TV Answer Man, I read your article today about the MLB blackouts and the possibility of regional sports networks going out of business. My question is the following. Is there currently a way to avoid power cuts without subscribing to a TV provider that offers the regional sports channel? I don’t want to be a snide, but is there a nifty way to just watch your hometown team without having to pay someone a fortune? —Bob, Lima, Ohio.
Bob, earlier today I wrote that Major League Baseball could eliminate team blackouts on Bally Sports and AT&T-appointed regional sports networks if the league were forced to take over broadcast rights from RSN due to bankruptcy (Bally) or a change in company policy (AT&T channels, which belong to Warner Bros. Discovery, which reduces costs).
It is unclear whether either scenario will occur. So the question now is whether you can avoid power outages in the market. all teams (not just Bally and AT&T) on MLB TV. This is the league’s (now) out-of-market online gaming package that costs $149.
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The answer is yes. You can Avoid market blackouts on MLB TV by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPN is downloadable software that will allow you to use an IP address different from yours.
For example, if you live in Scottsdale, Arizona, you could insert an IP address provided by the VPN company that would indicate that you live in Denmark. Then you can subscribe to the MLB.TV online package and watch the Diamondbacks on Bally Sports Arizona, because the IP address wouldn’t say Scottsdale.
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Over the years, Major League Baseball has discouraged the use of a VPN in its terms of service which states in bold and capital letters words that:
“IF YOU CIRCUMVENT, OR ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMSTANCE, ANY LIGHTING RESTRICTION OR OTHER USE RESTRICTION: YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE TERMINATION AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) FOR EARLY TERMINATION; YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PROSECUTION; AND MLB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REPORT SUCH CONDUCT TO APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.
However, note that the language does not specifically refer to VPNs and, until last year, the league had never specifically discussed whether it opposed VPNs or had ever filed a lawsuit against VPNs. subscribers who had used them to watch their local teams on MLB.TV.
So a year ago, I asked an MLB spokesperson three questions regarding VPNs and MLB.TV:
1. Is MLB opposed to using VPNs to watch MLB.TV?
2. Has MLB ever sued an MLB TV subscriber for using a VPN?
3. Has MLB ever filed a complaint against an MLB TV subscriber for using a VPN?
After four separate requests over a week, the spokesperson finally responded:
1. No comments.
2. No.
3. No.
For the first time, MLB acknowledged that it had never attempted to sue anyone for VPN use and that the league did not even have a position on whether it opposed the use of VPNs. use of VPN.
This certainly goes against the public perception that MLB is trying to crack down on the use of VPNs and is prepared to go to court if necessary. This isn’t to say that MLB is saying you should use a VPN. (Pay TV services that pay handsomely to carry regional sports channels wouldn’t like this. If everyone used a VPN for MLB TV, they wouldn’t need to subscribe to pay TV services.) But the league certainly doesn’t say that. you should not use a VPN.
It’s fair to assume that MLB executives concluded that they would not win in civil or criminal court if they tried to prevent the use of VPNs to watch MLB television. But there is another possible reason why they did not go to court. The league generates revenue from VPN users that they wouldn’t otherwise get. A subscription is a subscription.
The league even references their use in the FAQ section of MLB.TV for its banning policy. The league explains how a game can be blocked in a home because of a VPN.
“If you access the Internet via a VPN connection, you may receive a ban message because the VPN host’s IP address is within the restricted range of the game you are trying to access,” the site says. (For example, if your VPN uses a St. Louis IP address, you won’t be able to watch the Cardinals.)
In the past, when discussing this topic, I noticed that there is also an ethical question here. By using a VPN, you are clearly trying to “circumvent” a blackout restriction, which is against MLB TV rules. But the league’s current neutral stance on VPN use would seem to alleviate that concern.
However, before you start looking for a VPN, let me warn you that I am not a lawyer and this article does not constitute legal advice in any way. But I think this new information is very valuable for cord cutters looking to follow their local team during the 2023 season.
Bob, I hope this helps. Enjoy watching and stay safe!
Do you have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at [email protected]. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
-Philippe Swann
@tvanswerman
