Augmented broadcasts lead the way in new CFL, TSN and Genius Sports offerings

A good buddy of mine is going to be purchasing TSN+ for us to watch the augmented broadcast tonight. I will try it out and report back to you all.

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I miss the CFL on ESPN+. I could watch every game, anytime I wanted. Being in the states and on the east coast, it’s tough to try and watch a west coast Thursday night game. At least this year the game is available the next day. CFL+ is much better than it was last year, but still needs improving. First thing, make apps for Roku, AppleTV, Amazon TV, etc. so I don’t have to use AirPlay to watch the game on a TV instead of my phone.

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Yes CFL+ is much better than in the first year and still better than ESPN and paying for cable tiers and its general unreliability as well.

It sounds like you need to fix your TV to work better with CFL+ for streaming in general for everything else here in 2024.

But hey at least you don’t have to pay for a stupid DVR through your cable company.

I’m here in Philadelphia and perfectly happy with CFL+ versus paying Comcast and relying on crappy ESPN to put the games on the right channels instead of shifting games to “premium” tiers and that crap, for in the past they would also cut off coverage and sometimes not air games live too in that crappy deal the CFL did with ESPN.

CBS has been by far a more professional organization with which the CFL can work and be paid for the rights far more as well. Screw ESPN.

Here’s another thread where we post updates on CFL on TV in the US and on CFL+.

But it’s up to you to fix your TV to set it up for live streams, and also note that replays are often available on YouTube also for FREE.

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Yes no doubt, do better with the time for marketing and promotion on CFL+, CFL.

At least as you describe on CFL+, it’s better than in its first season, as I noted as linked below.

I’m good with the sound level being louder on the stream, simply hitting the mute button for the ads, for all too often on streams the sound level is considerably lower than on regular TV.

Low sound quality is more annoying than having too much sound and so much like streaming 2020 instead of 2024.

Buffering is also very rare on CFL+, unlike still a few streaming apps out there and not due to an interruption in one’s internet connection, which the bad apps often try to blame for their crappy performance.

Most apps out there are not worth even free.

There’s no way they are going to spend the money to make custom apps for every device when it’s the other way around more and more now.

Devices simply access video that is streaming DIRECTLY via the internet, with only a minimal subscription process at most and that are generally FREE.

As almost all streaming businesses are failing, this direct video has already been the case more and more in the streaming space instead of more of what most consumers do not want are and are not paying for any more, including ESPN+ (which otherwise is being rebranded anyway in 2025) and more apps.

People don’t need or want more paid streaming apps than already when the internet itself without a separate app on a device works just fine, so as you fix your devices to improve access to the internet stream, you will be okay because it’s free as well until perhaps the CFL simply moves the broadcast to a direct TV stream as have other content owners and even former cable channels.

Did somebody say FREE? Like CFL+ free?

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As the UFC learned the hard way back in 2018 when they were amongst the first to work with ESPN to offer content also on ESPN+, and as Comcast has not learned yet with its crappy Peacock app, a double paywall to access any given one league is a terrible business practice and surefire way to piss off consumers. ESPN+ is otherwise being rebranded in 2025.

This is a great enhanced offering via the CFL and Genius Sports in 2024 with implementation akin to 2018 that SUCKS.

It appears that TSN is simply trying to take a page from that same losing book simply in the interest to protect its traditional cable paywall, much as does Comcast (now offering crappy Peacock for less money than ever with a likely very late rebrand looming by 2026).

Rather than offer two paywalls to access one league’s content and also annoying people, offer ONE paywall for access on all modern screens with two or more options (i.e. as does Netflix and as does Paramount+ for CBS Sports content).

I like the annual prepaid deals, but only when I get most of what is otherwise on the entire network, not merely on the “plus” platform, because as is done by Disney / ESPN and Comcast / NBC down here, they have a common corrupt and coercive business practice of shifting content on and off the “plus” platform in the midst of your cable or streaming subscription.

Disney is going to rebrand ESPN+ in 2025 to offer it directly without the need for a cable intermediary.

Comcast is likely going to rebrand Peacock perhaps for 2026 after the smoke clears from the Olympics this summer, yet it’s no deal for me when they can still shift content between USA and Peacock to try to coerce you into getting two subscriptions when everything should be offered under ONE paywall via modern technology.

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There were many more ads last night on Friday Night Football on CFL+, so they are making more improvements.

CFL+ works great and is FREE, unlike many of those apps.

If you are stuck on ESPN or ESPN+, you are missing out for sure, so fix your TV and devices so you can watch on CFL+.

As for ESPN and ESPN+, they are being planned as a new direct service next year that will cost more than ever.

Nobody who watches the CFL for free wants that crap either along with all the other mostly crap on ESPN, unless you like perhaps what has NCAA Pro Football that ESPN has ruined in many regards as well.

It’s been over a year already, so no excuses don’t blame the CFL, it’s YOUR issue with your devices to fix or not for all your viewing without apps nowadays, which is increasing because very few want any more apps, subscriptions, loading the app every time you watch it, downloads of upgrades, et cetera when they can simply flip a channel or go to a website and watch for FREE.

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CFL included the Augmented broadcast for one of the plays in the highlight package.

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It seems on the augmented feed that they have the route running on the majority of snaps. Once in a while you’ll get names of the players, and seldomly do they use the QB timer after snap.

I personally would love to be able to choose which layers I want, since the route running one is actually the most distracting of the bunch.

An additional one that might be cool is kick trajectory. Would really show how different some kickers are.

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Am I able to watch these augmented streams with only TSN+ regardless whether I have a TSN tv package or not? Right now there’s a promo for TSN+ for $40 per year (ends July 2nd).

$40 per year to watch ALL CFL games via TSN+, especially if your big screen is set up with the app, sounds like a steal even without the augmented streams.

I’m interested to learn the answer to your question as well.

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Well, what happens to that Genius Sports now?

Will they be exiled, or will it be …MURDER!?

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