UK NFL fan seeks game broadcast

October 11, 2006 1:23 PM

NFLFilter: I am a UK-based NFL fan (go Seahawks!) and am finding it very difficult to watch any of the games or pre- and post-game analysis shows.

So far, I've managed to find a few low to medium quality torrents, which is less than acceptable. Any ideas on how I can watch the games I want to watch via the internets when I want to watch them? I'm aware Yahoo! has the Gamepass service which costs the earth (about eleventy billion dollars) - I don't mind paying a few pounds / dollars / bucks per game but I want to keep it within reason.

Any ideas, Hive Mind?

posted by mooders to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total)

You could try the TVU Player. I used it to watch some of the World Cup games.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 1:45 PM on October 11, 2006

It might be a bit expensive but you could try a Slingbox

Hooked up at a friends house (watch all the US TV you'd like)
posted by bitdamaged at 1:48 PM on October 11, 2006

You're not missing anything. Don't worry about it.

Noise, flagged.

Football Streaming Info is a good resource, though they mean the other kind of football. If you're unsatisfied with the torrents you're finding, download one of these p2p streaming programs, which will allow you to watch feeds of TV networks from all over the world. I used them to watch the World Cup this summer, and it works pretty well.

So download one of those programs, open up the feed for NBC, CBS, FOX, or ESPN (depending on the game you want to see) and you're good to go. Quality isn't great, but at least its live.
posted by ChasFile at 1:50 PM on October 11, 2006

They show some matches on Channel 5, but I assume you already know about this? Also, I've heard there are American sports on the sports channels on Sky, but that's just what I've heard. It's worth investigating.
posted by wackybrit at 1:51 PM on October 11, 2006

I live in SF, but I was born and raised a Philly fan. It's exceedingly difficult to actually watch games outside of your region without paying for Direct TV 's season pass. Gamepass service seems similar (altho via the web) - you're paying a significant amount to view.

If you haven't already, I'd advise you to head on over to the Seahawks message board and query folks there.

For the Philly games, I can get the radio broadcast over the internet via Philly-area radio station websites. I'll also watch post-game highlights through nfl.com or videos on youtube (which are linked through the Eagles message board). Far less than perfect, but I can get my fix and not spend $$$.
posted by gnutron at 1:55 PM on October 11, 2006

Sky Sports shows live NFL games every Sunday, with a highlights show some time during the week; even if you can't get it on your own TV, there's bound to be a pub or sports bar in your town/city showing a game.

As for the pre- and post-game stuff? You're out of luck, I'm afraid, because Sky uses their own commentators for that. But if you're into other Yank sports (college football, ice hockey, etc) NASN and Setanta Sports carry a lot of games-plus-extras from US and Canadian channels.
posted by macdara at 2:11 PM on October 11, 2006

Is there anything on Channel 4? Sometimes they show all kinds of sports - usually at some un-Godly hour (they had what looked like horse trials, but for aeroplanes on a couple of weeks ago one Sunday morning).
posted by TheDonF at 2:49 PM on October 11, 2006

NZ-based Redskins fan here.

Ten Yard Torrents can help you locate the games themselves (you need to be logged in to see the forums that you're interested in). Not sure about pre/post game.

Yahoo's GamePass is an option as well, but very very pricy at $25 (US) per week.
posted by toxic at 4:07 PM on October 11, 2006

I've got to second the Slingbox thing. I've set up a "blind" Slingbox attached to a DVR in my house that my parents (living in Italy) connect to. The picture quality is not great, but they don't have much bandwidth. They chip in a little for the cable, and everyone's happy.

Steps:
1. Find a friend with a cable system that offers a DVR.
2. Come to a financial arrangement with friend that will cover their costs plus a little extra for the minimal inconvenience.
2. Have your friend sign up for an additional DVR (Comcast made me pass a credit check before they'd hand out a second DVR box).
3. Have them set up the Slingbox and a Slingbox account. Have them give you the account info (you may want to let them keep the info as well, in case they ever have to do any maintenance for you).
4. Go Hawks!

Your investment will be the cost of the Slingbox (~$250) plus the monthly kickback to your friend.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:56 PM on October 11, 2006

I'd like to piggyback and ask if anyone knows of a real-time Webcast of alternative NFL commentary, especially for Monday Night Football? ESPN's current commentary team is driving me nuts, and not in a good way.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:40 PM on October 11, 2006

I know you're asking about internet solutions, but do you know about Five US? This is a new digital terrestrial channel (ie on Freeview, free but you need a Freeview box) which launches on Monday and is going to have a one-hour NFL programme on Wednesdays at 7pm.
posted by boudicca at 2:48 AM on October 12, 2006

Response by poster: boudicca - great news. Thanks!

Also - Mr. Gunn. That looks like it could be exactly the answer.

Thanks for all the responses though :)
posted by mooders at 3:38 AM on October 12, 2006