timfmorris

Q: WatchESPN app won't let me re-authenticate, but also won't get me all the content

This morning, my WatchESPN app was working fine. At some point, however, my AppleTV (3rd generation) wouldn't allow me to watch the live stream of ESPN or ESPN2, but other content (ESPN3, replays of older events, etc.) would play with no problem. The message I got said, "Unable to Play Video, We show that you are not authorized for this service," I confirmed with my cable company that my login and password will allow me to use WatchESPN without issue. I then tried logging into the app on my iPad (4th generation) and got the same message. After a few phone calls back and forth between my cable company and ESPN (each referred me to the other), someone at my cable company "reset" my logon ID, and after re-authenticaing my Apple TV device, it began to work. I am still not able to get into the app on my iPad, however, and here is the main issue:

 

Whenever I attempt to login through my cable provider, it DOES NOT allow me to input my username and password on the logon screen. I select my cable provider, the login screen flashes for a half-second or so, then it brings me briefly to the screen that says "logging you in," then it says "access rights validated," and brings me to the app. It seems to work, but then when I try to watch the ESPN or ESPN2 live streams, I get the same "Unable to Play Video" message and the cycle continues.

 

I'm HOPING that if I'm able to actually put in my cable ID and password again, it will have the same effect as it did on my Apple TV, but I don't know how to break out of this cycle.

 

Here's what I've tried already (over and over and over again):

 

-Log out of the app and log back in

-Went to "Settings" > "WatchESPN" and turned "on" the Reset Authentication" button/switch.

-Deleted and reinstalled the app

-Signed out of my Apple ID, then back in in order to reinstall the app

-Updated iPad IOS software to 8.3

 

Each time I tried any of the above, it just pushed me through the login process and would not allow me to put my ID and password in.

 

Any help or suggestions?!?


Thanks

Tim

iPad, iOS 8.3

Posted on Apr 8, 2015 4:54 PM

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Q: WatchESPN app won't let me re-authenticate, but also won't get me all the content

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  • Helpful answers

  • by timfmorris,

    timfmorris timfmorris Apr 8, 2015 5:02 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 8, 2015 5:02 PM in response to timfmorris

    Add "reset my wireless router" to the list of things I tried

  • by timfmorris,

    timfmorris timfmorris Apr 9, 2015 3:57 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 9, 2015 3:57 PM in response to timfmorris

    Also add "reset my cable provider login password" to the list…tried to trick it into allowing me to put in my ID/Password, but it still just pushed me through and didn't allow that to happen…it still validates my access rights, but doesn't allow certain content to play…extremely frustrating...

  • by derek70,

    derek70 derek70 Jun 29, 2015 10:24 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 29, 2015 10:24 PM in response to timfmorris

    Having the exact same troubles, Cox as my cable provider.  Had the app with an account that did not have cable tv service and now trying to use with a cable tv account, but auth screen never prompts me for new username/password, just goes on stored info.  I've tried resetting Safari data, turning off password storage in iCloud, deleted and re-downloaded the app, but nothing changes it.

     

    Any information anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

  • by derek70,

    derek70 derek70 Jun 29, 2015 10:31 PM in response to derek70
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 29, 2015 10:31 PM in response to derek70

    Sadly, I had to reset all my settings on my iPhone to get this to function properly.  What a pain.

  • by TheRealDana,

    TheRealDana TheRealDana Nov 7, 2015 12:06 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 12:06 PM in response to timfmorris

    did anyone find another solution aside from resetting my entire iPad settings?

  • by billybaroo32,Helpful

    billybaroo32 billybaroo32 Nov 13, 2015 1:03 PM in response to TheRealDana
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 13, 2015 1:03 PM in response to TheRealDana

    I think I got it...

     

    1) Turn off Wifi on your device

    2) Go to Settings, locate WatchESPN and select Reset Authentication

    3) Open WatchESPN using cellular, 3G, LTE, etc. This will prompt the username/password screen instead of bypassing it (I had to connect my iPad to my phone using a "Personal Hotspot" because I don't have a data plan for my iPad)

    4) Once you've successfully logged in turn your device's Wifi back on and you should be good!

     

    Hope this helps!!

  • by billybaroo32,Helpful

    billybaroo32 billybaroo32 Nov 13, 2015 1:04 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 13, 2015 1:04 PM in response to timfmorris

    I think I got it...

     

    1) Turn off Wifi on your device

    2) Go to Settings, locate WatchESPN and select Reset Authentication

    3) Open WatchESPN using cellular, 3G, LTE, etc. This will prompt the username/password screen instead of bypassing it (I had to connect my iPad to my phone using a "Personal Hotspot" because I don't have a data plan for my iPad)

    4) Once you've successfully logged in turn your device's Wifi back on and you should be good!

     

    Hope this helps!!

  • by keychey,

    keychey keychey Nov 20, 2015 9:03 AM in response to billybaroo32
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 9:03 AM in response to billybaroo32

    =========

    I think I got it...

     

    1) Turn off Wifi on your device

    2) Go to Settings, locate WatchESPN and select Reset Authentication

    3) Open WatchESPN using cellular, 3G, LTE, etc. This will prompt the username/password screen instead of bypassing it (I had to connect my iPad to my phone using a "Personal Hotspot" because I don't have a data plan for my iPad)

    4) Once you've successfully logged in turn your device's Wifi back on and you should be good!

     

    Hope this helps!!

    =========

    this is brilliant! worked on my android phone

    thank you! have been struggling with this problem for over 6 months now. had tried everything except a factory reset.

  • by iPadUser711,

    iPadUser711 iPadUser711 Mar 12, 2016 1:44 PM in response to billybaroo32
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2016 1:44 PM in response to billybaroo32

    I created an account to say thanks!! This worked! I did NOT want to reset my whole iPad just to get one app to work. Thanks for the detailed instructions on how to fix this. Super easy and it works!!

  • by locooso,

    locooso locooso May 8, 2016 8:57 PM in response to iPadUser711
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 8, 2016 8:57 PM in response to iPadUser711

    you rock

  • by traceyinhenderson,

    traceyinhenderson traceyinhenderson Aug 30, 2016 10:52 PM in response to billybaroo32
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 10:52 PM in response to billybaroo32

    Thank you so much posting these instructions!  We were going crazy and never in a million years would we have come up with this solution on our own! 

  • by reidmix,

    reidmix reidmix Oct 6, 2016 9:14 PM in response to timfmorris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 6, 2016 9:14 PM in response to timfmorris

    OMG I've been looking for weeks how to solve this -- this totally worked.

    I was also having this problem with AMC, BBCAmerica, and Viceland.

    How on earth did you figure this out, and *** is going on?

     

    Thanks again!