12 Effective Fixes For ESPN Media Not Allowed Error

What Is Media Not Allowed Error On ESPN And How To Fix It?

You may have received an error message that says “Media Not Allowed” on your Roku device when trying to watch shows on ESPN. You may experience this issue because the authentication has failed, and you do not have permission to access the channel. ESPN requires a cable provider to allow streaming. When the authentication fails, you cannot load the ESPN app.

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Key Takeaways

• The media not allowed error appears when you open the ESPN app on a Roku device.
• It may occur due to authentication issues, server outages, outdated devices, or the ESPN app.
• You can fix the error by updating the ESPN app, authenticating to the correct TV provider, reinstalling the app, and installing the latest firmware update on your Roku device.

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If you do not have a cable or satellite provider, you can use streaming services that give access to live shows on ESPN. Many streaming services allow you to watch ESPN+ through smartphone, web, and TV-connected devices, such as:

1. Hulu Live
2. Sling TV Orange
3. Sling TV Orange + Blue
4. Fubo TV
5. Vidgo
6. Youtube TV
7. DirecTV Stream
8. Fubo TV Elite
9. Spectrum TV

This error may also be due to an outdated app, incorrect TV provider details in ESPN, a server outage, or a slow internet connection. You can find a list of fixes for it below.

Check ESPN Server Status

Before you jump into the guide, we suggest you take a minute to ensure that there is no server outage on ESPN’s end. Sometimes you can experience issues with streaming media on ESPN due to server issues or the server being down for maintenance.

1. Go to DownDetector.com.

   

2. Type “ESPN” in the search bar.
3. Scroll down to see the server outage status for the ESPN app.

   

You will be able to see ESPN+ outages in the past 24 hours. If the server is down, there is nothing you can do but wait out the storm.

You can also visit the ESPN Plus Official Twitter for updates about server issues. If the server is down for maintenance, you will likely find information about it there.

Authenticate TV Provider On ESPN Again

When you try to watch a game on ESPN, it asks you whether you want to use your TV service provider to access that program. You need to authenticate the TV provider before you can continue streaming on ESPN. Follow these steps to change/authenticate the TV provider on ESPN.

1. Log out of the ESPN app.
2. Go to “Settings” on your Roku device.

   

3. Select “Account Information.”
4. Choose “TV Provider” and log out of your TV provider.
5. Open the ESPN app.
6. Then, select a program to watch on ESPN.
7. You will see a dialogue box asking you to allow the TV provider to access the content. Choose “Allow.”
8. Next, choose your TV provider.
9. Enter your TV provider credentials.

Ensure Too Many Devices Are Not Logged Into ESPN

Sometimes having ESPN logged into different devices such as PC, laptops, and TV can cause the “Media Not Allowed” Error. This can be due to performance load issues.

To solve the error, log out of ESPN on other devices and try logging in on only one device. We tried this method, and it worked for us, so we recommend you give it a shot.

Restart Your Roku Device

If you are trying to stream ESPN shows on Roku and the “Media Not Allowed” error pops up, we recommend restarting your Roku Device. You can perform a soft reset by unplugging the device from power and waiting for a minute before reconnecting it.

You can also follow these steps to restart it:

1. Go to “Home” by pressing the home icon on the remote.

   

2. Select “Settings” from Home.
3. Choose “System” settings.
4. Go to “Power” settings.
5. Select “System Restart” to restart your Roku Device.

Check Your Internet Connection

You need to have a stable internet connection to live stream on ESPN. You may face streaming and authentication errors if your internet connection is weak. Ensure your internet speed is at least 10 Mbps to stream error-free on ESPN. You can also disconnect other devices from the internet to boost your internet speed.

Try using the internet on another device to rule out the possibility of a slow internet connection. If your internet connection is unstable, you will have to contact your internet service provider for a solution to continue using the ESPN app without any problem. You can also get an Ethernet cable to access fast internet.

You can perform an internet speed test to check your internet speed. If it falls below the required internet bandwidth, consider upgrading your internet plan.

Log Into ESPN Again

An easy fix you can try to solve the authentication error on ESPN is to log out and log into ESPN again. This will clear the cache and memory of the app, and you will be able to continue streaming on ESPN.

