Getting around MLB.TV local blackouts?
 

I know some of you have experience with this, so I thought this would be a good place to ask. I'm at a point in my life where I don't want to pay $60+ a month for TV just to watch sports, but Royals games on MLB.TV are blacked out due to location. If I sign up for MLB.TV, is there a way to get around this?

So, when did Roku stop support for MLBtv for Roku 1?

:shrug:

Couldn't you change your location using a VPN before logging into MLB.tv? That would work for a computer, I think...

Only ways I know of are to find a VPN that MLB hasn't banned, or a slow illegal stream that is full of computer AIDS

Ps3 and Unlocator works for me.

Kodi

I bought a used Roku 1. It won't even install the MLB app. Says it's not available.

I think this one is worth the money. I don't have what it takes to trust any of the free ones.

https://easy-hide-ip.com/

Dinny

You can still buy Roku 1s from Roku: https://www.roku.com/products/compare

Does anyone know when they took away the headphone jack sound output? I'm not sure if I have a 1 or a 2.

I've done some research but haven't acted on any of it. The first option I saw was a VPN, however for Roku you will need to VPN your entire router since Roku is connected to that instead of your computer. I've heard that can be very slow since the information has to be sent to a different router and then back. The best option I've seen is a Smart DNS, which requires some setup on your router but won't affect performance. Its also much less expensive.

jailbroken Amazon Firestick

AdFreeTime.com. $2/month.

Watch it on your computer and use CyberGhost

:hmmm:

Amazon Fire TV plus Kodi plus Pro Sports.

Kodi on Amazon Fire Stick sounds like a possibility


http://www.htpcbeginner.com/blueprin...tv-kodi-guide/

Get the Amazon Fire TV box. Greater capacity.

Also, look for this in the KODI add ons thread in the media center.

Why do people always want something for nothing?

Getting around blackouts isn't something for nothing. You're still paying for it - you're just circumventing a stupid system that shouldn't exist in the internet age.

Some Kodi sources, of course, are a different story.

You don't get it.

If you saw a $20 bill in an empty parking lot, would you not pick it up because it wasn't yours?

It's those damn millennials that think the world owes them everything!

Maybe it doesn't owe, but instead, wants to give.

Move to an area outside the blackout zone. What's more important, your career, or watching the Royals?

Btw I'm in LA so I don't have to worry about local blackouts much.

But when I do I plug my TV into my computer instead of the roku, and use a VPN. (Google them, there are tons) to make it look like I'm somewhere else.

Expand please, what is this unlocator you speak of

I thought the blackout was going away this year for MLB.tv?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybro.../#2f35ca3c2e04

I use PS4 and Unlocator, sometimes my computer and Unlocator. It's like 5 bucks a month, and to use it you need to be able to follow 1st grade computer instructions, so sorry old timers.

I don't want something for nothing. I would gladly play the annual fee for MLB.TV if I wasn't in the blackout region. I just don't want to pay $1000 a year for satellite TV when pretty much all I use it for is sports.

:hmmm: Good point.

:hmmm: It says "some markets." I wonder if KC is included? That would be awesome

EDIT: When I go to the MLB.TV site, it still has all kinds of warnings about blackouts and says viewer can watch all "out of market" games, so it doesn't sound like this is happening yet.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions...=MLBTVREDIRECT

I don't have this Amazon Fire business. I'm looking it up and it says it costs $100 - I'm assuming that is just for the equipment. What happens after that? Do you pay for each app that you want separately? Is the Kodi + Pro Sports something you can get with its own monthly fee?

Sorry for all the questions. Just scrolling through this thread trying to find the best options available.

Apps are free. But you need to login with subscription info, like uverse.

Search in the media center for a thread with KODI in the title.

MSRP is $100, but it frequently sells for less.

Kodi is an easily downloaded app (generally via your computer). Pro Sports is a plugin/add on for that app. PQ is usually excellent.

No monthly fee. As far as the ethical implications, it's similiar to using a VPN to get around local blackouts.

Your Amazon account, specifically.

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'll explore my options and try to figure something out in the next couple of days.

If I were to use Kodi Pro Sports to watch Royals games would I still need a VPN to access them?

Might get more clear by opening day. I heard that there are still cable providers bickering back and forth with networks in both New York and LA.

Sucks, because I'm kind of excited to see what the MLB app on the Apple TV is like when the final regular season version launches.

Of course you could always just subscribe to the audio. Baseball on the radio tastes like America used to.

Moving wouldn't be cheap but I think it's the only option.

LOL. Man, my parents showed me some pictures of their vacation to Arizona a couple weeks ago. I have to admit it looks pretty nice.

Don't think so.

