What if my ISP doesn't support ESPN360?

Question

I just discovered ESPN360's online broadcast. Apparently, this is a service which ISPs must subscribe to. Is this because ESPN charges a fee to ISPs? If so, why then would any ISP subscribe to the service? Otherwise, why does ESPN require that ISPs subscribe.

Is there anyway I can get ESPN360 in spite of my ISP? Is there a proxy server I might be able to use to get the video feed from ESPN360?

Answer 1

I'm in the same boat, and it frustrates the hell out of me. ESPN does charge a fee to ISPs for offering the 360 service, and to this date very few have jumped on board because they likely can't get enough subscribers to make it worth their while, or it's too expensive to offer everyone.

I've e-mailed ESPN a couple of times to ask about individual subscriptions - I'm willing to pay for the service - but to this point it doesn't seem like anything they're ready to do anytime soon. I'm not sure, either, if a proxy server will work. I've checked some forums but haven't found out whether it's doable. It might be password-enabled.

Personally, I think it's stupid. They should just work with the individual ISPs to set up some kind of system that allows for individual subscriptions. Right now, they just can't have any kind of subscriber base, and I'm sure they'll have to offer it out sooner or later like they do with Insider, or MLB does with their MLB.TV package.