NEW YORK » 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.Fans looking to watch the Rose Bowl on their tablets or computers got an error message during the first half instead of the WatchESPN stream.

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz says the network is sorry for the inconvenience. 

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

Incensed viewers sounded off on the issue on Twitter, where #watchespn began trending in the United States.

ESPN had promoted the playoffs on TV and online in an email during the first half.