ESPN TV Provider Not Working Error [FIXED]

If your ESPN TV provider is not working, it may be due to authentication issues. In such cases, you need to re-authenticate the TV provider on ESPN or try some other fixes if it does not make the problem go away.

Key Takeaways

• If you are facing a user authentication error on ESPN+, the TV provider needs to be re-authenticated on the ESPN app.
• Double-check your TV provider subscription plan to ensure that the program includes streaming of the ESPN channel.
• You need a reliable internet connection to stream ESPN+ programs and eliminate authentication errors.

ESPN TV Provider Not Working Causes And Fixes

You may encounter TV provider authentication issues on ESPN while trying to stream a sports program. This error is mainly caused due to an outdated device, server outages, connectivity problems, use of VPN or proxy, and device incompatibility.

If you are facing a “user must re-authenticate” error when logging in with your TV provider on ESPN, a simple restart of your device can get rid of your error. Restarting your device will clear the cache, and you will be able to authenticate the TV provider on the ESPN app again.

If you tried this and the error persists, try the methods we have compiled for you in this article.

Check Device Compatibility

The first thing to do while troubleshooting failed authentication ESPN+ is to check whether the Roku device you are trying to stream on is compatible with ESPN. You can head over to their website and confirm device compatibility to figure out if the issue lies with your device. We also recommend doing this in case ESPN+ is not working with the Hulu bundle.

Test Your Internet

This may seem too simple, but trust us, 8/10 times; your ESPN is not working because of connectivity issues. You need a stable internet connection to watch live sports on ESPN.

Ensure you are not connected to a public network while using the ESPN app because most public networks restrict streaming apps.

Conduct an internet speed test on Fast.com to determine your internet connection speed. ESPN requires a minimum bandwidth of 2Mbps for optimal viewing experience. We also recommended doing this in case you encounter ESPN Error 503.

You can disconnect other devices from your Wi-Fi to speed up your internet and continue streaming on ESPN.

Check For Server Outages

You may be getting the ESPN TV provider not working error because of an issue at the server’s end. ESPN servers are sometimes down for maintenance, or the app may be experiencing an unexpected crash.

1. Go to “Downdetector.com” to find the ESPN server status.

   

2. Enter “ESPN” in the search bar.
3. Scroll down to see if there have been any ESPN+ server problems in the past 24 hours.

   

If there are reports of server issues on ESPN’s end, then unfortunately, there is nothing you can do but wait.

You can also check ESPN’s official Twitter for updates about server maintenance or server outages in different regions.

Re-Authenticate TV Provider On ESPN

You need a TV provider subscription that supports ESPN to stream ESPN channels on your Roku device. You cannot stream media on ESPN if the TV provider authentication fails.

TV providers that give access to ESPN channels are Hulu Live, Sling TV Orange, Sling TV Orange + Blue, Fubo TV, Vidgo, Youtube TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo TV Elite, and Spectrum TV.

Log out of ESPN on your device and follow these steps for a free ESPN TV provider login:

1. Go to ESPN “Settings.”
2. Select “TV provider.”

   

3. Log out of the TV provider.

   

4. Log in to the ESPN app again.
5. Select your TV provider and enter your login credentials to authenticate.

   

6. Continue streaming your favorite program on ESPN.

You can log in to the TV provider again by going to the ESPN program you want to watch and opening it. A dialogue box will appear, asking you to allow the TV provider to access the specific program. Select “Allow” to confirm.

You may face a similar “media not allowed” error on ESPN if the TV provider is not authenticated correctly. Check out this article to resolve media errors on ESPN.

Log Into The App Again

Sometimes the ESPN TV provider login not working error can be resolved by logging out of the app and logging in again. Doing this clears the cache memory on Roku and fixes the problem.

1. Go to “Settings” and log out of the ESPN app.

   

2. Open “Settings” again on the ESPN app.
3. Choose “Account Details” from the settings.
4. Tap on “Login to ESPN Account” to find the app’s activation code.
5. Go to this link and enter the activation code.

   

6. Once the device has been activated, you will be logged into ESPN and allowed to stream.

Update Roku Device

The user not authenticated ESPN error on Smart TV can occur due to outdated firmware. Updating the device can resolve minor bugs and clear the cache to fix the authentication error.

