The short version
Ten minutes before a big game, restart your box and router, connect the box by cable if you can, stop other streaming in the house, choose the HD feed instead of 4K, and favourite a backup feed of the same game. If streams stop exactly at puck drop, court-ordered blocking is the likely cause.
- Restart before the game, not during it
- Have a backup feed favourited
The checklist
- Restart the box and router 10 minutes before puck drop.
- Use Ethernet, or 5 GHz Wi-Fi with the router in the same room.
- Ask the house to pause other streams.
- Pick the HD feed; switch to 4K only if it holds.
- Favourite a second feed of the same game.
Why games, and not films?
Live sport is the busiest moment for every network, from your Wi-Fi to the stream source.
Questions people ask
Why does it work in the afternoon but not at night?
Evening peaks load every part of the network.
Does a VPN help?
Sometimes for routing; it adds cost and can slow things down.
Can you watch with me?
Our support answers during game nights until midnight ET.
See also
- Fix bufferingMost buffering comes from the home network, not the service: Wi-Fi far from the router, other streaming in the house, or a box that is short on memory.
- Site-blocking ordersCanadian ISPs block certain IP addresses while live NHL, NBA and Premier League games are on, under Federal Court orders.
- 4K IPTVCanada 4K IPTV carries 4K on selected channels, mostly sport and film.