What is a ESPN Blackout? How is my location determined if the event is blacked out?

If you’ve ever tried to watch a live sporting event on ESPN—whether through cable, a streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, or the ESPN app—and were met with a message that the event is “blacked out in your area,” you’re not alone. ESPN blackouts are a common but often confusing part of sports broadcasting.

This article breaks down what an ESPN blackout is, why it happens, and how your location is determined when a blackout is enforced.

What Is an ESPN Blackout?

An ESPN blackout occurs when you’re prevented from watching a specific live event—usually a local or regional game—due to broadcasting rights restrictions. This doesn’t mean the game isn’t happening or isn’t on TV; it simply means ESPN does not have the rights to show it in your location.

Why ESPN Blackouts Happen

Blackouts are not created by ESPN itself but are enforced due to agreements between sports leagues, teams, and regional sports networks (RSNs). These agreements determine who has the exclusive right to air a game in a certain market.

Here’s why you might experience a blackout:

• A local or regional network has exclusive rights to air the game in your area.
• The game is not sold out (in rare cases, especially in the NFL, blackouts were previously used to encourage ticket sales).
• ESPN only has national broadcast rights, and the event is being shown regionally by another provider.
• In short, a blackout is a way to protect local broadcasters and regional rights holders who have paid for exclusive coverage.

Why Do I Need To Change Location on ESPN Blackout?

When you are traveling around the US and log in to your ESPN account to watch Live TV, the app will detect which area you're in. ESPN will change its channel lineup to show whatever live channels are available in that particular region. I faced the same issues on my trip from New York to California where I lost access to all my live channels as they were replaced with Californian networks.

You can change your location from these countries for eg: ESPN in Canada, ESPN in UK, ESPN in Australia, ESPN in Mexico.

Fortunately, my work laptop had a VPN app installed for unrelated purposes but we recommend NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data.

I opened the VPN and connected to the New York server which immediately masked my IP address to make it look like I'm currently in New York. So, that is how I learned the full workaround for ESPN Live Location and I'm going to share it with you.

Basically, you only need to connect to a VPN server that matches your home city and you're all set.

How To Change Your Home Network for ESPN Blackout?

Are you ready to join me on this journey? Let's begin.

A VPN is a crucial but not the only part of changing ESPN home location. You'll need to follow a few more steps on ESPN to successfully change your location we recommend NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data.

Changing Your Home Network for ESPN Blackout

1. Simply log in to ESPN through a living room device, when you're away from home. You'll need someone at home to sign in for you because you can't set your home network while connected to a mobile network, hotspot, or shared wifi network.
2. Next, visit your "Account" page on your computer or mobile browser.
3. Then, go to the "Privacy and Settings" section.
4. After that, click on "Set or Change Home" to update your location.

Note: Every 30 days you'll need to check in through your mobile device to avoid any interruption. Make sure before doing this that ESPN allows you to change your home network four times a year.

Using a VPN for ESPN Blackout

Let me spill the beans for you on the purpose of VPNs. You can easily change your home location on ESPN using a VPN without connecting or accessing your home network. On the other hand, not all VPNs are capable of doing it.

It's not a piece of cake to get around ESPN restrictions, it uses a strict firewall and GPS tracking system to identify your location. The majority of VPNs only change your IP address, their encryption mechanism is not capable enough to further than that.

NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data stands out as a compelling choice because, on top of changing your IP address, it is a workaround for ESPN location trick.

Change Your Location With a VPN

Don't dilly-dally on applying this method because you're paying for the service yet not using it the way you want. If you wish to use a VPN to change your location by changing your IP address to access ESPN live TV, it's like giving candy to a baby. Just kick off your VPN app, connect to any of its US servers, and then log into your ESPN account.

1. Always choose a VPN that works with ESPN.
2. I highly recommend starting with NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data, which is a risk-free VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Secondly, download the VPN app and log in using your credentials.
4. Thirdly, connect to any US server that suits your region.
5. Fourthly, unblock ESPN local and affiliate programming.

The usage of a VPN is legal globally except in a few countries like China, Russia, and more, but using a VPN with ESPN is in conflict with its policy to change your location.

The following are a few tested VPNs that will easily help you change your home location on ESPN:

1. SurfShark VPN 86% OFF + 3 Months Free is a very affordable VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. It's a buck-savvy VPN that has 600+ supersonic VPN servers that are located in 25 major cities in the US. A competent VPN to get around ESPN location limits.
2. NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Datais a VPN that has reliable features such as a double VPN, which adds another extra layer of security, Onion over VPN to improve your digital privacy. It offers 1,970+ VPN servers that are located in 16 different locations in the US. A very capable VPN to override ESPN home location.

What Is a ESPN Home Network?

