Streaming live sports has become common among sports fans. Some have gone to great lengths to subscribe and stream specific games. Most fans feel attached to their favourite teams. Hence, they will do anything to ensure they have a glimpse of the match. Whether it is penetrating blocked streaming sites in their country or not. But it is never that simple.
Some censorship is so strict that you would need a stealth tool like a VPN. A reliable VPN bypasses geo-restrictions and helps you access your favorite games.
In this article, we list the top VPN providers that you can use for streaming sports online.
Is a VPN service the solution?
When it looks impossible to access specific streaming sites, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) seems the easy way out. VPN providers enable sports fans to access different servers globally and stream any sport. But is it worth it?
Many online consumers try to find out if using a VPN provider is good. Unfortunately, getting precise answers about using VPNs is quite challenging for most sports fans. The intent is to reinstate some live sports premium channels – accessed through cable packages.
Most people are often forced to watch sports online using a VPN service on their TV sets or monitors. Truth be told, a VPN provider gives users the best alternative to stream individual sports. This makes it easy for sports lovers to stream any match anytime. In that case, a VPN comes in handy.
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While it may not be exactly what some online consumers expect, using a VPN service to stream sports is a charm for most.
Here is a guide to detailing the reasons for using a sports streaming VPN today:
The master of unblocking
If you have used VPNs, you know these programs are masters of content-unblocking. Irrespective of content type, a reliable VPN gives you swift access anywhere in the world.
Concerning streaming, VPNs are experts in bypassing the set restrictions. And this also includes sports streaming – the process of watching live events online over an internet connection.
Sports fans can find effective means to watch their favorite teams through a VPN. All you do is sign up for a premium VPN service if you’re among them. That allows you to either stream live games or previous matches available online.
Still, there are downsides to using VPN services. For instance, using a VPN service to access a channel you accessed earlier is impossible. In other words, it is challenging to cross-thwart your cable TV channels.
That is because your cable service provides a cable box where they communicate directly. Such an interaction makes it hard for your preferred VPN to unblock such content.
Here, the cable provider may either enable or disable specific channels for its users. For this reason, you only stream permitted content through your cable box. The use of a VPN thus becomes impractical in such cases.
Geo-restrictions in some cable TV channels
Notably, your cable service provider integrates geo-restrictions on specific channels. A VPN service is, therefore, unable to get around these restrictions. The main issue is that your cable provider has direct access to the cable box.
This prime factor makes VPN services unsuitable for unblocking content in cable boxes. The best way is to consider other options to enjoy your favorite sport – streaming online.
VPN services are often focused on privacy and security. Yet, as per our estimates, about 30 percent of users utilize this tool to access blocked content online. Regarding cable boxes, many VPN services have trouble getting past geo-restrictions.
As a result, users opt for VPN services to unblock streaming sites. Some of them include;
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- HBO
- ESPN
- ITV Hub
- PlayStation Vue
The best part is that users accessing streaming sites must also use a VPN service.
Unblocking location-based content
Let’s take the case of Netflix. The streaming giant has a policy for offering location-based content depending on subscriptions. This means different people in specific countries get distinctive Netflix experiences.
This means some countries are restricted from watching certain shows. And this is where VPN services are helpful.
With an active Netflix subscription, you can access any country’s Netflix library regardless of your current location. The software lets users change their location by connecting to servers outside their area.
For example, a US-based Netflix user cannot access the Netflix content of a UK-based user. Similarly, a UK user experiences the same problem. That stands true for nearly all countries worldwide.
Though the streaming service is the same, Netflix tends to provide localized services.
To solve the problem, US and UK users can unlock blocked content using a reliable VPN service. That’s to say, a good Netflix VPN gives users access to stream content from any country.
Streaming service providers and IP addresses
You might be wondering how streaming services learn user location. The answer is your IP address.
Each computing device connected to a network has its own IP address. Hence, streaming services screen users’ devices to uncover these unique networking digits.
They use these localized addresses to deliver region-based content to users. This is why you can only access content designed for your country. Similarly, other users in other countries cannot access what you have.
However, using a VPN service routes user data through various VPN locations. That hides your IP address by connecting the device or devices to other servers. The connection gives users access to other regions or countries.
Essentially, the VPN service changes your public IP address. In turn, it connects you to a country with access to specific content – blocked in your region. In other words, a VPN enables you to bypass geo-blocking protocols set by the streaming service.
You should note that not all VPN services work as promised. As such, signing up with VPN services designed for streaming is essential. Many VPN services may become unideal, mostly when streaming blocked content on platforms with advanced geo-blocking capabilities (like Netflix or Hulu).
