For many sports fans in the US, streaming services that air live matches online are a dream come true. I too am a sports fan, but every so often, I found myself blocked from watching important games, seemingly without any clear reason why. I eventually did some research and found out that it’s due to blackout restrictions. Blackout restrictions happen when a TV provider has the exclusive right to a match in the area you are living in. But wait, there’s more. While researching I found a way to circumvent the issue. Enter Virtual Private Networks.
Bypass Game Blackouts Using a VPN
Blackout restrictions occur when a major TV provider has the right to a game. This means that streaming services won’t be able to air it as it is being broadcasted on TV. If you live in that region and you’re a cord cutter, then that’s truly unfortunate for you. I’m using At Bat on Android and this is what I got: “We’re sorry. At Bat has determined that you are located inside one of the applicable Club’s home television territories and are therefore blacked out of watching the game you selected.”
In order to avoid this problem, a simple, virtual location switch is needed. And with a VPN, a location change is what you’ll get. You just have to connect to a server in a state where the game you desire is not exclusive to cable television. For example, if you wish to watch a match that’s blacked out in Chicago you could, for example, connect to a VPN server in New York. That way, you’ll spoof your online location and appear to be browsing from another city. Now, what was once banned is in your hands again with the help of a VPN.
Here’s how the process goes down:
- Sign up with a VPN provider, I prefer ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN application on Android, iOS, PC, or Mac.
- Sign in with your VPN account.
- Connect to a server where the game is not exclusively broadcasted on TV.
- Finally, watch your favorite matches without having to go through blackouts ever again.
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Streaming Channels Subjected to Blackouts
Check out the list of streaming platforms that undergo blackouts every now and then:
- NCAA College Football
- ESPN3
- Fox Sports Go
- NBC Sports
- UFC.TV
- NBA League Pass
- NHL.TV
- MLS
- MLB.TV
- NFL Game Pass
- Hulu Live TV
- FuboTV
- Sling TV
- DirecTV Now
- PS Vue
- YouTube TV
- At Bat
How to Bypass Blackout Restrictions – Parting Words
Now you know the ins and outs of overcoming blackout restrictions. All you have to do is apply what you’ve learned from this article and you’re good to go. No more blackouts imposed on your favorite matches. Now, all you cord cutters out there will see that the decision you made in trusting online streaming is the right one after all. So, with a VPN, you have nothing to fear from the internet.