We’ve all been there, jersey on and snacks are ready, only to get slapped with an ESPN blackout screen. It happens when “broadcasting rights” are sold regionally, and you are unfortunately located in a place unavailable. Is it possible to get around ESPN blackout? Sure! Follow this guide, grab the best VPN service, and get your thrilling games back!
Declaimer: We do not endorse any copyright infringement. Please check the relevant terms and regulations before taking measures here.
Table of Contents
Shortcut: Get Around ESPN Blackout with A VPN
Short on time? Click here for a summary!
Games not waiting! Follow the steps and get back to ESPN streaming:
Step 1. Subscribe X-VPN and set it up on your router, TV, browser, or phone(combined with a GPS spoofer).
Step 2. Connect to a VPN server where the games are available.
Step 3. Back to the streaming and catch every moment!
What Does Blackout Mean on ESPN
Blackout on ESPN means the game event you want to watch is not available in your region. This happens most in live events and the issue often arises surrounding broadcast rights.
Why does ESPN blackout games? Here are 3 typical reasons:
- Geo-Based Restrictions: ESPN uses IP addresses and sometimes GPS data to determine the location of viewers and implement blackouts accordingly. This means that if you are at a team’s home stadium, you may not be able to watch their games on ESPN or ESPN+.
- Broadcast Rights: ESPN tends to lack the rights to broadcast certain games in a specific area because local networks have exclusive agreements. These agreements ensure that local stations can maintain their audience numbers and generate revenue from games involving local teams.
- League Policies: Sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL have their own blackout policies. For example, MLB implements strict blackouts to protect local broadcasts and encourage attendance, while the NFL has historically blacked out unsold games to boost ticket sales.
How to get around ESPN blackout? VPNs can help fix this on web browsers and smart TVs, but mobile ESPN requires a GPS spoofer. Learn the detailed steps below.
How to Get Around ESPN Blackout on Web Browser
The easiest way to get around ESPN blackout is to watch on a web browser via a VPN. It can help you change your IP address to a place with broadcasting rights. Take X-VPN as an example, for this ESPN VPN offers super-fast streaming servers, enabling no buffering ESPN streaming
Step 1. Buy X-VPN Premium and add X-VPN to your Chrome extension.
Step 2. Connect to a VPN server where the game is available.
Step 3. Clear your browser cookies and re-visit ESPN games successfully.
1. You are suggested to use one static IP during the whole game.
2. Except for using X-VPN Chrome extension, you can also download it to your desktop for overall protection.
3. If one VPN server fails to bypass, try more servers in case you are still in a blocked region.
How to Get Around ESPN Blackout on TV
Another ESPN blackout workaround happens on smart TVs. By installing a VPN on your router and connecting the Wi-Fi network to your smart TV, or setting up a VPN directly on your streaming media devices like an Apple TV, you can easily get around ESPN blackout.
1. Through Router & Smart TV
Step 1. Subscribe to X-VPN Premium.
Step 2. Follow the X-VPN router instructions to set up X-VPN on your home router.
Step 3. Connect your smart TV to the Wi-Fi network.
Now you are re-located to where the VPN server you selected, and can catch up with your ESPN without blackout.
2. Through Streaming Media Devices
Step 1. Subscribe to X-VPN Premium.
Step 2. Connect the streaming media device to your TV through a HDMI cable.
Step 3. Open the streaming media app, and download X-VPN from the App Store, Play Store, or Amazon AppStore.
Step 4. Launch X-VPN and log in to your premium account.
Step 5. Connect to a VPN server where the game is available, and open the ESPN app through the streaming media app.
X-VPN can be downloaded to Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Firestick yet, for other streaming media devices, you are suggested to get it on a router instead.
How to Get Around ESPN Blackout on Mobile
However, getting around ESPN blackout on mobile takes much more effort than on other devices, for the ESPN app will ask for your GPS permissions no matter where your IP is right now. In this case, you need a GPS spoofer to modify these settings.
Step 1. Download a GPS spoofer to your phone. For example iToolab AnyGo.
Step 2. Change your location to where the game is available.
Step 3. Clear the ESPN app data and re-enter the app to watch your game.
Match Your GPS with IP Address
In case your new GPS mismatches your current IP, you are still suggested to enable X-VPN before further steps.