When you subscribe to one of ESPN Live TV plans, you can choose an internet connection as your "Home". This lets you watch the right local channels and extra features on any device you want. You have 30 days after you sign up to pick your Home network. Don't worry, you can change it later if you need to. Just follow these simple steps. Your Home network also affects how often you have to check in on your phone or tablet to keep watching without any problems. You can still enjoy ESPN when you're away from home, but some things might be different depending on where you are we recommend for NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data ESPN home location.

Does ESPN + Live TV Work on Mobile Internet?

Indeed, ESPN + live TV works on a mobile internet connection. However, it includes a couple of requirements beforehand. Before you start, make sure you have set up your home network ready. Then, you need to check in on the phone you want to use. Don't forget to do this every 30 days so you can keep watching Live TV on the go we recommend NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data.

Why Does ESPN Say I Am Not at Home?

Are you in a pickle with ESPN showing that you're not at home? Baffled thinking what does it mean and how to resolve this? Here's your answer now.

Woefully, when you watch ESPN on a big-screen device that's on a different network, you'll see an error saying you're not at home. At this point, you can decide to change your Home network or enjoy the live sports in ESPN streaming library.

"Hi ___, it seems that you're not at home" or simply stating that the user is "not at home."

If you have a ESPN subscription, sometimes you might see a "not at home" message on your app or device. This could be because you're using a different network, you changed your internet provider, or your IP address is different get NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data to to login from your home location on ESPN.

You may still face some problems with ESPN Live TV even if you try the common solutions. This could be because you're using more than one device or you've switched your home location on the app too many times. ESPN Live TV works best on a single device that's on your home network. If you change your home location a lot (more than 4 times a year), it can also mess things up.

Don't stress out if you see a "not at home" message on ESPN. I've given the simple instructions on how to fix it.

How do I Fix the Error "Your Current Zip Code and IP Address Doesn't Match on ESPN"?

If ESPN is giving you problems, you can try the steps above. Or you can reset your router to get a new IP address. After that, you can do the "Making Home Changes" steps to add your new home device to your home network with the new IP address.

How Do I Fix ESPN Home Location Override Error?

If you see a home location error on ESPN, don't worry. Here are some ways to solve it:

Update Your Home Network

If you switch your internet service provider or move to a new place, you can update your home network on ESPN. Just follow these steps:

1. To start, log out of ESPN on every device you use.
2. Then, sign in to ESPN on a device that works in your living room, like a Smart TV, an Android device, a Fire TV, or a gaming console like Xbox or PlayStation.
3. Log in to ESPN with a supported living room device i.e., Smart TV, Android device, Fire TV, or Gaming console like Xbox or PlayStation.
4. To watch live TV on your living room device, you need a home internet connection. Do not use your phone's data or a public hotspot.
5. Go to your ESPN "Account" page on your phone or computer.
6. Find the Privacy and Settings section and click on "Set" or "Change Home".
7. Click on "Set" or "Change Home" again in the same section.

ESPN Location Trick Check-In ESPN on Your Mobile Device

You don't have to be at home to enjoy ESPN on your phone. However, ESPN wants you to check in every 30 days. If you see an error, just open your app at home and it should work.

To use ESPN on your phone, you need to be on your home network. ESPN will check on this and set up your home network for you. Then you can watch ESPN anywhere in the US and enjoy your favorite shows.

Disable Your VPN App

You can watch ESPN from anywhere with a VPN. It makes ESPN think you're in the US. Otherwise, free VPNs and proxies are not capable of accessing it. You must do things to disable these kinds of apps.

ESPN Multiple Locations

If you have a ESPN Live TV plan, you can only use it in one home. To watch Live TV in another home, you need a different subscription.

Why Do I Need a VPN for ESPN Home Location Trick?

ESPN is a streaming service that only works in the US. You need a good VPN to watch ESPN from anywhere. If you travel or live in a country that blocks ESPN, you can't watch it.

You can watch ESPN+ live TV from anywhere with a ESPN location trick. It makes ESPN think you're in the US. But if you're not, ESPN will show you an error because it blocks other countries.

"ESPN isn't available to watch in your location."

ESPN geo-restriction error for international viewersDon't worry if you see a ESPN error code P-EDU121. You can solve it with a reliable VPN like NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data. It lets you watch it from anywhere.

Do you want to watch a local channel that you can't get where you are? You might get an error on your screen if you try. Sometimes live events like sports have rules about where you can watch them. They might be blocked or limited on some devices.

The sports leagues and other broadcasters who own the rights make the rules for what you can watch on different TV services. Sometimes you can't find your favorite sports events because they are hidden! You can use this trick to watch ESPN from anywhere and get around these rules.

