ESPN3 ESPN3 ( formerly ESPN360 and ESPN3 . com ) is an online streaming service provided by ESPN Inc . that delivers both live streams and replays of global sports events to sports fans in North America , Australia , Brazil , Chile , Middle East , New Zealand , and Europe ( except Italy ) . History . ESPN3 began in 2005 as ESPN360 . com , as a mostly on - demand video website . In September 2007 , ESPN360 . com shifted away from on - demand content like studio shows and moved toward placing " emphasis on live events " . On April 4 , 2010 ESPN360 . com re - launched as ESPN3 . com . On August 31 , 2011 , the network became simply known as ESPN3 . As part of the rebranding , ESPN3 . com redirected to WatchESPN , formerly ESPN Networks , and alongside with simulcasts of ESPN , ESPN2 , ESPNU , ESPN Goal Line , and ESPN Buzzer Beater . ESPN3 is now only accessible though the WatchESPN platform unlike ESPN Inc . ' s other traditional cable / satellite channels . Beginning in August 2012 , ESPN began adding further restrictions to the ESPN3 service ; programming that airs live on ESPN , ESPN2 or ESPNU in evenings , or from noon local time onward on weekends , can no longer be seen live on ESPN3 without the expanded service from a WatchESPN affiliate . Description . ESPN3 features live online sports viewing from a broad array of global events including ( but not limited to ) : FIFA World Cup events and global qualifiers , Bundesliga , Premier League , and other major international football leagues , DFB - Pokal , high school football , NCAA college football , Canadian Football League , NCAA college basketball ( both men ' s and women ' s ) , NBA and WNBA basketball , MLB and NCAA baseball , Kontinental Hockey League ice hockey , all four " grand slam " tennis events , major golf championships , cricket , Major League and NCAA Lacrosse ( as well as the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League , via TSN ) , and in 2011 ESPN3 has been one of the few sources to view live American Le Mans Series races . Many of the games are simulcast from ESPN and ESPN2 , while others are exclusive U . S . broadcasts such as various NCAA College Football games . ESPN3 also features exclusive special features , such as additional coverage of non - TV courts at all four Tennis Grand Slams . In 2011 it was announced that ESPN3 acquired exclusive rights to the American Le Mans series . On November 1 , 2010 , ESPN3 launched on Xbox Live . This service allows Xbox Live Gold members to access live sporting events on ESPN3 , among other offerings , at no additional cost . Criticism . Some ISPs have complained to the FCC that ESPN3 violates the principles of network neutrality . ESPN3 bundles its content into the fees of the participating ISP , regardless of whether or not users partake in accessing its content . If a particular ISP does not pay subscription fees to ESPN , users of that ISP are blocked from accessing ESPN3 . There is no way for individual users to overcome these access restrictions as ESPN3 does not provide subscription options for individual users or any other non - ISP entities . Availability . In the U . S . , the network is available to individuals who receive their high - speed Internet connection or cable TV subscription from an affiliated service provider . Since 2008 , ESPN3 has also been available to approximately 21 million U . S . college students and U . S . - based military personnel via computers with college / university ( . edu ) and U . S . military ( . mil ) IP addresses . ESPN3 is only available to Internet providers who pay fees to ESPN . ESPN3 is not carried by traditional cable and satellite providers , as it is not a single channel but can be streaming multiple live events at the same time ; however , ESPN includes a listing for a linear " ESPN3 " channel ( which only includes one event at a time ) in its TV listings .