Automatically identifying reduced availability of multi-channel media distributors for authentication or authorization

An entitlement service 114 receives requests for media content 205 to be provided to user devices 106 and transmits the requests to a multi-channel media distributor 112 to authenticate users or confirm that authenticated users are authorized to receive the content. The entitlement service determines a success rate based on the transmitted requests, indicating whether the multi-channel distributor has failed to authenticate user credentials or content access. Based on the success rate, the entitlement service identifies a reduced availability of the authentication service and provides user devices with temporary access 206 to requested programmer content during the period or reduced availability. The temporary access may be revoked or continued 208 based on the authentication response 218 of the media distributor when it is available. Reduced availability may be detected when the success rate drops below a threshold. This is useful for managing high authentication demand when many users simultaneously remotely access streaming media subscriptions, for example at the start of live video streams of sporting events.