Okay, so if I sign up for MLB.TV and it asks for my address, what do I do? Do I make something up or do they just go by IP address for blackouts?

Use your normal address. Blackouts are by IP (oversimplified).

Thank you.

I used Unlocator with my Roku 2 and laptop last year. Be aware the unlocator doesn't work with apple devices (just one more reason not to buy overpriced Apple junk).

I learned about this today.... http://www.t-mobile.com/mlb.html ...free mlb.tv for tmobile people. I think they've done something similar for a few years, but this year you can get the premium for free.

I ended up going with this option. Thanks!

Anybody figure out how to do this on an Android device without rooting?

This. It's like wanting to see your team on TV for free during a blackout game.

hint - go to the game and pay $ and you can see it.

The lawsuit has made some impact on blackout regions. Its my hope that with people "cutting the cord" left and right, the blackouts will soon be a thing of the past.

before the lawsuit, if you lived in Lawton, Oklahoma (about a half hour north of the Texas border) you couldn't watch:
Rangers
Astros
Royals
Cardinals
Rockies games

Now, you cant watch
Rangers
Astros
Cardinals

I'm not a millennial and I live within 40 minutes of the stadium. But I won't ever pay another dime to cable/satellite until they price it fair and allow me channels that I want without putting 75 shopping channels in the package. So that means never I guess.

Also, the reason you're seeing changes in blackout policies is precisely because of people cutting the cord. **** those companies. I'll watch every game that I'm attending in person free on good stream and not care about it at all.

Buying a Fire Stick on Saturday to see if I can get this to work and I can usually figure them out.

How exactly did you get Unlocator to work on your Roku?

You set it up on your router.

Totally works. Thanks for all the suggestions in this thread. Watched the Royals with a pretty good picture.

I somehow accidentally put mine on "crowd noise only" audio mode for yesterday's game. Trippy way to watch a game.

Weird. No idea you could do that. How much random bullshit do you hear from the stands?

I have a firestick, how did you get it to work?

It's about the same volume of crowd noise that you hear during a typical broadcast - it's just that they've removed the commentary entirely. If you crank the volume a bit, you can get a little more of a "being there" feel, but it still sounds pretty remove and muffled.

It'd be handy for NFL games when the announcers suck ass though.

Unlocator's website has the setup. But, as mentioned, you have to change the DNS of the router. Also, make sure DNS relay is disabled or your ISPs DNS is automatically made yours. Be aware that if you try to use a laptop on the network, you still have to make the laptop's DNS addresses the same as the routers.

https://unlocator.com/setup/

Somewhat related:

Anyone else with Google Fiber having trouble (as in not able, at all) using the FoxSportsGo app to stream games?

Thought that was a "go" this year, but FoxSportsMidwest does not show up for me on the app after signing in with our Google account.

This was the way to go, thanks for everyone that mentioned Unlocator.

I couldn't do it on my Google Fiber router, so bought a cheap one from the list on their site. I'm a complete idiot when it comes to computers but got it all setup in about 30 mins and streamed the game Saturday with no issues.

Luckily I'm dealing with Roku so don't have to mess with "matching DNS" issues.

Black out rules are stupid. I signed up for mlb.tv last year, and I demanded my money back when it became clear to me I wouldn't get the Royals' broadcast. I keep talking about cutting the cord, but FSN has given me yet another reason to keep spending way too much for tv I barely watch. FoxSportsGo will carry Royals broadcasts that are on their network (around 150 of 162 games I believe), you just need a valid provider log in.

Thats what pisses me off. Let me pay for the game access online. Don't make me subscribe to hundreds of channels I will never ever watch just to get the one I will

I agree, but the streaming on FoxSPortsGo is a step in the right direction. Cable companies will cling to their dated model for as long as they can. If MLB.TV will lift their black out rules, then that would be the ultimate.

This is in the Royals thread, but Sling will be offering a package with Fox Sports Midwest.

Worked just fine for me last night mirroring to my GF's tv from my phone.

Along that line, she's a cards fan (yuck) anyone know if she gets mlbtv if she'll get the cards games or are they blacked out here in KC?

Got free MLB.tv on my phone because I have tmobile. It's a waste because I have no interest in watching any team other than the Royals.

I would be surprised if Cardinals games were blacked out in KC.

Fox Sports Go, solves this issue, btw.

1) you have to have a cable account to login 2) their streaming has been ass the few times Ive experienced it.

Thanks

not for cable cutters

So, I just got an email from MLB.TV that my account has been suspended for "circumventing the blackout rules." How in the world did they figure this out?

Shoulda gone the FireTV/Kodi/Pro Sports route.....

Are there not blackout restrictions with that?

Absolutely not. No need for a VPN.

If you're going to try and circumvent MLB's blackout rules, you might as well just embrace piracy.