Universal Sports

Universal Sports FAQ

LIVE (PREMIUM) VIDEO

Live (Premium) Video Questions? Please click here.

Why has Universal Sports Network made the transition from free over-the-air "multicast" service to cable, satellite and telco TV providers on a subscription basis?
Universal Sports Network had been offered as a free over-the-air "multicast" service that was distributed as a digital sub-channel of local stations in markets around the country since 2008. Sports content is expensive and in order to sustain our network long term, it is imperative that we switch to the business model of a cable, satellite and telco offering so we can continue to provide the world class programming our fans have been accustomed to.

Where can I find Universal Sports Network?
Universal Sports Network is currently only available on DIRECTV and several additional providers. We are presently in advanced negotiations with many other cable, satellite and telco television providers throughout the country and expect to confirm additional distribution soon. We will continue to provide the most current distribution information on our website, http://www.IWantUniversalSports.com, and on our Facebook page.

Please make your voice heard by calling 1-800-55-GET-US to speak with your TV provider and demand continued access to Universal Sports Network. You can also follow this link to fill out an online form: I Want Universal Sports.

I have access to NBC Sports Network. Isn’t that the same thing as Universal Sports?
NBC Sports Network is not the same as Universal Sports Network. Rather, NBC Sports Network was previously called Versus and was recently rebranded as NBC Sports Network. To have access to Olympic-related programming such as Alpine World Cup Skiing, cycling, Rugby 7’s and many other sports, you should call 1-800-55-GET-US and go to http://www.IWantUniversalSports.com to demand access to Universal Sports Network from your television provider.

Will I still have access to sporting events online at UniversalSports.com?
Viewers who have access to Universal Sports through their television provider will be able to view the events online, in addition to TV, upon entering their TV subscriber information (credentials). Those who do not have access to the network will still have the opportunity to watch Universal Sports events online through a subscription package.

How can I ensure that I will have access to Universal Sports Network in 2012?
Please make your voice heard by calling 1-800-55-GET-US to speak with your TV provider, demand access to Universal Sports Network. You can also follow this link to fill out an online form: I Want Universal Sports. Pass the phone number and link along to your friends, family and fellow sports fans to make sure that also they make their voices heard and continue to have access to Universal Sports Network!

OVERVIEW

Universal Sports is the official web site of the Universal Sports network. Universal Sports is available to everyone who can access the Internet and contains articles, video, photo galleries, press releases, statistical information and other important content about international, Olympic-style sports.

What is Universal Sports?

Universal Sports, formerly World Championship Sports Network (WCSN), a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic and lifestyle sports programming. The Universal Sports Television Network and UniversalSports.com deliver an immersive experience via exclusive live and on-demand coverage of world-class competitions, interaction with top athletes and in-depth access to sports news and information year round.

REGISTERING

How do I Signup and enroll?

For some premium content, you will need to create a username and password. You may also be required to provide your name, address, phone number, email address and credit card information to access certain pay-per-view events. Some content may be provided free of charge, such as news coverage of major sporting events.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT 

How do I contact customer support?

Both technical and customer support for Universal Sports can be obtained via email. Please submit your comments, problems or suggestions directly to Customer Support.

UNIVERSAL SPORTS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Universal Sports live programming and archived video can only be utilized through a high-speed Internet connection of 300kbps, such as cable, DSL, or satellite. If your connection to the Internet is by dial-up modem or is slower than a DSL connection you will not be able to watch Universal Sports media. A DSL, cable modem or other high speed connection is required.

In addition to having a high-speed Internet connection, your computer should meet or exceed the following recommended system requirements:

System
Pentium class system running at 600 Mhz or better.

Internet Browser
You must have Internet Explorer Version 6 or Firefox Version 2.0 or higher to access the content in Universal Sports.

Screen resolution
To effectively use the pages on the Universal Sports, your screen resolution should be set at 800 x 600 pixels or higher. The minimum recommended screen resolution is 1024x768 pixels. If you can see the entire width of the site without scrolling horizontally, your resolution is set appropriately. If not, please adjust the resolution setting on your computer.

Macromedia Flash
Some important elements of the site utilize Macromedia's Flash software, version 6.0 or higher. If you do not have at least Flash 6 you will be unable to effectively navigate the site. (Fortunately, it comes pre-installed in nearly all late-model browsers.)

Microsoft Silverlight
Some important elements of the site utilize Microsoft's Silverlight software, version 3.0 or higher. If you do not have at least Silverlight 3.0, you will be unable to effectively navigate the site.

Audio Capability
In order to hear the audio components of our films and animations, your computer must be equipped with a 16-bit or better sound card and speakers

Modem
For live events you must have a Docsis compliant modem to receive the Multicast from Universal Sports. NOTE: The MOTOROLA :CYBERSURFER is not a Docsis compliant modem, and at this time will not receive the multicast.

Routers
At this time you may have difficulties accessing all of Universal Sports's content. Specifically "Live Multicasts", You may have to consult your router manufacturer for support receiving multicasting. Or as an alternitive you can connect the Cable modem to a single PC.

