In the age of technology, many sports networks have made the inevitable shift to online, offering streaming websites and apps to please their mobile fans as well as cordcutters trying to get their game on. The NBA is part of that group as they offer their NBA League Pass.
While the Pass is a bit pricey at $100 per season, (or a $50 upgrade to watch every game from all 30 teams), you can stream on a variety of devices including the NBA Game Time app for Android or iOS. If you want high quality basketball action, the League Pass offers live streaming in HD of up to 5 teams most of which can be viewed at the same time — just in case there are several major games on at once. We’re not quite sure who would have that many favorite teams!
But What’s the Catch?!
If you’re willing to fork over up to $200 and are obsessed with basketball, you might be thinking, ‘alright already but where do I sign up?!’ Here’s the catch — there’s always a catch: blackouts. That’s right, those pesky blackout rules are everywhere. If games are being broadcast on a local station or a national outlet, they won’t be available to stream. You can search “watch NBA online,” though the only results you’ll get are dodgy websites with low quality and the threat of viruses — probably not your best option.
Before you give up on your quest to catch all your favorite local games, there is a reliable fix to the blackout situation. A virtual private network, or VPN, is a alternative that’s taking the streaming world by storm. VPNs work by swapping your IP address for one connected to a server located somewhere else, making your online activity hidden from the public. One of the super useful functions this provides is that it allows you to stream content from that server’s area once you’re connected to that new IP address.
We know what you’re thinking — yes, now you can catch black-out local games when your IP address appears to be located where that blacked-out game is being broadcast. All it takes is subscribing to a VPN provider, configuring your device with their VPN software, and connecting to a server where the games you want to watch aren’t blacked out.
When it comes to choosing the right VPN provider, there are hundreds of options, some obviously much better than others. To narrow it down for you, one of our favorites is IPVanish. This service has been beating out competitors by proving to consistently be the most reliable VPN provider. IPVanish offers subscription plans for 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year, and their prices start as low as $4.87 a month. Their software is incredibly easy and user-friendly to set up, and they also offer step-by-step setup guides. IPVanish is available for a variety of devices including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. If you’re ready to bypass blackouts and catch all the local games you want, signing up for IPVanish is your best bet.
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