ESPN’s ability to deliver the Unlimited app to all its cable subscribers continues its growing pains, with several distributors unable to offer the Royal Rumble without an “up cost”.
Awful Announcing and CNBC’s Alex Sherman reported on Thursday that ESPN subscribers on YouTube TV and Comcast Xfinity are still unable to authenticate their subscription on the app, requiring those seeking the Royal Rumble to pay extra.
Awful Announcing cites tech issues for the distributors as the hang-up, and that “the work on ESPN’s end is ready”. The outlet adds that Comcast’s timeline for completion can be measured in weeks, but the time frame for YouTube TV is unknown.
Brandon Thurston noted in an article earlier this month:
When PLEs moved to the ESPN app, some pay TV subscribers who get ESPN as part of their service got access to the PLEs on the app, and others did not — at least not yet. It depends on various agreements ESPN’s parent Disney has with each pay TV provider. Some TV systems allowed customers to authenticate into the app and view the PLEs, others did not. Cox, for example, recently told customers they now have access to the ESPN app. YouTube TV and Disney recently renewed their agreement, which is expected to give subscribers that access as well.
So not only non-cable households but also those that do get ESPN but just don’t get automatic access to ESPN’s new app have had to sign up for the ESPN Unlimited service for $29.99 per month to watch WWE PLEs since they moved to the platform in September.
A recent class action lawsuit was filed against WWE, accusing the company and ESPN of deceptive marketing practices by suggesting that all ESPN subscribers would receive the app for free.
WWE migrated its domestic premium live events from Peacock over to ESPN last September in a deal worth $325 million per year, beginning with Wrestlepalooza.
