How To Use a VPN to Watch Local Sports

Lee Stanton August 10, 2023

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TV broadcasters can dictate which local sports shows you can watch by simply buying copyrights to the content. Once they secure these rights, you’ll have to pay for their premium membership package to access and watch the show or purchase a ticket to watch the live show.

Using a VPN prevents media blackouts which block you from watching local sports shows. It protects you from malicious malware attacks when streaming local sports over public Wi-Fi. This article will explain how you can use VPN to ensure you never miss a match on your local sports channel.

How to Use a VPN

Using a VPN is straightforward, and the process will largely depend on the service you choose. Follow the steps below and get to enjoy your local sports shows:

Select your preferred VPN app and download and install the VPN.
Open the VPN app.
Select a local server or one in a location that has the sports channel available on streaming networks.
Go to the streaming website with the VPN connected.

You can now sit back and enjoy your local sports if the service is free to air. You can add your card details and subscribe to the platform if it requires a paid membership.

Top-rated VPNs for Streaming Local Sports

Most of the best-rated VPNs require paid subscriptions. But the costs are pretty reasonable, and some also have free trials you can use. The list below highlights some of the best VPNs you can use to watch local sports.

NordVPN

Nord VPN ranks as one of the best sports streaming services globally. It can grant you access to every streaming service with no glitches and provides some of the fastest internet speeds. This VPN also boasts over 5,500 servers and covers over 60 countries. The NordLynx tunneling protocol ensures you stay protected even when using public Wi-Fi. NordVPN also boasts Smart DNS features that grant you access to streaming sites even when your device doesn’t support VPN connections.

NordVPN also employs stringent security measures by utilizing a reliable kill switch that protects you from possible data leaks. You will enjoy six simultaneous connections regardless of the operating system you’re using when you choose NordVPN. The VPN’s lowest plan can be unlocked for $3.49 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

PureVPN

PureVPN is available in over 78 countries and holds over 6,500 servers. Its WireGuard tunneling protocol makes it one of the fastest VPNs in the market. It comes with a functional kill switch that ensures your data is well-secured. PureVPN allows you to use your VPN account across ten devices, ensuring you don’t miss out on your favorite local sports show. With a 31-day money-back guarantee, the lowest plan in PureVPN costs $2.08 monthly.

SurfShark

Based in the Netherlands, this VPN is present in over 100 countries and hosts over 3,000 servers. Though slower than the two VPNs listed above, SurfShark still works well enough for streaming services. Similar to PureVPN, SurfShark uses the WireGuard protocol and, like NordVPN, utilizes the Smart DNS feature. Accidental data leaks on this VPN are avoided by using a functional kill switch, and you get to connect an unlimited number of devices to your Surfshark VPN account. For the simultaneous access that the VPN offers, the $2.30 per month is a very reasonable offer.

ExpressVPN

If you’re looking for a VPN that provides users with top-notch performance, ExpressVPN is your best plug. No one wants to experience glitches when following up on a match; every second is crucial. The Lightway Protocol used by this VPN ensures that you enjoy buffer-free playback. This VPN also boasts RAM–only servers, meaning your data stays protected through regular purging of the VPN database. It is the only VPN that offers a free trial before you can commit to it. Its lowest membership plan starts at $6.67 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost VPN

This VPN is a convenient choice for catching up with local blacked-out sports shows. Boasting the highest number of servers in this list, CyberGhost VPN hosts over 10,000 servers in over 90 countries. Starting at $2.19 monthly, this VPN is one of the most affordable ones in the market. It also features one of the most extended money-back guarantees that goes for 45 days.

VPN Selection Tips for the Best Watching Experience

VPNs create a very seamless streaming experience for users. It doesn’t matter which type of sport you’re looking for; a VPN ensures you never miss out on the action. Yet, as if that wasn’t enough, this software serves even greater benefits. But like everything else, you’ll need to conduct extensive research to select the best VPN. The features below will help you pick the

Streaming Capabilities: You should choose a VPN that provides excellent streaming capabilities allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted viewing by enhancing the streaming speeds. A VPN can bypass your Internet Service Provider (ISP) bandwidth throttling system to achieve these high speeds. However, in most cases, the bandwidth of a VPN is lower than the maximum you can get through your ISP alone.

Extensive Server Network: You can always catch up on your local sports shows even when traveling because VPNs allow you to access geo-restricted streaming platforms. But you should ensure that the VPN you pick has a lot of servers in your desired location. This VPN will ensure that its servers aren’t overcrowded, providing a great streaming experience.

No Data Capping: You should pick VPNs that don’t limit data usage. Unlimited data capping is ideal because streaming requires a lot of data for good resolutions.

Easy to Use: Selecting an intuitive app is essential in ensuring that navigating the app is straightforward. You’ll want to pick a VPN app that boasts a user-friendly interface because it will help you connect to the servers easily and make streaming local sports easy.

Customer Support: You should pick a VPN that readily offers technical support whenever you face an issue when utilizing their streaming service. VPNs with features such as email support and live chat are perfect avenue solutions.

FAQs

Is watching local sports through a VPN legal?

VPN usage by itself is legal in most countries. But, you should check your VPN’s Terms of Service to ensure that you stick to the law though most of them don’t take any legal action even if you do.

Why are local sports geo-blocked by broadcasters?

These services are geo-blocked because of the copyright license restrictions to force you to pay to access the content and boost live sport ticket sales.

Can you use a free VPN to stream live local sports shows?

Yes. However, it’s important to note that you may experience data capping issues and also overcrowding of servers that can affect internet streaming speeds. Some free VPNs also have less than great security and might sell your data or network logs to third parties.

Catch Up on Your Favorite Local Sports Shows With VPN

VPNs come in handy in ensuring you stay up to date with your favorite local sports shows. The best part about it is some of them are free of charge, so there is a VPN for everyone, depending on their preference.

What’s your favorite sports streaming site? Have you used VPN to access it? Let us know in the comments section below.