How can I get a reliable, legit online stream of the World Cup?

June 7, 2010 1:03 PM

I don't have cable or even a TV, but I do have the internet and I want to watch the World Cup. I can find a lot of ways to watch it "for free" but I am struggling to find a reliable way to make sure I can see most of the games live. My IP had very little advice on the matter. I am more than willing to pay for a reliable, high-quality stream.
posted by limmer to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 answers total)

CBC will be streaming it online. I'm assuming they're region-blocking it but I don't know for sure.
posted by GuyZero at 1:11 PM on June 7, 2010

The glorious Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is streaming all the games live. If it's anything like their hockey webcasts the quality is pretty good ...
posted by doublesix at 1:12 PM on June 7, 2010

Go to ESPN3; if your ISP is a partner, you'll know about it. They're streaming everything live apart from the matches on ABC, which means you'll have to make other arrangements for, say, England v. USA on Saturday, and the final.
posted by holgate at 1:14 PM on June 7, 2010

FWIW, I couldn't get CBC's Olympic Streams from (barely) within the US. My fingers are crossed for ESPN 3-- thanks holgate.
posted by activitystory at 1:23 PM on June 7, 2010

I use this program it will certainly have the world cup on it
posted by SatansCabanaboy at 1:50 PM on June 7, 2010

Thanks...my ISP does not partner with ESPN3 unfortunately because I think that would have been the perfect solution.

I can't tell if I will be able to use the CBC site, but it also looks like a possible solution.

I have also used the TVU program (for the 06 World Cup actually) and it was pretty decent. I was hoping to have a better stream and more reliable service, but that might end up being my solution. So, thanks!
posted by limmer at 3:02 PM on June 7, 2010

I would imagine that both the BBC and ITV will stream the games they have (they split most of the group games, then compete for viewers over the later stages).

You could buy access to a UK-based proxy, then just head on over to iPlayer or ITV.com depending on who's showing the match you want.
posted by djgh at 3:07 PM on June 7, 2010

I can't tell if I will be able to use the CBC site, but it also looks like a possible solution.

I suspect that you'll run into region-blocking, but FoxyProxy and a paid Canadian proxy service may work.
posted by holgate at 3:08 PM on June 7, 2010

Not sure if this is what you want in terms of quality, but come game day, atdhe.net will most likely have multiple available streams of WC matches (and on a daily basis, other sporting events as well).

I can't make any guarantees as to what language the broadcast will be in, though.
posted by the NATURAL at 10:35 PM on June 7, 2010

If you can handle the spanish announcers and translating, Univision will be streaming all their games online.
posted by sandmanwv at 11:58 AM on June 8, 2010

Just a quick update. Univision has a great quality video and atdhe.net has english announcers, so as a temporary solution I am watching the univision video and listening to the atdhe.net audio!
posted by limmer at 9:05 AM on June 12, 2010 [1 favorite]