Here's a handy tip for you: Do you want to see what channels you can get where you are and how well your network works? You can type in your zip code anytime and you'll get the answer in no time!

How To Fix ESPN Location Problem?

Sometimes, ESPN may have trouble recognizing your home network. This can happen for various reasons, such as:

• Your internet connection is not fast or stable enough.
• You are sharing your internet connection with others.
• You are using an IP address that is not assigned to a home network, such as a public or business IP address.
• You are using a VPN service to change your location.
• Your DNS server does not match your IP address location.
• Your IP address is on a list of known VPNs.

How To Enable Location Services on ESPN?

If you are new to ESPN and this is your first time setting it up on your phone or computer, you are required to enable location services. To start, follow these steps:

ESPN on Chrome

1. Click on "Settings…" in the menu.
2. On the left side of the page, look for "Privacy and Security" and click on it.
3. Scroll down until you see "Site Settings" and click on it.
4. Find the "Permissions" section and click on "Location".
5. Toggle the switch to allow sites to ask for your location.

ESPN on Edge

1. Click on the Windows icon in the corner of your screen.
2. Click on "Settings" in the menu that pops up.
3. Click on "Privacy & Security" in the window that opens.
4. Click on "Location" in the list on the left side.
5. Slide the button to turn on "Let apps access your location".

ESPN on Firefox

1. Click on "Menu" in the top right corner of your browser.
2. Click on "Preferences" in the drop-down menu.
3. Click on "Privacy & Security" in the sidebar.
4. Scroll down to the Permissions section and click on "Settings" next to "Location".
5. Click on "Add" and type in "ESPN.com" in the box.
6. Click on "Save Changes" and close the window.

ESPN on Safari

1. Open the System Settings on your device.
2. Click on "Privacy & Security" in the sidebar.
3. Click on "Location Services" in the window that opens.
4. Click on "Location Services" again to see the list of apps.
5. Find Safari and click on the box next to it to enable location services.

ESPN on Android Phones

1. Go to Settings on your device.
2. Click on "Security & Location" in the menu.
3. Select "Location" in the window that opens.
4. Turn on "Location" to allow apps to access your location.
5. Scroll down to "Recent Location Requests" and find ESPN.
6. Enable ESPN to grant it permission to use your location.

ESPN on Amazon Fire Tablet

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to see the Quick Settings menu.
2. Click on "More" to see more options.
3. Click on "Location-Based Services" to access the location settings.
4. Select "On" to allow your tablet to use your location.

ESPN on iOS Devices

1. Open the Settings menu on your device.
2. Click on "Privacy & Security" to see the security options.
3. Click on "Location Services" to access the location settings.
4. Turn on "Location Services" to allow apps to use your location.
5. Find ESPN from the list of apps and click on it.
6. Under "Allow Location Access", choose "While Using the App" to give ESPN permission to use your location only when you are watching it.

FAQs

You're almost done! Here are a few more common queries and my answers to them. Check these out to solve any issues and you'll be watching your local ESPN Live TV in a snap.

Why does my ESPN say blackout?

These blackouts simply mean that the sports match isn't available to stream in your region because it's being broadcast by one of the local channels. Fortunately, if you're not in that particular local region, there's an easy way how to get around the ESPN blackout and bypass these geo-restrictions with NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data.

How to get around an ESPN blackout?

If you're facing an ESPN blackout in your area, the easiest way to bypass it is by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN changes your virtual location, allowing you to access the game as if you're in a region where it’s not blacked out.

Steps to Bypass ESPN Blackout with a VPN:

1. Download and install NordVPN 76% OFF Deal + Free eSIM Data – one of the most reliable and fastest VPNs.
2. Open NordVPN and connect to a server in a region where the game isn’t blacked out (e.g., a different U.S. state).
3. Clear your browser cache or restart your streaming app.
4. Log in to ESPN+ or your streaming service and watch the game blackout-free.

How Many Times Can I Change My ESPN Zip Code?

ESPN lets you change your zip code anytime. This way, you can always watch your local channels on ESPN Live TV.

Why Does ESPN Need My Location?

When you use ESPN on your device, you may see a message asking you to turn on your location service. This is because ESPN needs to know where you are to show you the channels that are available in your area.

ESPN has to follow some rules when it comes to showing content from different broadcasters in the US. These rules are part of the agreements that ESPN makes with its content providers.

I Recently Moved, Can I Change My Home Network on ESPN?

Yup, you can set up, manage, or change your home network on ESPN. All you need is an internet connection and a device in your living room. Then, just log into your ESPN account and enjoy streaming your favorite shows.

Is ESPN available internationally?

No, ESPN is primarily intended for use within the United States and its territories, and is not available internationally as a standalone service. However, some ESPN original content is distributed outside of the US via Disney+ under the Star brand.