Area Restrictions Apply
How to bypass NBA Blackouts in Boston
If you live in the Boston television market, local NBA 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?
In the Boston broadcasting radius, local NBA games are subject to blackout on NBA League Pass. Live local viewing is exclusively restricted to NBC Sports Boston. To watch in-market, a TV provider carrying NBC Sports Boston is required.
Because you are physically located within the Boston broadcast zone, the NBA 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 NetworkNBC Sports Boston
- Cable AlternativesHulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
What Won't Work
- NBA League PassIf you buy NBA League Pass 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.