By Julia Newman 23 days ago, Apps and Software
If you are a sports fan, you have probably heard about the ESPN channel that broadcasts multiple sports programs covering the most important events. However, only people living in the USA can enjoy all the content, while residents of other countries have to invent different to watch ESPN abroad. Fortunately, there are several effective methods of how to bypass geo-blocks and we’ll describe them in detail in this article.
ESPN is very popular in many countries, but some sports live streams are available only to Americans. Moreover, even within the country, there are some regions where people can’t watch live games, and such a strict policy incites fans to look for ways to remove restrictions. So, if you are one of those suffering from geo-blocking and striving to get access to your favorite ESPN programs, here is a great guide for you to study.
ESPN has bought the broadcasting rights and is the only institution that can decide who and where can watch their sports programs. Besides, this television brand sells advertising slots to particular companies, choosing them with territorial advantages in mind. This is especially relevant for important matches.
That’s the main reason why people from outside America are blocked when they try to access the website. The company checks your IP address and if it is of a “foreign origin”, it shows the notification that the service is unavailable in your region. People, who have faced the problem of denied access, often rely on a VPN as the simplest way of watching ESPN abroad.
Follow these steps and see whether this approach will work for you:
STEP 1. Study the range of VPN services, choose the most suitable one. Go to the official website and decide on the subscription plan.
STEP 2. Select the app compatible with your OS. Proceed with the installation.
STEP 3. Open the app, sign in by entering the required details. An alternative way is to use a key, which you got while subscribing.
STEP 4. Look through the list of servers. Pick an American one and connect to it.
STEP 5. Once the connection is established, open the ESPN platform and watch your favorite sports programs.
The number of people using a VPN for streaming is rapidly growing and, actually, it isn’t surprising. Many streaming services, EPSN included, follow strict licensing policy, restricting the areas where people can watch movies, TV shows, series, etc. So, using a VPN, you pretend that you are on the authorized territory and thus, can watch content broadcasted there without problems.
Verdict: NordVPN is a frequent choice of Internet users all over the globe because of a huge variety of servers it operates. Besides, the speed of connection is remarkable, while its stability doesn’t raise questions.
Such a well-thought-out set of features allows you to get rid of geo-blocks in a hassle-free way and watch ESPN on the go regardless of your current location. Another praiseworthy trait is that NordVPN allows for synchronous connection of up to 6 devices, which is great news for families and small teams.
Verdict: Not only Surfshark offers an efficient way of removing geo-blocks but it also has a CleanWeb option to deal with ads and trackers.
If you want to take advantage of an American Surfshark server, you can do it in several ways. There is a standard connection plan, which offers users a static IP. Or you can choose an alternate variant and get your traffic directed through 2 full-fledged servers with the final destination being the US. Your choice should be affected by Internet freedom conditions in your country.
In addition to opening a gateway to ESPN+, Surfshark also demonstrates amazing results as a VPN for torrenting.
Verdict: Another service that allows watching ESPN anywhere is Hotspot Shield. With this VPN at your disposal, you can always stay informed about important matches and games, and keep tabs on your favorite athletes.
There is a special app for mobile devices, which adds even more flexibility to the streaming process. The bandwidth reaches 500MB per day at 2 Mbps. Since the service adheres to a zero-log policy, no one can track your online activity. The only weak point is that this VPN has no Linux-compatible version, but it works smoothly on the rest of the platforms.
Another way to circumvent bans and watch ESPN in Europe is to use streaming services. They provide channels broadcasting live and on-demand content and don’t require a cable subscription.
One of the most popular streaming services is Sling TV. It grants access to the desired content right from a browser, ESPN app or official website. The monthly fee is 30 dollars and there is also a trial period (3 days) during which you can check whether the advertised capabilities coincide with reality. The service also offers a Sling Orange subscription that “opens doors” to a whole library of on-demand content.
Hulu has also proven to be a great streaming service with a 7-day trial version. You can use it for accessing ESPN, ESPN2 and U, ESPN College Extra and News. First of all, you need to create a Basic Hulu+ Live TV account. It costs $54.99 per month and includes commercial.
The last but not least effective method of tricking ESPN territorial blocks is to rely on the Smart DNS Proxy service. It guarantees super-fast connections, after you enter a DNS server address in the network settings on your device.
However, you need to understand that Smart DNS Proxy just allows you to enjoy ESPN international live streaming, but it doesn’t cover up your online tracks. But if absolute anonymity isn’t so important for you, here is a sure way to go.
STEP 1. Choose a Smart DNS proxy service capable of unblocking ESPN and sign up.
STEP 2. Enter the DNS server address on your device. You can customize the corresponding settings on your router.
STEP 3. Open the ESPN app, website or a streaming service. Sign in.
STEP 4. Start streaming the desired content.
Smart DNS Proxy is a trustworthy instrument for shattering censorship shackles and unblocking multiple popular streaming services. If you are determined to get access to ESPN no matter how challenging the process can be, here is a good path to choose.
No, you need to pay for watching sports-centric content available there. However, some streaming services, e.g. Sling TV, allow you to take advantage of this channel free of charge for a certain time interval. Besides, VPN providers offer a money-back guarantee, which is also a cost-effective way out.
No. But you need to subscribe to a live TV streaming service to access ESPN. The most affordable service is Sling TV, mainly its Orange subscription plan. This way, you can watch live sports in HD and without speed drops.
As you've probably understood, our favorite is Sling TV. This streaming service shows the best speeds and stable operation as long as you have a VPN turned on. Besides, it costs less than similar services. Even if you decide to use another streaming platform, remember that they all require a VPN for accessing US ESPN.
There are too many devices to list them all. You can use your Android and iOS smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, Smart TVs, preinstalled browsers, Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire devices. Sometimes, you need to set up a VPN on a router, so any device connected to it will automatically work with a VPN, so you can watch ESPN anywhere.
