Watching ESPN outside of the US may require a bit of extra effort, as the content may be geo-restricted to viewers in the United States due to licensing agreements.
For example, ESPN+ is only available to viewers in the United States, and some live sports events may only be available to viewers in certain countries.
To enforce these geo-restrictions, ESPN uses a technique called geo-blocking, where it identifies the location of a viewer based on their IP address and blocks access to certain content if the viewer is located outside of the authorized region. This is done to comply with licensing agreements and to ensure that ESPN is not violating copyright laws.
However, there are several ways you can try to access ESPN content from outside of the US:
- Use a VPN: Virtual Private Network allows you to connect to the internet through a server located in another country, making it appear as though you are accessing the internet from that location. By using a VPN, you can connect to a server in the US and access ESPN’s website or app as though you were in the United States.
- Smart DNS is another method to bypass geo-restrictions, where you can access ESPN content by modifying the DNS server settings in your device. It is usually quicker than using a VPN and doesn’t have a significant impact on your internet speed.
- Use an IPTV service: IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a service that allows you to stream TV channels over the internet. There are many IPTV services that offer ESPN as part of their channel lineup, and you can subscribe to these services to watch ESPN outside of the US.
- ESPN often uploads highlights and other content to its official YouTube channel. You may be able to find full games or other content on other streaming platforms like Dailymotion or Vimeo.
Note that using VPNs or other methods to bypass US geo-restrictions may violate ESPN’s terms of service or be illegal in some countries. Therefore, make sure to check the laws in your country before trying any of these methods.
Best VPN services to bypass ESPN geo-restrictions
There are many VPN services available that can help you bypass geo-restrictions and access ESPN or other streaming services from outside of the US. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and some may be more effective than others. Here are a few VPNs that are known for their ability to bypass geo-restrictions:
- ExpressVPN is a popular VPN service that has servers located in over 90 countries. It offers fast speeds and reliable connections, making it a good option for streaming content from ESPN or other services. It also has a strong focus on security and privacy, with features like a kill switch and no-logging policy.
- NordVPN is another well-known VPN service that has a large network of servers located in over 60 countries. It offers fast speeds and strong security features, including a double VPN feature that encrypts your traffic twice. It also has a no-logging policy and supports up to six simultaneous connections.
- Surfshark is a newer VPN service that has quickly gained popularity for its ability to bypass geo-restrictions. It offers servers in over 65 countries, fast speeds, and strong security features like a kill switch and no-logging policy. It also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a good option for families or small businesses.
It’s important to note that while these VPNs are effective at bypassing geo-restrictions, there is always a risk that ESPN or other streaming services may block their servers in the future. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to choose a VPN that offers a money-back guarantee or free trial so that you can test it out before committing to a long-term subscription.