Inexpensive way to stream Celtics Games?

[KG Living Legend]

 TP for any suggestions. I don't want to get league pass unless I have to. Who can recommend a good service.

[jackson_34]

Unfortunately there is no legal way around watching celtics games without a league pass of some sort. A while back I remember there were team-specific subscriptions offered by the NBA which may be more affordable, however I don't know if these still exist.

IMHO, League Pass is well worth the price of subscription.

[Kiorrik]

There are no free, legal ways to stream games, so I'd recommend a pub.

Apart from that, not much.

This forum is not where you will get your answer, because we don't allow posting of links to illegal sources. Very sorry.

[LarBrd33]

Well there's ways to illegally "stream nba" games free with a simple google search.  The quality will be spotty, you'll probably have to deal with lots of xxx pop-ups and there's a risk of getting some malware on your computer. 

Side tangent:  I'd like to ask a kind of stupid question and maybe someone can fill me in.   I live in Seattle.  If I lived in the right region, I could watch Celtics games for free via Comcast Sportsnet, right?  Don't they make their money off commercials?  If I was able to somehow stream comcast sportsnet via the internet... why should that be illegal?  If I'm still getting all the commercials, how does it negatively impact them?  I understand that's a stupid question... but from Comcast Sportsnet's perspective and the companies running commercials, why would they care if I watch the game live in Boston on a TV or live in Seattle via the internet?   How does it hurt them?  I guess the ones it would "hurt" is the NBA... who makes money off folks like me selling them NBA League Pass. 

I guess some people could also use some kind of slingbox device if they had friends in the Boston area.   That's pretty silly, though.

Ok so let's not steal games via streaming...  if you want to play in a grey area, I'll explain what I do.

My dad and I are hardcore Celtic fans and watch pretty much every game.  He bought NBA League Pass via his Comcast cable subscription.  He watches the games on his TV via his cable box.  I usually watch the games at his place.  We probably watch 80% of the games together.  I split the cost with him.   

Buying NBA League Pass also gave him access to NBA League Pass Broadband... that's where we enter the grey area.  There's been times where I've been hung up at work and I've watched the games from my computer by myself.  I've watched them via an ipad, iphone and laptop while on business trips. 

This year I bought a Roku device (which is awesome) for streaming HBO Go, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc to my television.  I was happy to see that an NBA Game Time app was available.  I have it linked to the same League Pass account and have had my dad over a couple times to watch a couple games at my place.  It works rather well.  I noticed that on pretty much every game it gives you the option to watch either the home telecast or away telecast... which is actually better than League Pass via cable where it often only gives you one option.  I have a couple tiny gripes with how it works on the Roku, but for the most part it's really solid.

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku.  #1 - the streaming quality on the PS3 seems to be HD.   That's probably the biggest surprise I've found this season.  One of my major problems over the past several years of watching League Pass via Comcast TV was that not all of the games are broadcast in HD.  It drives me nuts.  They have been slowly adding more and more HD broadcasts, but often you were stuck watching the telecast for the bad guys and it wasn't even in freaking high def.   I was thrilled to notice that the PS3 is letting me stream  either the home or away team's telecast and either way it's coming through in what appears to be high def.   Awesome.

So in short... get league pass.  So far, I highly recommend streaming league pass broadband via either the Roku or PS3.  You could consider getting into a grey area and splitting the cost with a family member/friend.   Just a thought.

[Mike]

Side tangent:  I'd like to ask a kind of stupid question and maybe someone can fill me in.   I live in Seattle.  If I lived in the right region, I could watch Celtics games for free via Comcast Sportsnet, right?  Don't they make their money off commercials?  If I was able to somehow stream comcast sportsnet via the internet... why should that be illegal?  If I'm still getting all the commercials, how does it negatively impact them?  I understand that's a stupid question... but from Comcast Sportsnet's perspective and the companies running commercials, why would they care if I watch the game live in Boston on a TV or live in Seattle via the internet?   How does it hurt them?  I guess the ones it would "hurt" is the NBA... who makes money off folks like me selling them NBA League Pass. 
 

Not an expert here, but I believe Comcast and other cable networks have contracts with cable providers that net them a small percentage or fixed amount of consumers' cable subscription fee.  Also, I would imagine that if you are streaming illegally, you are not counted towards ratings, and the higher the ratings, the more money they can demand to advertise on their network.

[LarBrd33]

Side tangent:  I'd like to ask a kind of stupid question and maybe someone can fill me in.   I live in Seattle.  If I lived in the right region, I could watch Celtics games for free via Comcast Sportsnet, right?  Don't they make their money off commercials?  If I was able to somehow stream comcast sportsnet via the internet... why should that be illegal?  If I'm still getting all the commercials, how does it negatively impact them?  I understand that's a stupid question... but from Comcast Sportsnet's perspective and the companies running commercials, why would they care if I watch the game live in Boston on a TV or live in Seattle via the internet?   How does it hurt them?  I guess the ones it would "hurt" is the NBA... who makes money off folks like me selling them NBA League Pass. 
 

