By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Author of TV Dot Com.
TV Answer Man, is it possible to use a Virtual Private Network to avoid baseball blackouts this season? Can it work with a MLB TV sub? — Todd, Los Angeles, California.
Todd, the short answer is yes. You can download a Virtual Private Network software on your streaming device, subscribe to MLB TV and then watch your home team on MLB TV without blackouts because the VPN will point to a location away from your home market.
Many fans do this to avoid in-market blackouts although it’s not perfect or without some risk. Major League Baseball might cancel your subscription if they catch using a VPN. However, MLB acknowledged a few years ago in an interview with The TV Answer Man that they have never sued or filed criminal charges against someone who has used a VPN to avoid blackouts.
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The ‘not perfect’ part is also important here. VPN is a technology and therefore susceptible to technical issues. Consequently, some fans report that it will occasionally not block your home location when watching MLB TV. There are no studies on this so we have to reply on first-hand experiences shared on social media. And those first-hand experiences say the VPN usually works, but not always.
If you want to learn more about how to use a VPN to avoid MLB TV blackouts, see our articles here and here.
Todd, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
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Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
