How to watch Kentucky's games on SEC Network+ amid YouTube TV vs. ESPN dispute

by: Tyler Thompson5 hours agoMrsTylerKSR

kentucky-eastern-michigan-tennessee-tech-how-to-watch-sec-network-plus-youtube-tv-espn-dispute — Images via KSR, Canva

Finding Kentucky’s games on the SEC Network+ is hard enough. If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you’re going to have to go the extra mile to watch the Cats this weekend, thanks to YouTube TV’s ongoing war with Disney and ESPN.

We’re now two full weeks into the dispute. Barring a Hail Mary, that means a third straight weekend of finding another way to watch games that air on ESPN channels or ABC. YouTube TV has issued $20 credits to its subscribers over the blackout (which you have to redeem through their website), but I think everyone would gladly give it back if it just meant this was over.

What’s the latest? Disney held its quarterly earnings call on Thursday, during which Disney chief financial officer Hugh Johnston reportedly told investors that the negotiations with Google “could go for a little while.” The blackout is reportedly costing Disney $4 million per day, but Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company is prepared to stand its ground.

“The deal we have proposed is equal to or better than what other large distributors have already agreed to,” Iger said, per Sports Business Journal. “We are not trying to break any new ground. While we have been working tirelessly to close this deal and restore our content to their platform, it is imperative that we make sure we agree to a deal that reflects the value that we deliver, which both YouTube and Alphabet have told us is greater than the value of any other provider. The offer that is on the table is commencing with details that were already struck with distributors larger than they are.”

Alas, the stalemate continues. By now, if you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you’ve experimented with several different ways to watch games, but here’s a refresher in case you need to try a new one.

ESPN Unlimited

This is probably the simplest way to ensure you can watch the game, although you’re playing right into Disney’s hands. Disney launched ESPN Unlimited ahead of football season. It offers all the ESPN content you could dream of, including live broadcast channels and streams, without a separate cable or streaming plan required.

It ain’t cheap. ESPN Unlimited is $29.99/month; however, it will include all Kentucky games broadcast by any ESPN channel or platform (ESPN, SECN, SECN+, etc.). You can also bundle Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited for just $29.99/month for 12 months.

Note: ESPN Unlimited is separate from ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+), a standalone ESPN subscription option that includes ESPN+ content. ESPN Select won’t include Kentucky games – including SEC Network+ — if you have YouTubeTV as your TV provider until the dispute is resolved.

Hulu + Live TV

Disney also owns Hulu, so if you’re looking to part ways with YouTube TV altogether, Hulu + Live TV could be a good alternative. It’s similar to YouTube TV in terms of channel offerings and user interface, and, since it’s owned by Disney, it comes with ESPN Unlimited and Disney+. Right now, you can get Hulu + Live TV for just $64.99/month for the first three months. Once that’s up, the price reverts to $89.99/month.

Fubo TV

Another Disney-owned alternative to YouTube TV is Fubo TV with the Sports and News package, which includes local broadcast channels (minus NBC) and ESPN channels, including SEC Network and SEC Network+. It’s $55.99 per month and includes access to ESPN Unlimited, but you can get a free five-day trial, which would ensure you can watch the Eastern Illinois game tonight (SEC Network+), the Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday (SEC Network+), and the Champions Classic game vs. Michigan State on Tuesday night (ESPN).

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DirecTV Stream

DirecTV offers a variety of options that include ESPN’s channels (including the SEC Network and SEC Network+) and ESPN Unlimited. The entertainment package is the cheapest, at $49.99/month, but it also offers a free five-day trial, which would ensure you can watch the Eastern Illinois game tonight (SEC Network+), the Tennessee Tech football game on Saturday (SEC Network+), and the Champions Classic game vs. Michigan State on Tuesday night (ESPN).

Sling Day Pass

If you want to stick with YouTube TV in hopes a deal is made soon, but want a way to watch tonight’s game, you can get a day pass from Sling. For $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to Sling Orange with unlimited streaming on one device. A weekend pass (Friday to Sunday) costs $9.99, and a 7-day week pass is $14.99. Note: to access the SEC Network, it’s $1 more per day.

KSBar & Grille

If you’re in the Lexington area, come on down to KSBar and Grille, where we have all the channels and will be showing all the games. Plus, we’ve got great food and drinks.

YouTube

Also known as the Shannon the Dude method. If you don’t want to spend another dollar, you can probably find a pirated stream on YouTube. There may be a bigger delay than what you’re used to with YouTube TV, but as the dispute rolls on, I have a feeling more and more streams will pop up. YouTube certainly doesn’t seem to be censoring them. Ryan Lemond may disagree, but you certainly don’t have to tip them.

I hear there are other sites, but for their own good, I won’t put their names out there and increase the risk they get shut down. People are sharing their finds on KSBoard.

Kentucky vs. Eastern Illinois: How to Watch, Listen

Both the men’s basketball game tonight vs. Eastern Illinois and the football game tomorrow vs. Tennessee Tech will be on SEC Network+, aka “on the computer.” So, even when you’ve found a way to access a cable subscription, there’s still work to do to find SEC Network+ on the ESPN app. Steven Peake is here to help.