Firewalls
Some types of firewalls may prevent viewing live events on Universal Sports. Please consult the Firewall manufacturer or Documentation for specific instructions on how to configure your firewall to allow multicast information through.

SITE SUPPORT

Why do I have to login to watch some video?

Some premium content, such as pay-per-view events, require users to register and login to view the content. You need to login by selecting the LOGIN link in the site header. Once you have logged in there, you won't have to enter your login id and password every time you try to watch a video.

When I receive newsletter, I get a message saying that an error has occurred with the script on this page

If you are using Outlook Express for your email client the first thing to do is to visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and get any critical updates, service packs, and recommended updates. The next thing to do is make sure you have the most up to date Windows Script. You can download it at Windows Script. There will be two English downloads at the top, make sure you download and install the correct one for your operating system.

When I click in the Introduction link, it tries to load for a really long time and only about 1/3 of the page actually loads

The introduction link will take you to an interactive page that uses Macromedia Flash 6. You need to have it installed if you want to see the large image. To get the Flash player, go to Macromedia Flash.

The video doesn't look very good:

When viewing video, you can select the speed at which the video will be accessed from your computer. Depending on the high-speed Internet provider, lower speeds may need to be utilized.

I cannot view the content:

  • There may be an error with your browser. Try closing the browser, reopening it, and accessing it again.
  • Your Internet Service Provider may be experiencing problems with their service. If you cannot view other pages, and if the problem persists, you should contact your Internet Service Provider.
  • If you experience any further problems, please contact Customer Support

I'm running Netscape and your site loads very slow

Older versions of Netscape do not handle a lot of the newer web technologies very well. Netscape 4.x versions have issues with style sheets for one thing. The site will not run on Netscape version 4.51. Other versions of Netscape in the 4.x series should run the site, but it will most likely be very slow. You can fix this by upgrading your Netscape browser to something more current, Netscape 6 or 7.

ACCOUNT SUPPORT

I cannot sign in:

Please verify your username and password. Make sure that your CAPS Lock key is not selected. You can email your password by selecting the Can't access your account? link from the LOGIN page. If you have further problems signing in, please visit our Customer Support page and submit your issue to us. Someone from our Member Services team will contact you via email as quickly as possible.

How can I change my password?

To update account information such as contact or login information, make sure you are logged into your account and then select the link represented as your Displayname in the site header to access your Profile. You can change your password on the MY LOGIN page.

I forgot my password

You can email your password by selecting the Can't access your account? link from the LOGIN page.

I accidentally typed my email address wrong when registering or I've changed email addresses since I created my account

As of right now there is no way to change your email address so you will need to use the email address that you signed up with.

I can't login in anymore

Your account may have been locked due to too many failed login attempts. please visit our Customer Support page and submit your issue to us. Someone from our Member Services team will contact you via email as quickly as possible.

How do I update my account?

To update account information such as contact or login information, make sure you are logged into your account and then select the link represented as your Displayname in the site header to access your Profile. Select the MY LOGIN link to edit your login information or to change your password. Select the MY BILLING ADDRESS link to edit your billing address. Select the MY ALERTS link to manage the alerts you've signed up for

WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER

I cannot get the audio to play

Check the following knowledge base articles from Microsoft for possible solutions:

  • Windows Media Player Cannot Play Back the Audio Stream
  • Windows Media Player May Not Play Audio Files from Web Server If Third-Party Players Are Installed

    I cannot get the videos to play

    Make sure you are up to date with the critical and driver updates from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

    There can be an issue if you have both the Java VM and the Microsoft VM installed. In Internet Explorer go to Tools -> Internet Options and click the Advanced tab. Scroll down about half way and look for the heading "Microsoft VM" and make sure the "JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled" option is checked. You will have to restart your computer for the change to take effect.

    To check for the Java VM, go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. Look for a program called "Java Plug-in 1.x.x". If there, open it up and make sure the "Enable Java Plug-in" is unchecked. You will have to restart your computer for the change to take effect.

    Or you can enable the Java VM and disable the Microsoft VM, whichever you prefer.

    Check the following knowledge base articles from Microsoft for possible solutions:

  • Could Not Connect to a Multicast Channel
  • Unable to Access the Network
  • Cannot Stream Media in Windows Media Player for Windows XP
  • Windows XP Internet Programs Cannot Connect to the Internet Through Broadband Connection


    For Windows Media Player 8
    Try the following, open up Windows Media Player from the Start Menu On the menu, go to Tools ' Options You should automatically be on the "Player" tab, if not click it so that you are. At the very bottom click the option "Add items to Media Library when played" It will then allow you to click the option below it "Include items from removable media", click that as well.

    I can play the daily videos but none of the videos from the live events

    There are a few things to check. First, make sure that Windows Media Player is set to allow Multicast streams.

    Open Windows Media Player from the Start Menu
    On the menu go to Tools -> Options
    Click on the "Network" tab
    Make sure there is a check next to "Multicast"
    Click the "OK" button to save the changes.

