Use the Proper Sports Category
For the best possible viewing experience, we strongly recommend watching live sporting events from their corresponding Sports category inside the Mainstream app.
This is especially important during major sports seasons when many games may be broadcast simultaneously across different local networks.
Always Use the Dedicated Sports Categories
Mainstream provides dedicated categories for major sports, including:
NFL
NBA
MLB
NHL
WNBA
When a game is available inside one of these dedicated categories, please watch the game there instead of using the local FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, or other network affiliate carrying the same event.
The appropriate Sports category is designed to be the primary location for watching these games.
NFL Season – A Good Example
As we gear up for the NFL season, this becomes particularly important.
An NFL game may be broadcast on FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, or another network. The same Sunday afternoon games may also appear across numerous FOX and CBS local affiliates throughout the country.
Instead of searching through local channels for the game, simply go to the NFL category located near the top of your Mainstream Live TV categories.
If the game is available there, that is where it should be watched.
Why Do We Do This?
We dedicate resources and bandwidth specifically to our Sports categories during live events.
For example, imagine several NFL games airing on FOX at the same time.
Those games could potentially be accessed through hundreds of different FOX local affiliate channels. Trying to optimize resources across 200+ individual local FOX channels carrying various games is simply not resource-friendly.
Instead, Mainstream provides a shared, optimized NFL folder where viewers can access the games from a centralized location.
This allows us to focus available resources where they are needed most and provide a better experience for everyone watching the event.
This Applies to All Major Sports
The same rule applies throughout the year.
Watching an NFL game? Use the NFL category.
Watching an NBA game? Use the NBA category.
Watching an MLB game? Use the MLB category.
Watching an NHL game? Use the NHL category.
Watching a WNBA game? Use the WNBA category.
Even if you know the game is also being broadcast on a local television channel, the dedicated Sports category should always be your first choice when it is available.
What If the Game Is Also on a Local Channel?
Local network channels remain available for their normal programming. However, when a sporting event has a corresponding dedicated Mainstream Sports category, sports viewing should be done through that category whenever possible.
For example, if an NFL game is airing on your local FOX station:
Instead of:
Live TV → Local Channels → FOX → NFL Game
Please use:
Live TV → NFL → Select Your Game
This helps reduce unnecessary demand across hundreds of individual local network feeds while allowing us to concentrate resources on the dedicated Sports categories.
Having Trouble With a Game?
Before reporting an issue with a local FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, or other network channel carrying a sporting event, first check the corresponding Sports category.
If the game is available in the dedicated category, please watch it there.
If there is a problem with the game inside the dedicated Sports category, you can report it to us using the standard channel reporting format:
Channel: NFL – Cowboys vs. Eagles
Category: NFL
Issue: Buffering every 20–30 seconds
Please provide the actual game/channel name displayed in your Mainstream app whenever possible.
General reports such as “football is buffering,” “the game isn't working,” or “sports aren't working” do not provide enough information for us to locate and test the affected stream.
A Better Experience for Everyone
Dedicated Sports categories allow Mainstream to organize major sporting events in one convenient location while focusing resources and bandwidth on the streams being used for those events.
Rather than spreading those resources across hundreds of local affiliates carrying the same games, viewers can share the optimized Sports categories created specifically for live sports viewing.
Remember
NFL Game → NFL Category
NBA Game → NBA Category
MLB Game → MLB Category
NHL Game → NHL Category
WNBA Game → WNBA Category
For the best viewing experience, always check and use the corresponding Sports category first.
We appreciate everyone following these guidelines. It helps us better manage resources during high-demand sporting events and provide a more consistent viewing experience for the entire Mainstream community.
