sometimes when I start up the ESPN app and click on a replay for ESPN3, it gives me a message about authentication, like it lost connection to my provider. Sometimes my internet provider's logo is in the left corner when I start up the app, and sometimes it disappears. When it is connected with the logo in the left corner, it gives me the connection error issue I describe below. I don't recall this happening with my provider's logo in the upper left corner until the last couple of weeks when this connection error thing started. I am trying to watch as much of the US Open live as I can, and if it gives me the issue about not being connected with my provider on a live event, I have no recourse other than to restart my Roku. That usually reestablishes it after a couple of tries. Still no help with replays, though (see below).

Yes. The connection error problem is for ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3, and possibly other networks on the app (but those are the only ones I am aware of with issues). ESPN+ is not affected. I had filed a thread with Roku, and they have no fix other than to contact ESPN. I gave this thread information to ESPN yesterday, hoping they will fix that. Even if you purchase a cable/streaming provider subscription to watch ESPN3 through ESPN's Roku app, it will not work. I don't think there's any other way to watch ESPN3 matches other than through the ESPN app. You probably could watch just ESPN and ESPN2 footage through whatever live tv streaming provider's app you use, but I don't really know much about it or whether they have replays of the cable broadcast footage.

https://community.roku.com/t5/Issue-Tracking-Board/Contact-ESPN-ESPN-getting-quot-Connection-Error-q...

I am also trying to watch the US Open. I have been watching most of the important matches through their YouTube channel on my Roku. If you don't mind watching the matches a day or two later, they have been posting most of the important matches that are on ESPN3 there. It is the only way I have been able to see them because of this issue, as I do have ESPN3. I also personally emailed the US Open regarding this issue and asked them to post more matches for us. I included the thread information above. I hope this helps you a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/@usopen