Bypass NBA League Pass Blackouts with VPN
By concealing your geographical location, VPNs allow you to bypass blackout restrictions, ensuring you can enjoy the live action no matter if you’re out of state or traveling abroad. As we gear up for the new season, let’s discover how VPNs can keep your basketball excitement going while while bypassing NBA League Pass blackouts.
Part 1. What is NBA League Pass Blackouts?
Before each NBA season, various local and national broadcasters secure exclusive rights to air live NBA games. This exclusivity can lead to blackouts, preventing even the NBA from livestreaming these games online in certain geographic areas, limiting access to on-demand viewing three hours after the original broadcast. As a result, local games may not be available for viewers in their respective markets.
For example, if you're in Los Angeles, and local channels like Fox or NBC hold exclusive rights to Clippers and Lakers games, those games will be blacked out on NBA League Pass. Similarly, if a game is nationally broadcast on networks like ESPN or ABC, it will also be subject to a blackout.
NBA League Pass relies on your IP address to identify your location, meaning that if a local or national broadcaster has live rights to a game, it could be unavailable on NBA League Pass. This is where a VPN can help by allowing you to change your IP address.
Part 2. [Quick guide] How to bypass NBA League Pass blackouts with SafeShell VPN
If your area falls within the blackout range, you will see a blackout notice when accessing NBA League Pass.
How can a VPN assist you in overcoming NBA League Pass blackouts? When you use a VPN to connect to a server, your internet traffic becomes encrypted, making it challenging for websites and services to determine your actual location. By selecting a server in a different U.S. state or even in another country, you'll receive a new, temporary IP address. This effectively deceives the NBA League Pass site into believing you’re in a different area, allowing you to circumvent the blackout restrictions.
- A diverse selection of high-speed servers specifically optimized for NBA.
- Enjoy unlimited bandwidth and speed for an exceptional streaming experience.
- The advanced "ShellGuard" VPN protocol ensures secure and private browsing.
- Connect multiple devices simultaneously with ease.
- Access prompt and friendly online customer support whenever you need assistance.
Part 3. FAQs: Bypass NBA League Pass Blackouts
1. How do I cancel my NBA League Pass?
- Visit the NBA League Pass website and select the “Manage Your Account” link located at the top of the page.
- Log in to your account and click on the “Cancel Subscription” link.
- Enter your password and hit the “Submit” button.
- Finally, click on the “Yes, I want to cancel my subscription” button.
2. Is it illegal to bypass NBA blackouts?
Bypassing NBA blackouts is not illegal, although it does violate the NBA League Pass Terms of Use, which state: "You agree that you will not use any Service if you are located outside of the allowable territories or in an area where blackout restrictions apply."
That said, it's unlikely that any action will be taken against your account. Even though NBA League Pass reserves "the right to terminate your access to any Service and this Agreement immediately," the risk of penalties remains minimal.
If NBA League Pass detects that you’re using a VPN to circumvent blackouts, it may block the specific VPN IP address. However, you can easily connect to a different server to obtain a new IP address and continue streaming.
3. Are NBA games subject to blackouts?
This policy is designed to encourage fans to buy tickets to attend the games in person and to watch them on television from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, it helps to elevate the perception of the games as significant events that people will want to watch.
4. Can I use a free VPN to bypass NBA League Pass blackouts?
It is not recommended. Many free VPNs typically have a limited number of servers, making it difficult to bypass NBA League Pass blackouts. When looking for servers in other U.S. states or countries, you may find your options quite restricted.
Another issue is that free VPN servers often experience heavy loads, leading to slow speeds, which can be particularly problematic during live streaming. Some free VPN services even throttle your bandwidth in an attempt to alleviate this issue, resulting in delays and buffering when trying to watch NBA games online.
Final Verdict