    If you are running Windows XP, try disabling the Windows XP firewall

    Open the Control Panel from the Start Menu
    Click on Network and Internet Connections
    Click on Network Connections
    Right click your Internet connection in the window and click "Properties"
    Click on the "Advanced" tab
    Make sure that the Internet Connecion Firewall is unchecked

    Modems, Routers, and Firewalls
    For multicast content you will need a Docsis compliant modem. Some firewalls and routers may prevent viewing live events on Universal Sports. You may have to consult your vendor for support on receiving multicast data. As an alternitive you can connect the Cable modem to a single PC to bybass external firewall configurations.

    The video and audio are out of sync

    This might be a sound card or driver issue. Check for sound card driver updates from your vendor and from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Download the latest DirectX from Windows Update as well.

    When media player opens it just shows a little white square with a red "X"

    This means that media player can't properly load the media. It could be that media player has lost it's associations to another program such as Quicktime, WinAmp or Real Player. To restore the associations:

    For Windows Media Player 8
    Open up Windows Media Player from the Start Menu
    On the menu, go to Tools -> Options
    Click on the "File Types" tab
    Make sure there is a check next to "Windows Media file", "Windows Media audio file", and "Windows Media audio/video file"
    Click the "OK" button to save the changes.

    For Windows Media Player 7
    Open Windows Media Player from the Start Menu
    On the menu go to Tools -> Options
    Select "Options" and click on the "Formats" tab.
    In the "Available File Formats" section, make sure that at least the "Windows Media file", "Windows Media audio file", and "Windows Media audio/video file" check boxes are selected.
    Press the "Ok" button, close out of Media Player and any browsers you have open.

    LIVE/ON-DEMAND BROADCAST DIFFICULTIES

    I have an Apple computer. Are your services compatible with OS X? Our service has been tested with the latest versions of Safari and Firefox for OS X. You will need to install Windows Media Player 9 for OS X. Please see the link below for download.

    Windows Media Player 9 for OS X is located at the link below: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/mac/mp9/default.aspx?DB_OEM_ID=23000

    When I select a live/On-Demand broadcast the media player say transitioning and never plays. Are there technical difficulties with the broadcast?

    This issue is with your Windows Media Player settings. Close any open web browsers and open Windows Media Player. In Windows Media Player, choose Tools from the top menu. If you can not see the top menu, press the Alt key on your keyboard. This will highlight the word File and will show the other categories. Once you click on Tools, click on Options. From here, click on the network tab. You will then see four options that are checked off. When you are on this screen, please uncheck UDP. After that, click Apply and then click OK.

    I can view broadcasts when they are On-Demand but I cannot view live broadcasts. Do I need additional software/plug-in for live broadcast?

    This is normally associated with a router/firewall. Please check our FAQ about routers/firewalls.

    I have a router/firewall. Will that cause problems with broadcasts?

    If you have a router/firewall then this would also need to be configured to allow multicasting. Another option would be to disable the firewall for the event and then enabled once the event is over. For assistance with configuration please consult the manufacturer of your router/firewall.

    I cannot view any broadcast. The media player never loads the control options such as play/pause, stop, and volume control.

    Do you have any kind of security software installed on your computer such as McAfee, Norton, or Zone Alarm? If so please try to disable the software. If you are not sure if you have any of that software then you can check by clicking on Start and going to the control panel. Look for add/remove programs. This will give you a list of software installed on your computer. Some security software can block Active X or Flash controls that our site requires. Please try to disable the software. If you do not want to disable the software for security purposes, please check the configuration. For assistance with configuration please consult the software manufacturer.

    GENERAL QUESTIONS

    Can I share my username and password with someone else?

    Universal Sports is a single-user membership product. Sharing your username is not permitted. Sharing your username with another person allows that person access to your credit card information as well.

    Is my privacy protected on Universal Sports?

    Your privacy is important to us. We provide a detailed notice explaining our online information practices. For more information, visit our privacy guidelines included in the terms and conditions.

    Can I link my site to Universal Sports?

    Yes, you are allowed to link to Universal Sports. However, unless you have our written permission, you must link to the main page rather than a specific page inside the site. If your site is frame-based, we require that Universal Sports opens in a new frame rather than in a frame on your site.

    Can Universal Sports link to my site? We occasionally form partnerships to link to related sports entity sites. Contact our business development department for more information.

    I sent a support request and did not get a response?

    While we try to respond to every support request that comes in through this site, there are several reasons as to why you may not have gotten a response. You may have typed the incorrect address in the reply-to category, or the e-mail may have been sent to the incorrect address. We will not respond to any emails that include foul or abusive language. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about our web site, please contact us here.

    I'd like to see something on Universal Sports that is not on the site, where do I send my input?

    We value your input and would like to hear from you! We've created a place for you to tell us what you like and don't like about Universal Sports. Please click here to give us your input. Additionally, we plan to continuously conduct surveys and polls on the site that will be very helpful to us as we continue to make the site a better experience for our fans.

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