Online viewers have blackout restrictions when watching MLB, NBA, MLS, NHL, NFL, and other major league sports in North America on ESPN. These limitations prevent you from watching your favorite local teams live online.
Stop NFL Game Blackouts
ESPN stated that regional blackouts are in place to protect the rights of the principal rights holders. ESPN cannot stream in-market matches on its broadcast network because another party—typically a TV station or local cable provider—has purchased exclusive broadcast rights for local consumers. This not only has an impact on home games but also on away games for local teams.
To get around this restriction, use a VPN service. Setting the server location is fairly simple, and connect to a US IP takes only a few seconds. By using a secure VPN, you can protect your online activity and mask your location. Never set yourself back!
Here’s How to Get Around Erroneous Blackout Restrictions
While the MLB’s broadcasting mess may have garnered more notice over time, geo-blocking broadcast concerns have also plagued the NFL and NBA. Fans of hockey, who appear to have some of the trickiest blackout schedules to handle, have also experienced blackouts.
Select the best VPN for streaming sports
Answering three questions will allow you to choose the VPN that best suits your sports streaming preferences. Which gadget am I most likely to use to watch a game first? Do I intend to broadcast games worldwide, second? Are quick speeds important to me, too?
Given all the factors above, ExpressVPN is now our Editors’ Choice because of various features that most sports streamers will find helpful. The VPN has excellent platform compatibility, including support for a wide range of streaming devices and smart TVs.
You may find workable IP addresses in more areas thanks to its impressive fleet of 3,00+ servers, dispersed over 160 sites in 94 countries. This is more than most VPNs provide.
And to top it all off, ExpressVPN has among the best-measured speeds. No matter how good your home internet connection is, it helps protect your connection from unforeseen dropouts and disruptions using its unique Light way encryption protocol.
It is useful for data-intensive operations like live, and high-definition streaming because of both of these aspects because every second of slow-motion is crucial.
Keep those factors in mind as you browse the various VPNs. We suggest device compatibility, a sizable network guaranteeing a usable IP address, and a high-speed rating for lag-free streaming.
Install a VPN and join a server that is currently hosting the game
The rest is simple once you’ve chosen a VPN that suits your needs and signed up for service. The VPN apps for every service on our list of suggested providers can be easily downloaded from the service’s websites. Additionally, any VPN that wants our endorsement must offer its users accessible and courteous customer support.
Using a remote is almost always less handy than a quick mouse click or phone tap, so installing a VPN on your smart TV can often feel a little more difficult.
Sign in to your streaming account after connecting to a server
You must launch the VPN app and select the city where your game is available after downloading and installing the VPN on your viewing device. Simple.
After that, log into your paid-for sports streaming account as usual. You should have no difficulties watching the game as you typically would after that.
Quick Fixes For Frequent Issues
You signed into your account, selected your city inside the VPN app, and installed a VPN, but you still receive a blackout message.
- If you have a VPN installed on a smart TV, thoroughly sign out of the sports streaming service before closing all open apps and restarting the TV. The first thing you should do after turning the TV back on is launch your VPN app and choose the desired city. This makes it possible for your VPN to transmit your IP address to your paid sports streaming provider. Try signing in to your streaming service now.
- If you’ve set up a VPN on your laptop, tablet, or phone, you should sign out of any current streaming accounts, close all open browser windows, and disable any GPS location services. After that, reopen your browser and empty the cache and cookies.
After closing your browser and restarting your device fully, launch your VPN and connect to the appropriate city before launching any other apps. You can sign into your streaming provider using your browser or other apps.
Having problems now? Contact customer service without holding back. Seriously. Any VPN is frequently used for this purpose. Nothing is more exciting than having a pro assist swiftly in fixing a midgame streaming issue if you are paying for a premium service with 24/7 customer support.
NFL Sunday Ticket and Game Pass Subscribers have Blackout games
Yes, there may be game blackouts for NFL Sunday Ticket users. There are some games you cannot view if you have a DirecTV subscription if they are played in your location.
If ESPN and TNT have obtained the broadcasting rights to the game you wish to watch, you may encounter game blackouts in other situations. A game might be blacked out in its local market if it doesn’t sell out 72 hours before kickoff.
Conclusion
We talked about the NFL Gaming Blackouts in this article and offered some potential solutions that we may use to help consumers get around the limitations. A VPN would always be the best and most suitable option for this restriction.