By R.L. Bynum
Finding UNC’s season opener against TCU was simple — it aired on ESPN. Saturday’s matchup in Charlotte? That’s trickier.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with Chuckie Kemph, Tom Luginbill and Marilyn Payne on the call of the television broadcast, but the game won’t be on traditional TV. Instead, it’s streaming exclusively on ESPN+.
Wait! What is ESPN+?
ESPN+ is a premium streaming service that delivers live sports, original programming and on-demand content. It’s not the same as ESPN3 or the ESPN app streams that cable, satellite, and YouTube TV subscribers often get with their packages, which allow you to watch many UNC teams, many on ACC Network Extra.
How do you get ESPN+?
As of Aug. 21, ESPN revamped its subscriptions:
- ESPN Select Plan, which is $12 per month or $120 per year (rounded off by a penny). This is the rebranded ESPN+ and gives you access to ESPN+ content but not the ESPN TV channels.
- ESPN Unlimited Plan, which is $30 per month or $300 per year (again, rounded off by a penny). This includes ESPN’s linear channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network and ESPN on ABC), plus ESPN+, ESPN3, and the “+” versions of SEC and ACC networks.
Bonus: You can bundle the Unlimited Plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $30/month for the first year.
If you already subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, Spectrum or DirecTV streaming, you may already have ESPN Unlimited built in. DirecTV satellite customers are expected to gain access later this year.
How do you watch the game?
- ESPN app on your phone, tablet or smart TV
- Web browser — Log in to espn3.com.
- Streaming devices — Download the ESPN app via Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or your device’s app store.
- Casting/HDMI — Use Chromecast, AirPlay or an HDMI cable to send it from your laptop or mobile device to your TV.
In short, you’ll likely need a subscription and probably a little tech juggling.
If you can’t get a ticket to the game or figure out how to stream it, you can listen to the Tar Heel Sports Network broadcast of the game with Jones Angell, Bryn Renner and Lee Pace.
If all this sounds like a lot of trouble to watch one game, you’re right. But relief is on the way a week later: UNC’s Sept. 13 home game against Richmond will air on the ACC Network, back on traditional cable and streaming packages.
Photo by Smith Hardy
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