1. Open ESPN on your device.
2. Select “Settings” from the upper right corner of the screen.
3. From the Settings menu, choose “Account Information.”
4. Select “Login to ESPN Account” to find your activation code.
5. Enter the activation code here.

   

Sign in to ESPN again to resolve the media not allowed problem.

Re-install ESPN On Roku

Uninstalling and re-installing ESPN+ on Roku can solve the media not allowed error. If you are using an outdated version of the app, re-installing it will update to ESPN’s latest version.

1. Sign out of the ESPN app from Account Settings.
2. Go to “Home” on Roku.
3. Go to “Streaming Channel.” Find the ESPN channel in the list of installed channels.

   

4. Select the ESPN channel on the screen and press “*” on your Roku remote.
5. You will see a pop-up dialogue with different options related to the channel.
6. Select “Remove Channel.”

   

7. Go back Home.
8. Go to “Roku Channel Store” by going to “Search Channel.”

   

9. Install “ESPN” on Roku again by selecting “Add Channel.”

   

10. Log in using your credentials.

You will be able to stream on ESPN now. However, if this doesn’t work, you can also attempt to restart the Roku device before installing ESPN on Roku again. Once the Roku device has been restarted, go to Channel Store to install it and authenticate yourself using your account information.

Clear Cache and Reset

You can clear your Roku device’s cache and reset it to resolve the error.

1. First, go to “Settings.”
2. Choose “Account Info” and select “TV Provider.”
3. Log out of your TV provider.
4. Now to clear the cache, go to “Home” on Roku.

   

5. Press the “Home” button on the remote five times.
6. Then, press the “Up” button on the remote.
7. Next, press the “Rewind” button twice.
8. Press the “Fast Forward” button on the remote twice.
9. Wait for 30 seconds until your Roku device restarts.
10. Open the ESPN app.
11. Log in to the TV provider on ESPN.

Contact Channel Provider

If you cannot resolve the error, the issue lies with the channel provider, ESPN. If you can watch other channels without interruption on Roku, then you need to contact ESPN Support for help.

Submit a request to ESPN support and let them know about the problem you are facing. They will surely get back to you with a solution.

Switch Your Internet Connection

You can change your internet connection in an attempt to fix the error. Sometimes the Roku device glitches set your internet as the cable provider and try to activate ESPN through your internet connection. To resolve this, follow these steps:

1. Go to “Settings” on your device.
2. Choose “Account Information.”
3. Go to “TV Provider” and log out.
4. Log out from your ESPN account as well.
5. Press the “Home” button on your Roku remote.
6. Choose “Settings” and then select “Network.”

   

7. You can connect to another internet provider from Network Settings.

   

8. Disconnect the Roku device from your internet connection and switch it to another.

   

9. Log into ESPN again using the activation code.
10. Select a program and allow access to the TV provider.
11. Choose your correct TV provider and enter its credentials.

Power Cycle Your Devices

Power cycling releases all electrical energy from your device and performs a soft reset on it. This can help solve the ESPN media not allowed error.

1. Unplug your device from power and hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds.
2. Unplug your internet router.
3. Wait for 10 minutes.
4. Plug in your router and device.
5. Open ESPN+ on your device and see if the issue has been resolved.

Update Roku Device

Update your Roku to ensure that the problem does not lie with your device. Once the latest firmware is installed on your Roku device, it may also resolve the error you are experiencing.

1. Go to “Settings” on Roku.

   

2. Choose “System” Settings.

   

3. Select “Software Update” to see the latest updates for your Roku device.

   

4. Choose “Check Now” to see if any updates are available.

   

5. The system will check for updates. If there are any updates available, you can install them.

   

Do not unplug your device from power when the update is in the process, so there are no interruptions and no data loss. You also need a fast internet connection for the update to go smoothly. Restart your Roku once the update has been installed, and then see if ESPN allows media streaming now.

Additional Tip

One last thing you can try to resolve the error is to remove the ESPN app, reboot your Roku device and re-install the app again. Keep in mind that you need to follow these steps in the correct order to fix the issue.

You can contact Roku Support for help if you think the issue lies with your Roku device and not with the ESPN app.