What does blackout mean in MLB.TV? Beat geo-blocks for baseball games with VPN

MLB.TV users may often come into contact with a blackout on one of the games they want to watch. What does blackout mean in MLB TV? It refers to the inability to watch the game, by stated choice of MLB.

Blackouts are supposed to ensure that out-of-market viewers aren't watching through the local broadcast. For example, Bally Sports Southeast has exclusive rights to Atlanta Braves games, so they don't want everyone watching that don't have that channel.

In markets, it's used to try and entice viewers to get up and go to the ballpark to watch the game live rather than on their couch.

MLB.com stated:

"If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing through MLB.TV. If you are an MLB.TV subscriber within an area subject to blackout, the applicable game will be available as an archived game approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game."

Unfortunately, this happens quite often, but there is a way around it.

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Avoid MLB.TV blackouts with a VPN

MLB TV blackouts can be frustrating, but a simple fix can alleviate the issue. A VPN is a virtual private network and it can effectively do anything.

Avoid MLB TV blackouts with a VPN

Within this context, it can be used to change the location the application thinks you're viewing the game from. If you're not in the blackout zone, you will not be blacked out of the game.

These are easy to find and install on the internet and they're also not overly complicated to use.