Circumventing mlb.tv blackouts...

by Scottbass on Apr 17, 2007 12:26 AM PDT Comment 33 comments

Fellow mlb.tvers, how do you get around the blackouts this year? No longer can we do the "log in before the feed starts" trick. I suppose they had to wise up to that sooner or later. I remember someone saying something about getting a fake IP address, but I don't really know what that is or how to do it. Has anyone figured out anything yet? Maybe we're outta luck. I live in LA, and don't have a tv, so I'm probably screwed for the Angels games this year.

And what's up with the broadcasting teams? I know it's usually the home team announcers you hear, but a few of the A's home games haven't been with our guys. It's interesting to hear what other announcers have to say, but that's what the away games are for.

And...scene.

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Comments

One word: Proxies.

M's fan. Our young Ace, is better than your young Ace.

by Goose on Apr 17, 2007 2:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

not sure IP will work

mlb.tv was using the credit card verification as address verification for blackout purposes. At least that's what was stated on the mosaic blog. My biggest issue with this is that people tend to want to see their (in-market) teams when they are away from home, which is half the reason for mlb.tv as I understand. So now, I'm not sure what they're using for blackouts.

by dscel on Apr 17, 2007 8:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Credit Card Verification no longer works

Last year I was able to get around MLB blackout rules by using a friend's credit card who live in Idaho. This year the trick is not working. I glad MLB is spending so much effort to keep fans from watching their product. I live in Eugene, Otegon and unfortunatly am still in the A's black out territory. I wish someone could explain how blocking out someone who lives 8 hours away is beneficial to the sport.

by Oregoneon on Apr 17, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Man is that annoying

I was born and raised in Eugene, so whenever I go home to see my family, I have the exact same problem. We don't even get A's broadcasts on TV, it's all Mariners. So basically you are stuck catching it on Gameday or the occasional ESPN broadcast. It seems odd how Eugene is blacked out from both A's and Mariners games. Good thing our commissioner doesn't understand blackouts either and doesn't seem willing to fix anything.

by baseb3383 on Apr 17, 2007 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im sitting here too

in Eugene thinking the same thing, why the heck can't I watch my A's!!!

I still haven't found a proxy that will load the mlb.tv popup. or even the mlb page for that matter. The links to the video always have a javascript error of some kind. Does anyone know how to fix that?

"If people don't know who he is, they'd better turn on the television and check him out."

by jacobo2u on Apr 18, 2007 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not all proxies will work

and when you find one, it won't work for more than a day or two. it'll take you 15-20 minutes to find one that works.

i used this one earlier today. see if it still works.

IP: 211.67.66.171
Port: 8080

by fadedash on Apr 18, 2007 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eugene

Yep, count me in as another Eugenian who's blacked out of mlb.tv. Extra Innings is fine though-- we're officially in Mariners' territory for broadcast TV so EI has the games except when we're playing the Mariners. But you can watch the A's/Mariners tilts on FSN, with the Mariners' announcers (who are tolerable).

Mini AN day in Eugene, anybody?

by LoveDemAs on Apr 18, 2007 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Make it when...

...the Vancouver Canadians are playing the Eugene Emeralds, and I might show up.

"Kotsay is 31... Kotsay's back is 127." - Jeepers

by Ozzz on Apr 18, 2007 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Civic Stadium

Hey Oz (or other A's fans), if you ever make it down to Eugene for a game, stop by Sec AA, Row 7, Seats 17/18 (that's first base end of the last row of box seats behind home plate) and say "Hi". We're usually there, especially when the Canadians are in town.

For those of you who haven't been there, Civic Stadium in Eugene is a nice park to see a game in.

by LoveDemAs on Apr 18, 2007 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

so I hear.

And the fact that the Ems often lose makes it all the nicer for away fans. :)

"Kotsay is 31... Kotsay's back is 127." - Jeepers

by Ozzz on Apr 19, 2007 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Friendly Eugenians

We're just trying to be sociable to our out-of-town guests...

by LoveDemAs on Apr 19, 2007 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Vancouver...

...we grow our 'welcome wagon' under heavy lights in a secret room.

"Kotsay is 31... Kotsay's back is 127." - Jeepers

by Ozzz on Apr 19, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Extra Innings works

I am confused, how do you get A's games through extra innings. I was informed we would be blacked out of any game not on FSN Bay Area. I have a dish specifically so I get the games on FSN, but not others. You get games through Extra Innings?

by Oregoneon on Apr 19, 2007 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heck yeah!

I won't say I get absolutely every A's game via EI, but they probably carry upwards of 120 A's games a year. More often than not it's the other team's feed, but I normally bring in the Ken/Vince radio call via MLB Audio on my laptop while I'm watching the game with the sound off on my TV (hint: use your DVR to get the TV broadcast and audio feed to synch up).

by LoveDemAs on Apr 19, 2007 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's what you do.

