ESPN Interactive App to be discontinued on Genie devices on 12/6/24

[steve615]

I received an update in the Messages folder on my HR54 this morning. I am attaching a screen shot of the message that I received. Did anyone else receive that message on their Genie devices?

 

["MysteryMan"]

I received an update in the Messages folder on my HR54 this morning. I am attaching a screen shot of the message that I received. Did anyone else receive that message on their Genie devices? View attachment 176025

I received the same message on my HR54-200.

 

[b4pjoe]

Yeah I got it too.

 

[larry55]

Got it too.Please

 

[DavoM97]

Me too. What is the "ESPN interactive App from ESPN channels?" The whole sentence doesn't make sense to me.

Anybody understand why they are doing this?

 

[KyL416]

The red button popup on the ESPN channels on Genies that gives you some bonus streams.

As for why, ESPN rather have you use their own standalone app to access that content. Not to mention ESPN3 lost most of its content over the years in favor of ESPN+

 

[DavoM97]

The red button popup on the ESPN channels on Genies that gives you some bonus streams.

Ah, ok. Never use that. Thank you.

 

[I WANT MORE]

Scared the Hell out of me. I thought they were discontinuing the ESPN app on the Ospreys and Airs.
Glad that's not the case.

 

[Bruce]

Scared the Hell out of me. I thought they were discontinuing the ESPN app on the Ospreys and Airs.
Glad that's not the case.

If you mean the Watch ESPN app, that is the plan after they launch the ESPN Streaming Service, planned for Summer 2025. .

They have already shut down other TV Everywhere apps a few months ago-Disney Now, ABC, FX Now, Nat Geo TV and Freeform because of Disney+.

Paramount, Universal and Warner are doing/have done the same.

Disney is Shutting Down Disney, Freeform, FXNow, & National Geographic Channel Apps | Cord Cutters News

Disney is joining Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount in shutting down its TV everywhere apps. Yesterday, Disney announced that it will be shutting down its apps for Disney, Freeform, FXNow, & National Geographic Channel. This is because we have already reported that Disney will be shutting...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[DavoM97]

So this coming Summer, I won't be able to use the current ESPN App, authorized by my DirecTV credentials, to watch sports on my Gemini, iPad, or iPhone?

Instead I'll have to subscribe and pay for a new ESPN streaming service?

Just wanting clarity.

 

[KyL416]

They already confirmed that they have no plans to shutdown the standalone ESPN app for Android/iOS/Roku/Playstation/Xbox/etc like they did with the other apps as that's how viewers get access to ESPN3, overlapping games due to overtime/rain delays along with ESPN+ (including NHL.TV streaming) and UFC PPVs

Authenticated access to both ESPN+ and the ESPN D2C service will be coming as part of the new Disney/DIRECTV contract

Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) to be included in select DIRECTV packages under a wholesale agreement, and also to be made available on an a la carte basis.

The rights to distribute Disney’s upcoming ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service upon its launch at no additional cost to DIRECTV customers

 

[DavoM97]

That's good to know. I have a legacy package, so my hunch is I'd have to move to take advantage of that perk.

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it.

 

[b4pjoe]

They have already shut down other TV Everywhere apps a few months ago-Disney Now, ABC, FX Now, Nat Geo TV and Freeform because of Disney+.

From what I have seen they just got rid of the stand alone apps but not TV Everywhere access. TV Everywhere with my DIRECTV credentials still works with my GetChannels DVR for NatGeo, Disney and FX channels.

 

[KyL416]

Yeah, TVE access didn't go away it's still available on web. The TVE streams are also how most providers including DIRECTV ingest the Disney owned channels and the ABC affiliates for their own streaming platforms. Which will become noticeable in December when people using the DTV app to stream Freeform get random stuff like Eloise at Christmastime instead of the Rankin/Bass specials. It was also noticeable during the hurricanes when ABC affiliates that lost tower power were still available via the app but not satellite, while stations that lost studio power fellback to a national stream that uses ABC News Live as filler.

The standalone app for ESPN which you can install from the Play Store on a Gemini and numerous other devices like Android/Apple/Roku/PlayStation/Xbox/Samsung/LG/etc is not going away like the other apps did. Only the red button app for Genies is being discontinued.

 

[Juan]

Me too. What is the "ESPN interactive App from ESPN channels?" The whole sentence doesn't make sense to me.

Anybody understand why they are doing this?

Layoffs