Whether it’s the ESPN app or streaming service app, GPS permission is necessary for ESPN mobile viewers, which makes bypassing ESPN blackout on browser and TV more recommended.
Best VPN for ESPN Streaming Anywhere
To watch ESPN games with no regional restrictions, X-VPN stands out as the best option. It can help change your location to 225+ regions with 8000+ high-quality VPN servers. Most importantly, the 2-year plan of X-VPN Premium costs only $2.99 per month right now, saving 76% compared with the regular monthly subscription!
What makes X-VPN the best solution for ESPN blackout?
- 8000+ High-Quality Servers: Whether it’s a local exclude game or a geo-restricted match, X-VPN can help fix the blackout with ease. 8000+ high-quality VPN servers in 225+ locations help unblock ESPN games anywhere.
- 116 Fast Streaming Servers: Worried about VPN slowing down your internet? Check out the 116 streaming servers available here with 10Gps fast speeds. We understand that in a game every moment matters!
- Big Discounts and Free Trials: Offering big discounts, you can save up to 76% on a 2-year plan for $2.99 per month, with a 30-day no-reason refund. Not only that, you can even join the X-VPN free trial and enjoy all premium features for 7 days for free.
- 5 Simultaneous Logins Across Systems: One purchased account can log in to 5 devices simultaneously across platforms. Set up your premium account and enjoy the game on your desktop, mobile, gaming console, and smart TV through your router.
Other Ways to Catch Up with Your Games
If any of the above steps hold you back, there are some alternative methods to help you stay connected with blacked-out Super Bowl, NFL, and NHL games and never miss the action.
1. Check Local Broadcasts
Many sports blackouts are conducted to protect the rights of local broadcasters. If a game was under blackout on ESPN, check if the game is available on local networks or regional sports networks (RSNs) in your area.
2. Online Streaming Sites
Some free online sports streaming sites usually cover a wide range of sports events. However, this method is less recommended for hidden website security issues. Also, we do not advocate any copyright violation, please check relative terms before taking further steps.
Some free streaming sites you can try are: VIPBox, WatchSports, VIP League, StreamEast, and Live Soccer TV. Since these platforms are unofficial, there are risks that you be redirected to a risky site that steals your sensitive data like a password, sends you malicious pop-ups, and gets you into hacker troubles.
Faced with this, please encrypt your data using X-VPN before doing so, the ASE 256 encryption protects your every online footprint and safeguards your online safety on any site.
3. Try Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers a comprehensive sports package that makes it an attractive option for sports fans, especially those interested in college sports. The sports package on Hulu + Live TV includes:
- Major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.
- Sports-specific cable channels include BTN, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, and NBC Sports Network.
- Conference channels like Big Ten Network and SEC Network.
- ESPN+ content
- NFL Network and NFL RedZone
Conclusion
ESPN blackouts are such a nightmare for sports fans, luckily, by changing your location with a VPN, you can easily access ESPN content and get around ESPN blackouts. Not only ESPN, these methods work the same for sports in NFL Network, Fox Sports, MLB.TV, etc. Get X-VPN now and enjoy uninterrupted sports action regardless of blackout limitations.
FAQs
Why Is Something Blacked Out on ESPN & ESPN Plus?
Both the ESPN and ESPN+ blackout occurred for broadcast rights issues. These blackouts protect the rights of local broadcasters to exclusively show the game in a specific region.
Will A VPN Work for ESPN Blackout?
Yes, a trusted VPN provider like X-VPN can effectively bypass ESPN blackouts on browsers and TVs. It helps change your IP address to somewhere that owns broadcasting rights. Mobile ESPN app users need to use a GPS spoofer instead.
Will A VPN Slow Down My Streaming Internet?
Yes, a VPN will slow down your streaming speed to some extent. Choosing a fast VPN with specialized streaming servers can minimize your speed loss. Besides, connecting to a server near your location can also help lower ping and reduce the latency.
How Can I Know in Advance If A Game Will Be Under Blackout?
Since there’s no official ESPN blackout map, you need to check each game individually to see whether a game will be blacked out on ESPN. You can do this by checking the local listings for blackout information or looking for notes on the game listing indicating blackout status.