Not an expert here, but I believe Comcast and other cable networks have contracts with cable providers that net them a small percentage or fixed amount of consumers' cable subscription fee.  Also, I would imagine that if you are streaming illegally, you are not counted towards ratings, and the higher the ratings, the more money they can demand to advertise on their network.

Good call on ratings.  Good point. 

[jarufu]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

[LarBrd33]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

Yeah the PS3 is working great for me.  I seem to always have an option for watching the Boston broadcast and it seems to always come through in HD.  Also I never have to worry about DVR'ing games or anything...  If you go into the application settings, you can select an option to "hide scores"... so you don't have anything spoiled if you start watching the game after it's finished. 

I know a lot of people on this forum are fans of the illegal free streaming sites, but really League Pass Broadband is pretty terrific at this point and worth the cost in my opinion.  Being able to watch games via the TV (on roku or ps3), my ipad, my iphone, my pc, my macbook, etc... It's pretty great.  And if you insist on ripping off the NBA, you can probably share your broadband account with a friend and split the cost.

[BleedGreen1989]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

Yeah the PS3 is working great for me.  I seem to always have an option for watching the Boston broadcast and it seems to always come through in HD.  Also I never have to worry about DVR'ing games or anything...  If you go into the application settings, you can select an option to "hide scores"... so you don't have anything spoiled if you start watching the game after it's finished. 

I know a lot of people on this forum are fans of the illegal free streaming sites, but really League Pass Broadband is pretty terrific at this point and worth the cost in my opinion.  Being able to watch games via the TV (on roku or ps3), my ipad, my iphone, my pc, my macbook, etc... It's pretty great.  And if you insist on ripping off the NBA, you can probably share your broadband account with a friend and split the cost.

How much is the app for PS?

[Phil125]

For me in Pennsylvania league pass is a joke.  More than 50% of Celtic games were blacked out for me. 

[nandy16]

Live Streaming is becoming more and more popular and should eventually happen for All TV channels as long as you subscribe.

Here is a good article about NBA Streaming coming soon

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/10/21/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NBA-streaming.aspx

[D.o.s.]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

Yeah the PS3 is working great for me.  I seem to always have an option for watching the Boston broadcast and it seems to always come through in HD.  Also I never have to worry about DVR'ing games or anything...  If you go into the application settings, you can select an option to "hide scores"... so you don't have anything spoiled if you start watching the game after it's finished. 

I know a lot of people on this forum are fans of the illegal free streaming sites, but really League Pass Broadband is pretty terrific at this point and worth the cost in my opinion.  Being able to watch games via the TV (on roku or ps3), my ipad, my iphone, my pc, my macbook, etc... It's pretty great.  And if you insist on ripping off the NBA, you can probably share your broadband account with a friend and split the cost.

one friend?

We split League Pass between, like, seven.

[NJCeltsFan]

I live in NJ and use Slingbox to stream games from a cable box in Massachusetts. Of course, you have to have access to someone with a cable box and Comcast. Not always easy. But works great for me. And I get to hear Mike and Tommy!

[LarBrd33]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

Yeah the PS3 is working great for me.  I seem to always have an option for watching the Boston broadcast and it seems to always come through in HD.  Also I never have to worry about DVR'ing games or anything...  If you go into the application settings, you can select an option to "hide scores"... so you don't have anything spoiled if you start watching the game after it's finished. 

I know a lot of people on this forum are fans of the illegal free streaming sites, but really League Pass Broadband is pretty terrific at this point and worth the cost in my opinion.  Being able to watch games via the TV (on roku or ps3), my ipad, my iphone, my pc, my macbook, etc... It's pretty great.  And if you insist on ripping off the NBA, you can probably share your broadband account with a friend and split the cost.

one friend?

We split League Pass between, like, seven.

There is no limit to the amount of devices you can stream at once?

[LarBrd33]

Yesterday, I was surprised to notice that the PS3 ALSO has an NBA Game Time app (new this year) and it's working even better than the Roku. 

Mr LB33 .. you have made my day. I didn't know this!  This makes it so much easier to watch games on my TV now.  I hope it works for International LP too ..

Thank you.

Yeah the PS3 is working great for me.  I seem to always have an option for watching the Boston broadcast and it seems to always come through in HD.  Also I never have to worry about DVR'ing games or anything...  If you go into the application settings, you can select an option to "hide scores"... so you don't have anything spoiled if you start watching the game after it's finished. 

I know a lot of people on this forum are fans of the illegal free streaming sites, but really League Pass Broadband is pretty terrific at this point and worth the cost in my opinion.  Being able to watch games via the TV (on roku or ps3), my ipad, my iphone, my pc, my macbook, etc... It's pretty great.  And if you insist on ripping off the NBA, you can probably share your broadband account with a friend and split the cost.

How much is the app for PS?

PS3 app is free... you still need an NBA League Pass Broadband account to stream the games, but the app itself doesn't cost anything.