How to get around MLB.TV blackout restrictions??

[thatsright]

Just signed up for MLB.com All Access as I got this season pass free through MSN Premium. (MSN Premium is free through my Verizon DSL account.) On MLB.com TV it mentions that local games are blacked out. I don't have cable TV and I am a huge Red Sox fan living in Boston, so it would seem that I won't be able to watch any Sox games at home on my PC.

Anyone know how I can get around this? Not sure how hard it would be, but I'm assuming that my MLB account info comes right from MSN, which also comes right from my Verizon account. If this is the case it would seem pretty hard to get around?

Anyone have an idea? Thanks

 

[bradruth]

Shouldn't it be against the law to prohibit a Bostonian from watching his Sox?

 

[thatsright]

Anyone have an idea?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Getting around it shouldn't be done in the first place. If you paid for a specific thing, you deserve to have it. If there's a restriction put on the game for not paying for some kind of access directly related to the game, you don't deserve to watch it.

You paid for a season pass, so you should be able to watch every game of the season. Atleast, that's what simple logic states. If you aren't able to do so, why don't you try contacting MSN or Verizon to see why you're not getting something you paid for?

<edit> One question: what kind of season pass? A season pass to watch games on your PC? Or a season pass to watch them at the stadium?

 

[RabidMongoose]

He's talking about the blackout of local games. You can pay for MLB.TV and depending on your credit card's billing address, some locally televised games will be restricted from viewing. So if you're from Boston and wanted to watch some Boston games that are being aired locally, you might not be able to watch it. However, if you're in California, you would probably be able to watch it.

I'm not sure how you can get around it with MSN, but I just signed up with a credit card that has a billing address in another state

 

[bubbadu]

I live in VT, and can watch the soxs on ESPN and NESN... gotta love that.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
He's talking about the blackout of local games. You can pay for MLB.TV and depending on your credit card's billing address, some locally televised games will be restricted from viewing. So if you're from Boston and wanted to watch some Boston games that are being aired locally, you might not be able to watch it. However, if you're in California, you would probably be able to watch it.

I'm not sure how you can get around it with MSN, but I just signed up with a credit card that has a billing address in another state

If that's the way the system works, then either get the owners of the system to change it or deal with it the way it is. I believe it's a crime to "get around it" in many situations. Either way, he shouldn't be asking here for advice. Thatsright should be contacting MLB.com, Verizon, or MSN (or all three) about this.

 

[bmacd]

why are the local games blacked out? I don't understand..

-=bmacd=-

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: bmacd
why are the local games blacked out? I don't understand..

-=bmacd=-

I believe that it's because of broadcasting rights or something similar to that.

 

[bubbadu]

I guess spoke to soon about the espn thing.. i just tried watching ESPN2 and its definlty blacked out and changed to ESPNews instead. I guess they can't have both the local (NESN) and espn on at the same time.. I have no clue why this is though

 

[computerpro3]

Trust me, its no use at all. I've been there, done that as a boston fan in CT. Tried talking to COX, MLB, EVERYONE. SO after 5 seasons of watching like 10 games a year on friggen fox and espn, I called up cox and said, "For the last time, is there any way I can get NESN or redsox games without you blacking them out on mlb extra innings, or anything. I'll pay whatever it takes." His reply was a smug "there is no way at all you can watch redsox games in your location. However, we do offer the YES network (an all yankees network)." My reply was an equally smug "actually sir, you are mistaken. There is a way I can get Redsox games at my location. Please cancel my cox digital cable and mlb extra innings subscriptions. The way is called direct TV." I am now watching the redsox opening night as we speak on NESN with direct TV. ITs cheaper than digital cable, much more channels, no blackouts, dual coast broadcasts, and the best part is that I got a free TIVO for subscribing now built into the reciever. I will never go back to cable.

 

[PoPPeR]

black out games locally = allows the Red Sox to charge $500 for a bleacher seat, because otherwise the diehard fan can't watch his sox. It's the same way here with the Raiders. They have a POS stadium and no one wants to go to their games, but since the games dont sellout they dont show em on TV.

 

[NetGuySC]

You can hack DishNetWork or Direct TV and not worry about being blacked out, but then again, that would be illegal.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
He's talking about the blackout of local games. You can pay for MLB.TV and depending on your credit card's billing address, some locally televised games will be restricted from viewing. So if you're from Boston and wanted to watch some Boston games that are being aired locally, you might not be able to watch it. However, if you're in California, you would probably be able to watch it.

I'm not sure how you can get around it with MSN, but I just signed up with a credit card that has a billing address in another state

So basically, all one would have to do is find someone else who wants this service, have them pay for it, and then trade, right?

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
He's talking about the blackout of local games. You can pay for MLB.TV and depending on your credit card's billing address, some locally televised games will be restricted from viewing. So if you're from Boston and wanted to watch some Boston games that are being aired locally, you might not be able to watch it. However, if you're in California, you would probably be able to watch it.

I'm not sure how you can get around it with MSN, but I just signed up with a credit card that has a billing address in another state

So basically, all one would have to do is find someone else who wants this service, have them pay for it, and then trade, right?

Well I'm not completely sure. You should make sure on a Google search or go to their website. Maybe they do something else now. I think that when I signed up for it when it started, it was based off your CC address.

 

[NakaNaka]

Now it's based off your IP addy.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Now it's based off your IP addy.

But how can that be, my Verizon DSL address is from a DHCP server, so it 'should' be random right?

 

[Arschloch]

From what I understand, they now use both your IP address -and- your credit card billing address. Supposedly, if there's some kind of discrepancy between the two, they may call the phone number listed with your credit card info to find out where the discrepancy lies.

That said, you -can- get around it with a web proxy in another location.

 

[iamshady]

Would any one be willing to swap newly created accounts? I am from the NY area and I really want to watch the Mets...

 

[thatsright]

Well I dunno how it's doing this, but apparently the 'Local Blackout Restrictions' aren't really working for me, for the better of course. I live in the heart of Boston, and I was able to watch 2 out of the 4 Sox games they played in Baltimore. The other two had National Blackout restrictions which would of still been in effect if I wasn't in Boston. Today the Red Sox have their home opener @ Fenway which I can watch locally on TV.

Thought if I can watch online today, for whatever reason by MLBTV.com, then I think I will be able to watch ALL of the Sox games (sans the National Blackout dates) on my PC.

Kind of odd how this is happening?

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Now it's based off your IP addy.

But how can that be, my Verizon DSL address is from a DHCP server, so it 'should' be random right?

They can still get the location. Try using neotrace... you can pull up location on any IP.