To install the latest firmware on the Roku device, follow these steps:

1. Open “Settings” on the Roku device.
2. Select “System” settings.

   

3. Choose “Software updates” to view available updates on the device.

   

4. Select “Check Now” and install the latest updates if available to resolve the error.

   

Disable VPN

Using a VPN on your device to browse the internet anonymously or access content from a geo-blocked location may interfere with streaming platforms. Sometimes VPNs can slow down your internet connection, causing a delay in streaming on ESPN.

You can disconnect VPN on your device by following these simple steps to continue streaming error-free.

1. Go to “Settings” from the Start menu.
2. Choose “Network & Internet” from settings.

   

3. Choose “VPN” to see the connected VPN and disconnect it.

   

Log Out Of ESPN On Other Devices

Do you use multiple devices, such as your mobile, Roku device, and PC, to access the ESPN app? If so, having an ESPN account logged in on various devices may lead to bugs or corrupted cache issues that can be the root cause of the ESPN TV provider not working error.

You can log out of the ESPN app on other devices and try again on only one device to see if that resolves the error.

Perform System Restart On Roku

Restarting your Roku TV will clear the cache and resolve the TV provider error on ESPN.

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Choose “System” from settings.

   

3. Select “System Restart” from the System settings.

   

4. Choose “Restart” and confirm “OK” to restart the Roku system.

   

Verify Subscription Plan

You may face the TV provider authentication error on ESPN because your monthly subscription has expired. You may need to update your billing details to resolve the error.

1. Log in to ESPN on your Desktop.
2. Go to “Settings” in the top-right corner.

   

3. Select “ESPN+ Subscriptions” from the account settings.

   

4. Choose “Manage Subscription.”

   

5. You will see your current payment plan and subscription status.

   

6. Verify that your payment plan is up to date and try streaming on ESPN+ again.

Install ESPN App Again

Many users have reported that uninstalling and re-installing the ESPN app on their Roku TV has resolved the authentication error for them. This also works for other errors, such as ESPN not working on Xfinity.

1. Go to “Settings” from Roku Home.
2. Select “Streaming Channels” from settings and highlight the ESPN channel.

   

3. Press “*” on your Roku remote to open the menu.
4. Select “Remove channel” to delete ESPN.

   

5. Once the channel has been uninstalled, go to “Home” again.
6. Go to “Search Channels” and search for the ESPN channel.

   

7. Select “ESPN” and then “Add channel” to re-install it.

   

8. Open ESPN and log in to continue streaming.

Clear Cache

Clearing the cache on your Roku TV can help get rid of the TV provider not working error on ESPN. We tested this method ourselves, and it worked for us, so we suggest you give it a shot. Follow these steps to clear the cache on Smart TV:

1. Log out of ESPN.
2. Go to “Home” on Roku.

   

3. Press the “Home” button on the Roku remote five times.
4. Press “Up” on the remote once.
5. Press “Rewind” twice.
6. Press “Fast Forward” twice on Roku remote.
7. The Roku device will be reset and restarted.
8. Open the ESPN channel and log in with your TV provider.

Contact Your TV Provider

If you have tried the methods mentioned in this article and still face ESPN sign-in with your TV provider error, you can contact the TV provider’s support team and let them know about your problem. Brief them about the error you are facing and the solutions you have tried in detail, and ask them for a permanent fix to your streaming problem.

Reach Out To ESPN Customer Support

If you think the issue is with the ESPN app rather than your Roku device, we suggest contacting ESPN customer support for help regarding the authentication issue. You can email them or call them at 00 1-888-549-3776 and submit your complaint to them.

Additional Tip

Some users on Reddit recommended connecting your device to a mobile hotspot and then streaming on the ESPN app. Sometimes the cause of ESPN not working error can lie in Ethernet or the wireless connection you are using. Some Internet Service Providers block streaming on public and home networks, which may be the reason for such errors.

Final Words

This article lists all the troubleshooting methods for ESPN TV provider not working. If you tried different solutions but still need help resolving the problem, contact Roku Support to help diagnose and solve the authentication issue.

Related ESPN Errors:

• ESPN Country Not Supported
• ESPN Error Code 1008