MLB.tv getting around local blackouts

locknload

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
3,773
Haverhill MA
I figured it was worth starting a new thread on this even though we have a generic MLB.tv (new threads are good right?)

I live on the north shore and finally decided I'm pulling the trigger this year on MLB.tv as long as I can find a reasonably easy way to get around the region black out that meets my two major use cases, I'm also ok paying a a couple bucks a month for convenience:

1. In my own home. Wife is watching something on TV want to be able to sit with her on the couch and keep eye on the game on my android tablet.
2. At work. If i had to I could use my phone/bring in my tablet and connect to the guest network if the solution was device specific, but preferably I would like to just watch via my work pc.

Googling around there are a ton of VPN type browser plugins services or apps but rather than dig through reviews I was hoping someone here had some first experience with something they liked.

One suggestion I had made that takes care of #1 is https://adfreetime.com which will work at home as its setup on your router and covers all devices connected to that connection (added benefit of killing ads) but it seems it would be a pain during work day games as I would either need two accounts or swap my one account around.
 

inJacobyWeTrust

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 12, 2007
1,245
Watertown
During the 2013 ALCS I was in Maine with no TV service (but internet, obviously). I purchased the MLB.tv international package and used ZenMate to change my location to Germany or London or someplace and was able to watch that way. It also worked for watching the last season of Breaking Bad on British Netflix before it was posted in the US.

Not sure this works for tablets or other devices though.
 

trekfan55

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 29, 2004
11,588
Panama
During the 2013 ALCS I was in Maine with no TV service (but internet, obviously). I purchased the MLB.tv international package and used ZenMate to change my location to Germany or London or someplace and was able to watch that way. It also worked for watching the last season of Breaking Bad on British Netflix before it was posted in the US.

Not sure this works for tablets or other devices though.
About that, Netflix is cracking down on VPNs and ther services.

But while we are at it, Unotelly works great (except with Netflix).
 

locknload

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
3,773
Haverhill MA
As an update. I bought the package, and am watching the opener using zenmate plugin for chrome. Its VPN'ed through Germany and works and looks great. Downside is I'm on the Zenmate premium trial and the premium service seems farily expensive at 7 bucks per month. Once the the premium service ends we'll see how the free version works.
 

Marceline

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2002
6,441
Canton, MA
There are plenty of cheaper VPN services out there. I use privateinternetaccess.com which is $39.95 per year.
 

derekson

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 26, 2010
6,243
I just use free proxy servers. The trick is that it only needs to be active when it does the location scan. Once the stream starts buffering you can disable the proxy server, so it doesn't actually need to be fast enough to proxy the stream itself.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,204
I've been looking at adfreetime and may pull the trigger tomorrow when I test during the Sox game. Two big advantages: it does it via DNS and not VPN, so you're not limited by the bandwidth or connection of the VPN server you're using. I can make the configuration change in my router and this have this work even for a Roku.
 

SumnerH

Malt Liquor Picker
Dope
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
31,900
Alexandria, VA
I just use free proxy servers. The trick is that it only needs to be active when it does the location scan. Once the stream starts buffering you can disable the proxy server, so it doesn't actually need to be fast enough to proxy the stream itself.
If you just start the stream buffering and then turn off the proxy, the connected stream is still going through the proxy (and limited by its speed). You'd have to close the connection and reconnect it without the proxy running to make it direct. You might be able to do that after the location scan (I'm not sure when/how they location scan and how often they repeat it), but just turning off the proxy while already connected isn't going to buy you anything.
 

derekson

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 26, 2010
6,243
I'm not a network engineer and I won't pretend to know the underlying connection timing or anything, but I can tell you I've been doing this for years and it works. And the free proxies I use can barely load a full text page and could never carry the streams.

I'm guessing that the stream itself is not carried via HTTPS and thus doesn't get proxied, but I've never looked into it.
 

locknload

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
3,773
Haverhill MA
So to get this to work on my Android tablet required a bunch of hoops last night.

1. Set Android developer options to "Allow Mock Locations"
2. Set Location services to use GPS and Wifi to determine location
3. Turn on proxy service (I used Zenmate) and redirect myself through Canada
4. Use ip lookup to find the location proxy service was hooked to (Montreal)
5. Use GPS Spoofer to mark myself to the same location (Montreal)
6. Turn off Android developer options to "Allow Mock Locations" (apparently the app will always fail with this option set)
7. Start stream
8. Turn off zenmate


I maybe able to cut out a few of these steps, but I tried quite a few iterations (Such as Location to powersaving Wifi only through vpn, and GPS only through Spoofer) before landing on this set of options that worked. I spent long enough playing with it that once I got the stream going I decided to just watch the game.
 

bakahump

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 8, 2001
7,522
Maine
OK so probably touched on in one of the multiple threads about the MLB package but I cant seem to find this specifically.

I have a PS3 and a Tablet.
I have a physical address in Atlanta I can use. (actual location would be in Maine)
Billing address would be in Maine (I could probably use the Atlanta address if need be but its more of a pain).
IP address would be in Maine.

I want to download MLB on the PS3 and the Tab.....watch it from my Maine Address... (maine IS a blackout location). Give them Physical address of Atlanta.

Will this fly?

I dont really want to spoof IPs or use VPNs.

I would think if I had this on my Tablet and "lived in Atlanta....and came to Maine for Business"....that I would be able to watch the Sox. But that the Braves would continue to be blacked out. (which is fine). Or is the system "smart enough" to see a Maine IP....and Blackout the Sox. Just like If I go to Cleveland it would be smart enough to see an Akron IP and black out Indians games.

I guess the question is does the IP matter to MLB. (seems like alot of coordination between Timewarner and MLB to tell them that IP such and such is in this physical location....and thus should be blacked out).

Another plausible scenerio is I pay for MLB and live in Atlanta.....I go to my camp in Maine....which also has a PS3. Does Atlanta Stay Blacked out....or does it change to the Sox?
 

Marceline

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2002
6,441
Canton, MA
It's entirely based on IP (or the android location service if you're on an android tablet). The billing address is irrelevant. You need to use a VPN to get around the blackout.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,204
No need to use a full VPN. I was able to get adfreetime working tonight and am happily watching the Sox in suburban Boston. Only $2/month and it uses your full bandwidth.

https://adfreetime.com

Instructions for configuring for both tablets and the PS3 on their website.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,204
Actually, Joe appears to be right as for phones and tablets. It appears to use the GPS. For Android, there appears to appears to be a workaround if you're willing to root.

You should still be okay for the PS3.
 

bakahump

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 8, 2001
7,522
Maine
Sooo....no gps on the ps3....so how do they know who to blackout? Is it billing addy?

Or where you talking I would be ok if I used the PS3 in conjunction with Adfreetime?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,204
Sooo....no gps on the ps3....so how do they know who to blackout? Is it billing addy?

Or where you talking I would be ok if I used the PS3 in conjunction with Adfreetime?
No GPS, so they'll use your IP address to block you. Adfreetime would get you around the block.