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Ruffrider Author

Level 1

2 points

NBA League Pass Issues on Apple TV

I have posted in other discussions about this, but after being on the phone with Apple Support I figured I’d make a brand new discussion I could reference the next time I speak to them. Maybe we could get a collective of everyone reporting the same thing and they will fix the issue.

I got an AppleTV for Christmas, my wife specifically got it for me so I could use the NBA League Pass with it. It really sounded like a GREAT gift just for that purpose alone because I watch as much Basketball as I can.

I set up the unit, got the latest update, signed into the NBA League Pass on AppleTV and watched my first game. Well the experience started to be horrible from that point on.

About 60 seconds into the game, the stream started buffering. The buffering could last anywhere from 60 seconds to 5 minutes before anything happened.
Sometimes the connection would stop and AppleTV would tell me no video feed is available. I’d go back to the menu and click on the game again and the stream would start again, but not from where last saw. I’d have to rewind back to that point.
When rewinding back to the last part of the game I saw, the buffering would start again and take forever to display the part of the game I wanted to watch. Also, sometimes during rewinding it would just say now video feed was available.

Okay so at this point I am pretty frustrated. So I call support and explain the situation. They immediately job to the conclusion that it is my internet speed causing the issue. I have the fastest internet speed available in my area and average 38mbps DOWN/ 4mbps UP so that is definitely not the issue. I even offered to provide them In Network and Out of Network speedtest just to prove this.

- In Network Test

- In state - Out of Network

- Out of State - Out of Network

Secondly, they blame the fact that I am running wireless. Yes, wireless isn’t the best for streaming video but Wireless N provides more than enough bandwidth into account. And the speedtest I provided were from a wireless computer further away from the router then my AppleTV so I don’t think that’s the issue.

So Apple Support tells me to retore to factory defaults and then reset everything up. I do this and try to watch another game. Same issue. So I decide to hardwire the AppleTV to see if the problem is with my wireless. This did not change a thing. Same buffering issues. Same loss of feed issues.

Has everyone else been having these same problems with the NBA league pass? I am very frustrated at this point and ready to return this stupid thing.

AppleTV 2

Posted on Dec 30, 2011 1:40 PM

Top-ranking reply

Rod410

Level 1

10 points

Posted on Dec 30, 2011 3:57 PM

everyone is having the same issues. Its really nothing you can do to fix these problems. I finally gave up on trying to watch it. it starts and stops every 10 seconds. its not real HD. the blackout rules make no sense. Im in baltimore maryland and im blacked out from watching a game thats in memphis and california but im able to watch the washington wizards home games. you cant see what part of the game youre on when you are trying to rewind and fast foward. everything about the league pass on the apple tv is fu**ed up because it works fine on the computer. no lags. no start and stops and you can watch multiple games at once. I just want my money back for the league pass but nobody ever seems to be working when im trying to get someone on the live chat.

View in context

84 replies

Jan 3, 2012 7:58 PM in response to Ruffrider

Apple just pushed thru an update to my ATV2 and somehow the League Pass experience has been markedly better. I've been watching the Bucks-Jazz game for about 20 minutes and it hasn't buffered at all. Fingers crossed.

Jan 3, 2012 7:59 PM in response to Ruffrider

I have now decided to watch the NBA season with the iPad instead of my ATV2. This seems to work better. The ipad has the ability to keep on streaming at a lower quality for few seconds until the full signal comes back. It makes the game watchable and enjoyable. The ATV2 doesn't seem to have this feature. If you signal is less than perfect, then nothing streams. It is not a very good system and this is definitely a software issue.

This is the first time I will say this, but someone at from the NBA software team should give a call to Netflix and learn from them on how they can stream a full movie on the ATV2. I know that we are talking about Live content versus non live content, but I wouldn't mind to watch the game with a 10 minutes delay....if it worked.

I am dissapointed because I paid for the year and wish I hadn't. I am also another guy who doesn't have any cable and I wished that the the NBA LP would allow me to enjoy the season from the comfort of my couch on my big screen TV.

