By Phillip Swann
The TV answering machine – @tvanswerman
TV Answer Man, I read your articles on using a VPN to beat power outages in baseball. Do you know if it really works? Do you know anyone using one to beat the power outage in their area using MLB TV? Thank you for expanding on this topic. — Joel, Manhattan Beach, California.
Joel, a virtual private network, known as a VPN, can beat baseball’s power outages. The software, which you download from a VPN service then add to your home modem and/or streaming device, will protect your location from MLB TV servers. This allows you to watch your team in the market on MLB TV, because the system thinks you live elsewhere. (Normally, MLB TV blocks your local team(s).)
Although MLB TV is expensive ($149 for the season), it’s cheaper than paying for six months of a cable or satellite TV service, or a live streamer such as DIRECTV Stream or FuboTV.
Over the years, many questions have arisen about whether using a VPN to bypass power outages is legal or ethical. But as I highlighted in a recent article, MLB says it has no position on the use of VPNs and has never sued anyone or filed criminal charges against anyone who used one. The league doesn’t openly encourage you to use a VPN, but it also doesn’t openly tell you NOT to use one.
Click over to Amazon: Check out the one-day-only discounts!
But is a VPN really effective in preventing a power outage for your team?
Since MLB opened last Thursday, many fans have taken to social media, such as Twitter, to brag about watching their local teams with a VPN. And, for the most part, they say the software works as expected. Here are some of the most interesting comments:
Praise the gods of T-Mobile and VPN. I can watch Royals baseball for the first time in years pic.twitter.com/45TVtDrstM
-B Lew (@BLewis2080) March 30, 2023
A Solid VPN is a Baseball Fan’s Best Friend #mlb
– The Couch GM (@The_Couch_GM) March 30, 2023
In a VPN, you can report your location to multiple locations in the country or around the world. For example, I live in Kentucky and all Cincinnati Reds games are banned. I turned on my VPN, put my location in Houston and the Reds game was available on MLB TV!
– The Boogeyman of Bookmakers (@Vuick_) April 1, 2023
Yes you can. I watched the Twins yesterday on my MLB app yesterday at work in the Twin Cities. All you need to do is use a VPN.
-Tony Tecate (@thetonytecate) April 1, 2023
I only have to pay $12 a month for the VPN (and get free MLB), is Bally cheaper than that? ???? I haven’t watched it
– ???????????????????? (@JellyStilettos) March 31, 2023
Luckily, I’m out of the blackout zone since I live in Cleveland. But when games are blocked, I use VIP Box. Just make sure you use a VPN. There will be plenty of ads to click on
-Billy (@BillyK253) April 2, 2023
I don’t know what your situation is if you have other people in your household who don’t watch sports, etc., but for me living alone, I use a VPN ($45 per year) and an MLB subscription TV at about the same price per month. because standalone Bally would solve your problem 1/2
– Nathan Fournier (@jrhockeywriter) March 31, 2023
This is a work that has been known for almost a decade. MLB is well aware of this. It takes time and extra money on top of an MLB subscription to get work done. Reporting every VPN IP address that changes regularly isn’t worth it to stop the small percentage of people who do it
–BWP (@beeWpdoubleE) March 31, 2023
If you have MLB TV and a VPN to get away from New York, the stream avoids most of the streaming issues.
– cdLevo ???????? (@cdLevo) April 2, 2023
I use ESPN+ and a VPN to watch Kraken games. Should work the same for MLB TV
– Nick Wupper (@NickWupper) April 1, 2023
Last year I subscribed to MLB TV and used a VPN. There are limitations this way, but it was completely affordable. If you purchase a MLBPAA subscription, you can actually save 50% on mlb tv.
– Cincy B (@bterry50) March 31, 2023
It’s pathetic that using a VPN on the MLB site is easier than using the site MADE FOR FOOD STREAMING
– ???? (@duckisgod) April 1, 2023
Subscribe to a VPN – this will allow you to bypass archaic blackout restrictions
– Ewok_Baseball (@Baseball_Ewok) March 30, 2023
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
