Area Restrictions Apply
How to bypass MLB Blackouts in Boston
If you live in the Boston television market, local MLB games are subject to strict regional broadcasting rules. Here is exactly how to legally stream your teams without hitting a blackout screen.
Why are games blacked out here?
If you live in the Boston market, you are within the local blackout territory. This means live games will be blacked out nationally on ESPN+ or MLB.TV. You MUST watch on your local Regional Sports Network: NESN. Fortunately, a Direct-to-Consumer app exists to stream without cable.
Because you are physically located within the Boston broadcast zone, the MLB protects the exclusive broadcasting rights of the local Regional Sports Network (RSN). This enforces a geographical blackout on all out-of-market packages.
How to Stream In-Market
- Local NetworkNESN
- Cable AlternativesDIRECTV STREAM, Fubo
- Standalone App SetupSubscribe directly to NESN 360 without a TV provider.
What Won't Work
- MLB.TVIf you buy MLB.TV while living in Boston, you will be blocked from watching the local teams live. You can only watch archived replays after the game concludes.
- National BroadcastsIf the team plays on a national exclusive window (like ESPN, TNT, or Apple TV+), the local RSN is often blacked out entirely. You must switch to the national provider.