I only wish for an update of the NBA software on ATV2 over the next few weeks.

There must be an NBA executive who has this setup and who is also not satisfy with the quality of their product.

I was aware of the blackout rules when I signed up. There is nothing I can do against that and I will not complain.

I was not aware of the issue with the software when I signed up and this is what I wish they could fix.

Rod410

Level 1

10 points

Jan 3, 2012 8:01 PM in response to Account13

im sick of this blackout rules. i couldnt watch the bull game and now i cant watch the lakers game.

Rod410

Level 1

10 points

Jan 3, 2012 8:03 PM in response to Djanimosity78

how did you get a update? i havent seen a update since the last one a few weeks ago.

Jan 3, 2012 8:04 PM in response to Djanimosity78

Hi Djanimosity78,

what is the apple TV software version that you have?

Mine is 4.4.4.3330 and it is buggy.

What is yours?

Thank you

Jan 3, 2012 8:05 PM in response to Rod410

No clue, just popped up on my screen about an hour ago. Maybe I hadn't updated to the current version yet? I just bought it a week ago, so I'm not sure.

Rod410

Level 1

10 points

Jan 3, 2012 8:07 PM in response to Account13

I have 4.4.4.3330 also. the service is still ******.

Jan 3, 2012 8:08 PM in response to Djanimosity78

Hi Djanimosity78,

Can you go to your apple TV

Select Settings >> General >> About >> Apple TV Software

and tell us if you are seeing a newer version than mine (4.4.4.3330)

Thank you.

Jan 3, 2012 8:11 PM in response to Account13

I'm also now running that version, so it appears I hadn't updated yet.

Jan 3, 2012 8:13 PM in response to Ruffrider

Hi Djanimosity78,

That's ok. You had me dancing for a while...I thought that the guys from the NBA got it right....

I guess that I will go back to my ipad and wait for an update on my ATV2.

Thank you,

Ruffrider Author

Level 1

2 points

Jan 4, 2012 7:32 AM in response to crash fistfight

I've had zero success with it still. There was a glimmer of hope last night when I got to watch the entire first quarter of a game with only about 30 seconds of buffering occurring, but after that it went downhill and the game became unwatchable.

I’ve talked to Apple Support multiple times and they have had me do the same thing over and over, reset to factory defaults, restore, update, jump twice, clap my hands, and do a back flip, and maybe the streaming will work😝. At least you can get to Apple’s support. Trying to contact NBA League Pass for assistance is IMPOSSIBLE.

Jan 4, 2012 5:11 PM in response to Account13

I take back everything I said last night. NBA games are flat out unwatchable tonight. Tried to watch Celtics-Nets and it buffered 3 times in about 5 minutes, then completely froze up and never restarted. I give up. I hope MLB.tv is better.

Rod410

Level 1

10 points

Jan 4, 2012 5:15 PM in response to Djanimosity78

ive been watching the heat game and it hasnt froze yet.

Jan 4, 2012 6:14 PM in response to Ruffrider

I can't even get to half the games on tonight. The rest of the games freeze after about 10 seconds.

tjkraz

Level 1

4 points

Jan 4, 2012 6:45 PM in response to shakazulu12

Same problems here. Trying to watch Celtics / Nets. Buffering constantly and unwatchable.

Pulled up league pass broadband on my Macbook Pro and it works fine. Immediate stream and great picture. Apple TV gives pretty much same result as others are reporting. Stream will start almost immediately and run for maybe 20 seconds. Then it locks and seemingly buffers for anywhere from a minute to five minutes.

Internet speed should not be a problem. Wifi speed and connection quality should not be a problem. Netflix and other streaming on ATV2 works flawlessly.

This smells like an ATV problem to me. I'm a newbie when it comes to Apple support. What can I do in terms of contacting them to add my voice to those complaining?

NBA League Pass Issues on Apple TV