Server problems named the culprit that shut down part of ESPN's streaming Rose Bowl coverage

What ESPN calls "a technical issue relating to servers" is the fancy term for what knocked out part of Thursday's streaming coverage of the Rose Bowl.

The problem left would-be viewers on tablets and computers seeing only an error message during the first hour or so of the WatchESPN stream of the season's first College Football Playoff game. Those gremlins persisted for a portion of the audience "a while longer," said ESPN spokesman Paul Melvin.

WatchESPN feeds video services on tablets, phones, computers and other streaming devices like console game systems.

On Friday, the network was reviewing its system. ESPN "will be working to prevent a recurrence in the future," Melvin said.

___

ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co.