Meles
Bionic Poster
As I watch Borna Coric play at Winston-Salem tonight in the worst resolution imaginable, I have started this post to discuss how to watch tennis. This match is not on any conventional Tennis Channel of which I am aware.
In the USA, we have ESPN3 on the site watchespn (app on ios and android devices) which is fantastic high def. This week you can watch the main court at Winston. If you already have ESPN, your main tv provider should have provided you with an email and password. Install the app on ios or android (website on computer), log in, and you are good to go.
If you just have internet access without a tv package, you might have ESPN3 access (try the steps above.) This works for AT&T uverse internet which gives you ESPN3 access, but not for time warner cable as an example, which only gives you ESPN3 access if you have ESPN in your package.
If you just have internet access and the above does not work, there is a new sherrif in town; Sling TV. They've been offering a 7 day free trial which many might want to try for the US Open (I tried at the French). It gets you 20 basic channels (good ones) and ESPN and ESPN2 (not sure if available outside the USA). This also give you a login that gives you ESPN3 access. If you sign up for three months they currently have a promotion that gives you $50 off on a device to hook up to your TV (Roku hdmi stick comes out as free), so that is very attractive if you have enjoyed the 7 day trial and want to actually watch on your tv rather than a device.
I must say device watching on an IPAD is utterly fantastic given the stellar video quality and processing of the IPAD, but I am sure various Android pads would give very satisfactory results. Essentially you have a personal/portable TV that you can take anywhere in your home and watch. It also works anywhere that you have adequate wifi speed.
In the US you can also add a sports package that gets you the Tennis channel. They seem to televise a lot of the ATP 250 and 500 events plus the big ATP 1000 Clay events. ESPN appears to have the ATP Masters and the other US based ATP1000 USA events. What is really strange is that while Tennis Channel often has the TV coverage of the rest of the ATP 1000, ESPN3 has feeds with commentary for these events. Tennis channel does not do a good job on their sight of showing what they will cover throughout the year.
Tennis Channel also offers its own kind of ESPN3 experience with their own apps, etc. It costs $13 a month or $60 per year. It was great in the US for the first weekend of the French Open as it got you coverage that was only on the tennis channel. However, it is not the tennis channel and the Friday morning mens semi was only on the tennis channel. I recommend them for the Clay court season and suggest trying them the month of the French Open or earlier if you see the need. Sign up is online and quick, cancellation has to be done via phone (in June this was the case). I think ESPN is crowding them out, but they deserve our support. The feeds were all high def when I tried this through June and you could also see some clips and shows from the main Tennis Channel.
I can mention other means to watch Tennis, for example the Coric match tonight, but I'll hold back as I am not clear on the legality. These sites often have challenger events with a single high def camera which is pretty amazing. ATP events not on ESPN3 seem to have very low resolution.
So please add on tips and suggestions on how to watch tennis, including great sites for schedules, live match statistics, etc. This comes to mind as the Winston-Salem ATP site does not seem to put up order of play, draws etc., in a timely manner. Tennis is a great sport to watch in this modern age, let's make sure all of the Tennis Talk community has the opportunity to experience this wonder of the modern age.
In the USA, we have ESPN3 on the site watchespn (app on ios and android devices) which is fantastic high def. This week you can watch the main court at Winston. If you already have ESPN, your main tv provider should have provided you with an email and password. Install the app on ios or android (website on computer), log in, and you are good to go.
If you just have internet access without a tv package, you might have ESPN3 access (try the steps above.) This works for AT&T uverse internet which gives you ESPN3 access, but not for time warner cable as an example, which only gives you ESPN3 access if you have ESPN in your package.
If you just have internet access and the above does not work, there is a new sherrif in town; Sling TV. They've been offering a 7 day free trial which many might want to try for the US Open (I tried at the French). It gets you 20 basic channels (good ones) and ESPN and ESPN2 (not sure if available outside the USA). This also give you a login that gives you ESPN3 access. If you sign up for three months they currently have a promotion that gives you $50 off on a device to hook up to your TV (Roku hdmi stick comes out as free), so that is very attractive if you have enjoyed the 7 day trial and want to actually watch on your tv rather than a device.
I must say device watching on an IPAD is utterly fantastic given the stellar video quality and processing of the IPAD, but I am sure various Android pads would give very satisfactory results. Essentially you have a personal/portable TV that you can take anywhere in your home and watch. It also works anywhere that you have adequate wifi speed.
In the US you can also add a sports package that gets you the Tennis channel. They seem to televise a lot of the ATP 250 and 500 events plus the big ATP 1000 Clay events. ESPN appears to have the ATP Masters and the other US based ATP1000 USA events. What is really strange is that while Tennis Channel often has the TV coverage of the rest of the ATP 1000, ESPN3 has feeds with commentary for these events. Tennis channel does not do a good job on their sight of showing what they will cover throughout the year.
Tennis Channel also offers its own kind of ESPN3 experience with their own apps, etc. It costs $13 a month or $60 per year. It was great in the US for the first weekend of the French Open as it got you coverage that was only on the tennis channel. However, it is not the tennis channel and the Friday morning mens semi was only on the tennis channel. I recommend them for the Clay court season and suggest trying them the month of the French Open or earlier if you see the need. Sign up is online and quick, cancellation has to be done via phone (in June this was the case). I think ESPN is crowding them out, but they deserve our support. The feeds were all high def when I tried this through June and you could also see some clips and shows from the main Tennis Channel.
I can mention other means to watch Tennis, for example the Coric match tonight, but I'll hold back as I am not clear on the legality. These sites often have challenger events with a single high def camera which is pretty amazing. ATP events not on ESPN3 seem to have very low resolution.
So please add on tips and suggestions on how to watch tennis, including great sites for schedules, live match statistics, etc. This comes to mind as the Winston-Salem ATP site does not seem to put up order of play, draws etc., in a timely manner. Tennis is a great sport to watch in this modern age, let's make sure all of the Tennis Talk community has the opportunity to experience this wonder of the modern age.
