MLB TV: Are Blackouts Based On Billing Address Or Physical Location?

By Phillip Swann 
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former Sony employee and editor of 4 TV magazines.

TV Answer Man, if I sign up for MLB TV, will games be blacked out based on my billing address for my credit card or my physical location? For example, let’s say my credit card is based in Boston but I am traveling in LA, will the Red Sox game be blacked out or the Dodgers? — Bennie, Boston.

Bennie, MLB TV, the league’s package of out-of-market regular season games, costs $149 for the entire season. The plan includes a blackout of any teams considered in your market.

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For example, the Boston Red Sox would be blacked out with the plan in Boston. However, if you were traveling in Los Angeles, and you started to watch MLB TV, the Dodgers game (and Angels) would be blacked out, not the Red Sox. That’s because the blackouts are based on your physical location, not your billing address on your credit card. This is why some fans use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to disguise their physical location to avoid blackouts. The VPN can signal MLB TV that you are in a different location than where you actually are.

To learn more about which teams are blacked out in your area, click:  https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/help-center/blackouts-teams.

Bennie, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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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.