Sports blackouts can prevent you from watching your team dominate the competition. Not only that, if you’re traveling it could be difficult to access the streaming services you usually use to view events due to licensing and distribution laws. Read on to learn how a VPN can help you avoid sports blackouts and other annoyances that can prevent you from watching the big game.
What Is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a cybersecurity tool that reroutes your internet connection when you connect to one of its servers. Pick a server in any country you choose and you’ll receive a new IP address for that region. This helps you maintain access to local accounts when you travel, study, or work outside your country. A VPN even encrypts your traffic and hides your location, to increase data security and privacy.
How a VPN Can Help You Watch Sports
Sporting events are subject to licensing and distribution laws like movies. Whoever holds the rights to air specific sporting events can choose to blackout events. For this reason, broadcasters and program distributors (e.g. NBC and DirecTV) can work together to blackout events. Fortunately, a VPN can help you avoid restrictions and watch the Super Bowl, World Series, and other sporting events anywhere you go.
1. Avoid Blackouts
Blackouts are put in place due to poor ticket sales, licensing issues, distribution restrictions, and other reasons. The NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL are all subject to blackouts from time to time. This means certain sporting events may not be available in your area. A VPN gives you an entirely new IP address when you connect to one of its servers. Just choose a server in an area where the sporting event is available, connect, and open the streaming service or website the event is airing on to enjoy the game.
2. Prevent ISP Throttling
ISPs may throttle your speeds during activities like streaming and gaming that require extra bandwidth, which means you could be disrupted by a buffering wheel in the middle of the big game. When you use a VPN your online activity is masked with strong encryption. That way, your ISP won’t be able to monitor your traffic and slow your speeds based on what you do online.
3. Stream Sports Anywhere
Some of the streaming services you pay for each month and YouTube channels you subscribe to aren’t available outside your country. This means you could miss out on that double-header — unless you use a VPN. Connect to a VPN server in your home country to access your accounts and websites as you regularly would.
How to Watch Sports with a VPN
Watching sporting events on ESPN+, NBC, TSN, and other services can be difficult if you travel, work, or study outside your country of residence. Some sporting events are also blacked out even if the broadcast network is available in your area. Sporting events are subject to licensing and distribution laws. VPNs can help you view blacked-out events and use your favorite sports apps and services anywhere you go.
Step 1: Download and install PIA VPN on your device. Right now you can get PIA for $2.11 a month plus three months free (82% off).
Step 2: Connect to a server in the region you want to watch sports.
Step 3: Open the sports site or app and stream the game!
Choose the Right VPN for Streaming Sports
Only a VPN with strong security and privacy features can help you avoid sports blackouts and getting locked out of your streaming accounts. Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the fastest VPNs for streaming sports in 2023. PIA’s servers run on 10-Gbps network cards, so you can watch the game buffer-free in HD.
Stream sports anywhere in the world. PIA has servers in 84 countries, for instant access to sports anytime. It offers two forms of strong encryption to mask your online traffic, 128-bit AES for faster speeds or military-grade 256-bit AES for accessing sensitive accounts. The VPN also has a court-tested No Logs policy, so you never have to worry about them collecting information about what you do online.
You won’t spend a fortune on a subscription to PIA either, you can choose from any of the three affordable plans the VPN offers. Plus, you get unlimited device connections and expert customer support is available 24/7 via live chat or email.
Private Internet Access
- Security: 256-bit AES encryption, SHA-256 authentication, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, kill switch, ad-blocker, malware-scanner
- Logs: No logs
- Network: 30,000+ servers in 84 countries
- Connections: Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Support: 24/7 customer support with live chat
- Apps: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Anonymous payment options: Yes
- 30 day money back guarantee: Yes
- Price: from $2.11/month + 3 months free
Conclusion
You need a VPN to avoid blackouts and blocks for sporting events. VPNs allow you to access your usual sports apps and websites anywhere. Just make sure you choose the right VPN with the speeds, server availability, and unblocking power you need to watch all your favorite sports. More importantly, before you commit to a subscription look for a VPN with a solid No Logs policy and strong encryption to ensure your online activity and data remain private.
