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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.

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84 replies

Mockstew

Level 1

0 points

Apr 8, 2012 8:46 PM in response to Ruffrider

I was one of the original replies to this thread...

I haven't had any problems with streaming since before the All Star break (at one point it was completely unwatchable). At this point all of my complaints are regarding blackout dates and NBA.tv's lack of customer support. I love basketball and the NBA, but probably won't purchase League Pass BroadBand again next year.

Aloha21

Level 1

0 points

Apr 9, 2012 10:04 AM in response to EmSurfer

Tried to watch a live game on Friday and it worked for a while then started to buffer.

EmSurfer

Level 1

19 points

Apr 12, 2012 2:16 AM in response to Aloha21

Does your Apple TV re-buffer watching a HD Movie Trailer? It shouldn't have to. If it does and you have wireless, try changing it's location around a bit. I have my AppleTV pretty high up and it never has been buffer.

Aloha21

Level 1

0 points

Apr 12, 2012 9:54 AM in response to EmSurfer

It works fine except when streaming NBA. I've connected it directly to the router after purchasing a long Cat 5 cable and still stremed. Not a wireless issue.

Apr 21, 2012 10:46 AM in response to Ruffrider

Hello, I have been reading all about the poor experience on online streaming. I am currently in mexico, so my only option is nba.tv, which is supposed to work worldwide but not in the US. These past days they started to give a free 3 day preview to test the service so I gave it a go. It works perfect here! I watched all games streamed at 3m and may I say almost HD quality. No fuzz. Even when playing with the live stats and play by play options. It also has an optio. To see up to 4 games at a time, and worked flawlessly. The best thing is nba.tv has no blackouts. I will buy the playoffs package. The season pass was around 80 and the playoffs 40, still a great deal for these service. Why is it so troublesome in the US?

Apr 21, 2012 10:50 AM in response to JoseMaloof

Just to not confuse, this is on my iphone and computer will try it on my atv2 on todays games

Sep 4, 2012 1:18 PM in response to Ruffrider

Hi everybody,

maybe I'm not up to date and this turns out to be a stupid question, but how do you manage to log on to NBA league pass via your Apple TVs?

Are we really talking about the NBA League Pass issued by NBA.com itself or the NBA.tv app included in the U.S. setup of Apple TV?

Because I am not able to log on to my league pass via Apple TV. And as I was discussing the issue with NBA.com during the 2012 Playoffs they stressed that the app available within the U.S. setup of Apple TV is a different thing than NBA.com's League Pass and this is why I am unable to log on.

So, to make a long story short, I'd be highly thankful if anyone could explain me how to access my NBA League Pass via Apple TV directly. So far I always opened the browser version on my laptop and connected it with an HDMI cable to my HD television, which is rather uncomfortable and in the end influencing my decision whether or not I am going to purchase the 2012/2013 League Pass again.

Thank you very much for you help!

jcheels1

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2012 10:44 PM in response to Mockstew

Hey Mockstew

I was wondering what your recommendation would be for the upcoming NBA season. Should I watch the games strictly on my iPad and save $130 or buy the broadband+mobile package for $180? Specifically I was wondering if you were satisfied with the NBA app built into the Apple TV and the streaming issues with that.

Let me know when you can. Thanks

Mockstew

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2012 11:23 PM in response to jcheels1

The apple tv app seemed to have been fixed by the Allstar break if I recall. Mostly the problem seemed to have been the NBA league pass servers, the games constantly buffered for minutes at a time, making the app useless. There were a couple of other features that needed tweaking, which they did. It just seemed like a beta release that needed to have the bugs worked out. Also, every game broadcast in your local market, on ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and TNT are blacked out and NOT archived for viewing. Last year, OVER HALF of every marquee team's games were blacked out on League Pass Broadband (that's not an exageration).

My understanding is that the mobile subscription is only for a phone, not the ipad. The 130 v 180 pricing is between choosing 5 teams to follow or every team. You should review that. Personaly, I can't imagine watching an entire game on my phone.

I'm loath to purchase League Pass again, but mostly because of the blackouts, the iPad app always worked perfectly for me.

P.S. Mac-a-rooney, you can only log into the apple tv app once the season starts on opening day. It's not you, it's them.

Mar 7, 2013 11:26 AM in response to Ruffrider

I just bought the Apple TV 3, nba does not work every time I connect my account shows the same error ''Could not verify account' ''Unable to sign'' i'm very disappointed because I bought to see games on TV, on the iPhone and the iPad I works perfect but the NBA League Pass on Apple TV does not connect. please help

SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH, USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE, I LIVE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

m1l0s

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2013 10:15 AM in response to Ruffrider

Need some help here guys.

I tried to login to NBA app on my Apple TV 3rd generation, but unfortunately entered wrong ID and now application gives me only option to enter password.

Is there any option how to get back and enter correct User ID?

Thank you in advance!

Oct 29, 2013 7:29 PM in response to Salvatretzzo

Salvatretzzo. Hi from Costa Rica. Change App store to Australia (or other country where service is available). No need to login in the store.

It just worked for me. Good luck.

Oct 30, 2013 5:23 PM in response to Ruffrider

It is now 2013 and I am having the same issues as reported in the original post.

And to make things clear, the problem is only with my ATV. LP streams fine onto my MacBook Air and first gen Mac Pro.

Oct 30, 2013 7:26 PM in response to Milky Rock

I'm curious if anyone with the newest AirPort Extreme is still having trouble with NBA streaming with Apple TV. My iTunes airplay dropouts have gone away since switching over to the AirPort Extreme, and I'm hoping I'd have the same success with NBA streaming, but not rushing. Previous experience was not good - likewise only with the Apple TV, no problem streaming to a computer.

Oct 30, 2013 7:48 PM in response to Milky Rock

Havign same issues. Everything worked fine last year, but not I'm having the same issues I did 2 years ago on both my Apple TV and trying to access NBA league pass via a browser.

NBA League Pass Issues on Apple TV