Signing into Roku apps not working

I am trying to sign into apps on my Roku (ESPN, FOX sports, etc.) so that I can watch the prime time games via the app. My Roku tv is not hooked up to my cable box. The cable box is at a different house. I do not have directv Stream. Every time I try to login via directv through each app, it just loads forever and doesn’t connect me. Am I doing something wrong or is getting the directv stream the only way to watch on those apps? I thought I could just sign in via my directv account and watch?