How To Watch NFL Games & Avoid Sports Blackouts

Licensing and distribution issues, along with regional blackouts, can make watching the Super Bowl tricky. Fortunately, there is a solution that can get you back in the game. Read on to discover how using a VPN can help you watch NFL games regardless of your location.

What Is A VPN?

A VPN is a cybersecurity software tool that routes your connection through its servers to provide you with a new IP address. It also secures internet traffic with strong encryption and hides your original IP address. Just connect to a VPN server in any country you choose to receive a new IP address for that location. This allows you to access local accounts when you study, work, or travel outside your region.

How A VPN Can Help You Watch Sports

Sporting events are subject to the same licensing and copyright restrictions as movies or music. Moreover, networks and distributors who own the rights to sporting events can work together to blackout certain events (e.g. ESPN and Dish Network). This means certain games will only be available to view in specific regions. Luckily, a VPN can help you avoid the blocks that prevent you from watching your favorite NFL team.

Avoid Blackouts

Aside from distribution or licensing restrictions, blackouts may also be placed on sporting events because ticket sales are minimal. All major sports leagues are occasionally subject to blackouts, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. This means you may not be able to view specific sporting events if you live outside the viewing area. 

When you use a VPN you can change your virtual location by connecting to one of its servers, this gives you a new IP address in another region. Just choose a server in the region where the event is airing, connect, and open the streaming app or website to watch the game. It's that easy.

Prevent ISP Throttling

Your ISP may throttle speeds during bandwidth-intensive activities like gaming, streaming, and file sharing. This means you could deal with buffering and disconnects during the big game due to slow speeds. 

A VPN masks your online activity with strong encryption, so your ISP can't monitor your online traffic and slow speeds during high bandwidth activities. That way you can watch the big game uninterrupted.

Watch Sports Anywhere

Not all of your NFL streaming services are available while traveling, as many are only available in the US. You could miss out on a game if you're on vacation, studying, or working outside the US. Your streaming service could also be airing the event in specific regions of the US, due to licensing and distribution restrictions. 

A VPN can help you navigate around these issues by providing you with an IP address for the US in general or a specific state, so you never have to miss out.

How To Watch Sports With A VPN

A VPN can help you watch blackout events and use the sports services you subscribe to anywhere you go. You can watch sporting events on ESPN, FOX, Peacock, or Amazon Prime even if you live outside the region the event is airing in.

Choose the Right VPN for Streaming Sports

Not just any VPN can help you avoid sports blackouts or getting locked out of streaming accounts while traveling. Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is one of the fastest VPNs for streaming sports. Its servers run on 10-Gbps network cards, so you can watch the game in seamless HD quality. 

PIA makes watching blackout games easy. Not only does it unblock most sports streaming services, but it also has servers in all 50 US states. This means regional blackouts won't stop you from watching the big game on your favorite streaming service. The server reach doesn't stop at the US, you can choose a server from 80+ countries worldwide for access to global sporting events from anywhere. 

It also uses strong AES encryption methods to mask your online traffic. Choose from 128-bit encryption for faster speeds or 256-bit for added security and privacy while accessing sensitive accounts (e.g. banking, work platforms, etc.). PIA never collects information about what you do online while you're connected to their servers either, it has a strict, court-tested No Logs policy.

One subscription to PIA VPN gives you unlimited device connections and it has dedicated apps for all major operating systems including macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. It also offers compatibility for smart devices and routers. The app is extremely user-friendly, but if you do have any questions about the VPN they offer expert customer support 24/7 via live chat or email.

Don’t Miss the Big Game

There’s no reason to miss the Super Bowl (or any other NFL game) when you can download PIA and enjoy football anywhere, anytime. PIA VPN is affordable, fast, and has servers in all 50 US states — making blackouts and buffering a thing of the past. So download PIA, make those epic nachos, and settle in because the game is on.