Choosing the best VPN service
Like any other tool, picking only the right VPN is essential. Yes, it is a process that requires some research and diligence, but it’s worth it. Besides, it is nerve-wracking to select the best sports streaming VPN today.
Note that several VPN services exist, and some are entirely worthless. Therefore, it is essential to use the process of elimination. Such an approach helps you sign up with the right VPN service.
The selected VPN service may fail to work even after conducting thorough research. It is another probable challenge a user may experience. This is because there is an ongoing conflict between the VPN service and the streaming site.
While VPN services strive to unlock the content, streaming platforms continue to block them. This creates a competitive business nature that can affect your streaming.
Though it is tough to achieve, having the right VPN on your side can prevent such scenarios. With days and days of tests, we finalized the two dependable VPNs for sports streaming: ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Accessing blocked content with a VPN
Let’s say you find an appropriate online streaming site but cannot access it. Using a VPN service provides assistance to help you enjoy the program. That is the motive for VPNs when it comes to streaming blocked content.
This is a typical thing among baseball lovers in the US. Since MLB allows fans outside the country to stream baseball games online, most US-based fans use VPNs. A VPN makes them appear outside the country and stream baseball matches without spending a penny.
You simply sign up for a VPN suitable for sports streaming and disguise yourself from the proper location. In turn, you can stream games for free whenever they are available.
You must commit to finding the best online sports streaming site to achieve this. The move is the same for VPN services. Thus, sports fans must remember various cautions to stream sports online trouble-free. But the good thing is, we already discussed those cautions above.
Blackouts when using a VPN
You can sometimes encounter issues streaming sports events because of blackouts, even with a VPN. It is a technique cable services and broadcasters use to restrict viewing for specific users.
A sports blackout is when an event scheduled to be televised is not broadcast in a specific media market. This may prevent a sports programming transmission on local telecast networks and/or non-broadcast platforms such as satellite television and cable.
These blackouts depend on region or country. They are techniques to block access to certain content if users try to access it using programs such as VPNs. This makes it hard to stream in such situations. Hence, the only reliable thing to consider in such situations is looking for several cable-pack packages to watch your favorite sport.
Is it wrong to use a VPN service to stream sports?
It appears counter-intuitive, yet it’s spot on: Using a VPN tends to speed up the internet experience. Besides, it helps in increasing internet privacy and security. But, above all, it helps unlock blocked streaming websites.
Besides, streaming content is legal across different countries. In other words, users can install VPNs on their devices and stream freely.
There’s entirely nothing wrong.
But sometimes, some users may violate the set terms of service for given service providers.
What about morality?
At this stage, you might be wondering if you may or may not use a VPN service to stream sports matches.
This is a question nearly everyone asks before streaming any sports match online. Some may find it moral, while others view it as immoral. As such, it depends on how you want to see it.
The principal answer to this question often relies on the user. That is, you understand the amount of content you have consumed all year round. This alone gives you great insights into whether it is moral or not.
Let’s put this into perspective. Some streaming services block certain content to selected regions. That makes it confusing for users to access such content.
Here, you turn to VPN services to unblock these streaming sites. Such a technique is standard and hence categorized as moral. However, some people may have a different opinion about this.
It is no secret that nearly every online consumer has used a VPN service once or twice. Most of them have used the app to watch some movies not permitted in their region.
For instance, if you live in the US, you will likely stream an old or non-US title film. Unfortunately, such content is often unavailable within the country. But with a VPN, you can readily access such content.
You may have tried different legal ways to access such movies or documentaries in such an event. Hence, there is nothing wrong with using a VPN service.
Another scenario is when streaming low-quality content. The content is available by normal means without using a VPN.
To improve the quality, you may consider specific tools such as VPNs. This helps you to stream quality content.
A real-life example of using a VPN service to stream sports morally
The Olympics is a competition that everyone worldwide admires. It is broadcast in different regions – including the US.
Only one company has the right to broadcast the Olympics in the US. But the downside is that the event is extensively edited. So people who need to enjoy the entire competition tend to miss out big.
That is to say, the broadcasting company tends to cover the event inadequately. So, Olympic fanatics need effective ways to watch the entire event.
They use their preferred VPNs for sports streaming and accessing unedited events. The VPN service helps them unblock other broadcasting platforms. In turn, it enables them to enjoy the entire event.
Based on this example, there’s nothing wrong with using the VPN service. The intent is to find a better platform unavailable in the US to stream quality sports events. Another moral way of using a VPN to watch games online is streaming the NFL, MLS, MLB, or NBA.
Because the discussion is arguable, the argument can change drastically. That is to say, the immoral ways of using a VPN to stream events.
Sometimes, the content is available in your region, for instance. It is available in good quality without any streaming challenges. Using a VPN becomes an immoral action in those cases.