Call your credit card company and tell them you're changing your address. Give them a fictious address in Vermont, since it's as far from Oakland as you can get. Make sure to use a legit postcode or it won't work.

One they've changed the address on your account over the phone, you then subscribe to MLB.TV with the fake address, they run a check and find it's legit (according to your CC company), then once you're settled in, you call your credit card company and change that address right back to the real one. Sorted.

And if you need to cover your IP address, there are a bunch of IP redirect services and anonymizers on the net you can use to fake it out.

"Kotsay is 31... Kotsay's back is 127." - Jeepers

by Ozzz on Apr 17, 2007 10:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

proxies are the way to go

by fadedash on Apr 17, 2007 11:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Can you or some one else

explain to the rest of us computer illiterates how a proxy works and where to actually get one or make one up. Obviously I know it's a substitute IP address but how does one go about getting a proxy? And one that will work for such matters?

by oaktownmario on Apr 17, 2007 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure

go to a website like www.publicproxyservers.com

or just google "public proxy servers" or any variation like that.

go down the list and look at the 'anonymous' ones. it's really just trial and error finding one that works at all or works fast enough.

once you copy the IP address/port, go to (for firefox) tools --> options --> network tab ---> settings ---> manual proxy configuration

Paste the IP/port and hit apply/ok. try the feed and see if it loads. if it doesn't, try another.

the mlb.tv feeds are usually up half an hour before game time, and it takes about 15 minutes to find a working proxy. also, once you get into the feed, you can go back to your default internet settings without losing the feed (just dont close the mlb.tv window).

by fadedash on Apr 17, 2007 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

I went to the site and think I set up a new proxy connection. Essentially, I just need to disconnect my main connection, then connect with the proxy I set up, right? As soon as I connect with the proxy, my IP (assuming it's not LA-based) will allow me to watch A's-Angels games. I've got Explorer, so I couldn't use the Firefox instructions. I'm pretty sure I got it, though. Thanks for the site.

by Scottbass on Apr 17, 2007 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh yea for sure

I have watched every A's game this season on MLB.com, and I live in Vallejo. I have found that you need to use a new I.P address every day, which you can get from here: http://www.publicproxyservers.com What you do, is copy down the I.P address, as well as the port, and open up your browser, go to tools, then to Options, then to Network settings, and click on the tab that says to use a manual proxy. Paste the information in, and your good to go.

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Apr 18, 2007 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Proxies Work

I followed the advice provided by fadedash regarding this same subject a couple of weeks ago and (knock on wood) it has worked perfectly even though my CC billing addess is in Oakland and I am completely techilliterate.

by woody on Apr 17, 2007 2:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh please, allow me.

I'll just circumvrent you.

He's not going to try to kill you, I'm just going to try to doink you. -Rex Hudler

by JediLeroy on Apr 18, 2007 12:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i proudly take responsibility for that tag

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Apr 18, 2007 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

RIP, AD.

Best show ever.

He's not going to try to kill you, I'm just going to try to doink you. -Rex Hudler

by JediLeroy on Apr 18, 2007 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arrested Development?

by Scottbass on Apr 18, 2007 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

And that's why you always leave a note.

He's not going to try to kill you, I'm just going to try to doink you. -Rex Hudler

by JediLeroy on Apr 18, 2007 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classic, classic show

I just got into it not two months ago and obsessively (sp?) watched all three seasons in a matter of weeks. It's just pathetic how such a great show falls while American Idol can be shown 17 times a freaking week. With how good it was, it's amazing it even made it to the air. Why is this man crying?

by Scottbass on Apr 19, 2007 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've made a huge mistake.

by Scottbass on Apr 19, 2007 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That MLB wants to

protect the ad revenue on local TV broadcasts, I can understand. Barely. But when it's a non-televised away game, like next Tuesday's in Baltimore, does anybody know why they black out the game?

"The A's are boring because all they do is win."

by Checkswing HR on Apr 18, 2007 4:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Because they're Garret Anderson's.

"Kotsay is 31... Kotsay's back is 127." - Jeepers

by Ozzz on Apr 18, 2007 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's 523 miles from Oakland to Eugene.

And I thought being blacked out in Sacramento was bad...wow.

What's wrong with you Ducks? Can't you make the 7 1/2 hour drive to the Coliseum?

"That's a bunch of who shot John!"--Judge Judith Sheindlin

by jeepers on Apr 18, 2007 9:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Been there, done that

Actually, I get down to the Coliseum a few times per season. It's not that bad a trip, and we've got friends in Oakland we can crash with.

I usually get up to Seattle for the A's/Mariners series too. Seattle is much more convenient to Eugene (about 4 hours by car).

by LoveDemAs on Apr 19, 2007 6:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

TOR Proxy

Has anyone tried using TOR (that's a link) as a proxy? You'd need a fast machine, be best to use Firefox, but, if it works beyond that, it would be perfect (the proxy route changes constantly)

by Bronx A's Fan on Apr 18, 2007 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs