How to Bypass NHL.TV Blackouts with VPN or DNS Proxy?
NOTE: The fix below also helps Canadian users to bypass the online restriction imposed where you can only signup for Rogers Gamecenter. Using this you will get the original NHL.TV and not some Rogers limited version.
Note 2: If you don’t want to read the below, simply get ExpressVPN. End of story, that should fix it.
NHL.TV Blackout Bypass Unblock – VPN or DNS Proxy? – Register First
If you already have an NHL.TV subscription and you are facing game center blackouts on your favorite hockey games jump to the next paragraphs, please. If you do NOT have an NHL.TV subscription yet, you need to get one. Depending on your location and whether NHL.TV is supported in your country of residence you might not be able to register for NHL.TV. If that is the case, please do see the below and use either VPN or the Smart DNS proxy solution to register. You can either use your Apple ID to signup through your Apple device or register here. One thing to note is that Blackouts also occur within the same country, I.e. if you are in the US and your favorite team is playing it might well be that your NHL game will be blacked out. The supported devices for NHL.TV are: Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, PlayStation, Roku, Xbox, Sony devices. All of these devices can be supported using the solutions below. It really depends on your setup though.
NHL.TV Blackout Bypass Unblock – Use VPN
The idea of VPN or Virtual Private Network is that it allows you to tunnel your traffic encrypted to a remote server in another country. This allows you to watch Netflix USA or UK or sites in any other country the VPN server is located in. To Unblock NHL.TV blackouts you need to choose a VPN server in a country where the hockey game you want to watch is not broadcasted on TV. Countries like Brazil and Mexico work fine. You have to use a VPN service that does have those locations. ExpressVPN is the one I use because it has servers in almost every part of the world including Brazil and Mexico. You can manipulate your IP address using VPN and thus bypass NHL blackout restrictions by following these steps:
- First, sign up with a VPN provider. Make sure that that provider actually has several servers in the USA as well as abroad. You can jump over to ExpressVPN, for instance.
- Now that you have created your VPN account, download and install the VPN application. PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices are all supported.
- Launch the app and connect to an American VPN server in a state where the game you want to watch is available. You can also connect to a VPN server outside the USA.
- The last step is to head over to NHL.tv or use their native apps.
- Stream any NBA game you want black-out free.
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Unblock NHL.TV Blackout – Use Smart DNS Proxy
Unlocator is the Smart DNS proxy service I personally use. NOT all Smart DNS proxy services to provide unblock services, so make sure NHL.TV blackout unblocking is supported if you choose another service. A good Smart DNS proxy does not affect all your traffic, it only redirects the relevant portions of your traffic. Please see the below for more info on Smart DNS proxies :
- Your traffic is not actually hidden or encrypted, in return, however, your local services and channels won’t be affected
- ALL your devices are supported, all you need to do is change the DNS server on the devices you want to support or configure your router with the Smart DNS IP addresses to set up all devices in your network.
- If your ISP redirects your DNS traffic a.k.a. DNS hijacking or Transparent proxies you need to use VPN.
- Setup is easy, it takes minutes to get up and running.
NHL.TV Blackout Unblocked – Enjoy the action!
I hope either VPN or a Smart DNS Proxy did unblock NHL.TV blackouts for your and you are able to enjoy your favorite NHL Hockey games now without any regional or location restrictions. If it is Xbox, PS, Android iPhone, Ipad or your Apple TV please comment on the results!
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About Author
William Reeves
A technical wizard of 10 year experience. Certified in Linux, Ethical Hacking and all sorts of technical stuff . I did work on projects around the world worth millions of dollars. My aim is to free you the reader from location restrictions and protect your privacy.
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If I subscribe to NHL.tv or NHL live..can I watch the blackout game with a Private internet access…on a. Firestick…thanks
Hi Levi. You should be able to do so, but you need to subscribe to the International NHL.tv version first.
How do I do this process on a Roku? Am I downloading the VPN to the Roku device or somewhere else?
Hello Angus. The Roku natively doesn’t allow you to set up a VPN connection on it. There’s a workaround you can turn to however.
I’ve been using Unlocator for two seasons now and it’s worked great until recently. I had my acct. revoked for “password sharing”. Re-subscribed (for $10 because the season is almost over) and had that one revoked a week later. Tech support ended up reinstating my account, but asked if I use a VPN. Not sure if they’ve upped their game, or if I was careless and left it running on one device while trying to access it with my phone or something with my home IP address, causing it to think I was sharing my password. Hopefully I can still watch the playoffs…
Will the Express VPN work to bypass my existing NHL.tv blackouts if I am streaming on my Microsoft Surface Pro given that I understand I have to have my locator switch set to on. I stream in New York and subject to Sabres regional blackouts.
Hi JD. Yes, you should be able to use VPN to bypass NHL blackout restrictions on your Surface Pro.
So, the expressVPN works on my PC for NHL blackout bypass. However, when I try it on my Samsung Galaxy S9+, NHL app still recognizes my physical location and blacks me out. I tried setting my location services to the “pull from wifi and data” instead of “GPS, wifi and Data” because I thought since it’s GPS, then it will pull from my phone’s physical location no matter what. Yet, NHL app STILL somehow knows that I’m in the blackout zone. So frustrating.
Also, turning of location services is not a thing because NHL app REQUIRES locations be turned on before live streaming.
Does anyone else have this issue?
Just figured this out and figured I would share my results!! I downloaded Fake GPS Free app from Playstore. (I have the Galaxy S9) Set my location to Tulsa in the app, fired the NHL app up. …I’m watching Golden Knights games from Henderson now. No VPN required. (Also I turned fake location off once it started to stream and it still continued to play without disrupting the rest of the phone’s location based services) once you install the app, go to developer settings, enable mock location app and you’re good to go. Hopefully it works for you too.
NordVPN doesn’t work to bypass nhl blackout.
Jake.. it’s working for me.. are you using a VPN-ready secondary router? If so, you might just need to tweak the settings.
I’m using the NordVPN app on my iPad.
The ipad won’t work unless you find a way to mask your gps location. This can be done, but a fairly complicated process requiring the use of a pc (in conjunction with the ipad) with substantial RAM (there are youtube videos that explain the process).
At home, I have Comcast and use Apple TV and a second router connected to the primary router. The secondary router is configured with NordVPN.
I subscribed to the NHL package and access the games via the NHL App on Apple TV (still requires the use of a secondary router running VPN).
It seems like a lot, but worth the effort if you’re a big hockey fan and want to watch from home.
Just got a VPN (NordVPN) set up with a secondary router and can confirm that I’m able to watch blacked out game on Apple TV NHL.TV app.
There’s a way around gps locator on ipad (which prevents bypassing blackout, even with ipad VPN), but it involves downloading IOS app development software that requires at least 8 megs of RAM (PC). There’s a youtube video that shows what to do step by step.
I subscribed to NHLTV so I don’t feel bad about bypassing inane local blackout. The cost of extra router and VPN software much less $ than subscribing to cable for the season.
Thanks so much for this article.. can’t tell you how happy I was to watch my first game with the setup recommended here!
Hi everyone, last year I tried using a service called Private Internet access https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/ and Netfix gave me a warning error that they detected I was using a blocking service. Has anyone experienced this error when using this either with NHL or Netflix?
if i use a roku stick in another state at a condo I have that has wifi, will I be bale to sign up for nhltv and just not be able to view those local to that property? but be able to see all other games ? thank you
Hi Andy. As long as the games you want to watch are not blacked out in that region, you should have no problems. Otherwise, using VPN or Smart DNS is a must.
Will I be able to watch playoff games through nhl.tv with either of these workarounds? Last year I just went to bars and games through all the playoffs and I spent a shit ton of money. Cant do that again.
Hey Cat. Yes you can bypass blackouts on NHL.TV playoffs using either VPN or Smart DNS.
Can somebody help me with initial sign up? Do I put in a Brazilian or Mexican address when signing up for the NHL subscription? Will the billing address affect that??? Also I already have an MLB subscription for a few years now for out of town games. Will I be able to view the locals here in NY on that account. They will know I’m in NJ already. Sorry if this is primitive, but I want to make sure I’m doing this correctly. Thanks!!!
Hi Kevin. Your billing address has no effect. You could either choose a Brazilian or Mexican address. You can also bypass blackout restrictions on both MLB.tv and NHL.tv simultaneously. If you need more help, just let me know.
Does this work with ps4 in canada
Hello Paul. Yes, you can bypass NHL.tv blackouts on PS4 in Canada as well.
I’m trying to use a VPN to use the nhl.tv app on my iphone, but it is not working. It does work on my laptop with the website based one.
Hi Adam. Unfortunately, the new NHL.TV app on iPhone, iPad, as well as Android, uses location services. That is why you will not be able to bypass NHL blackout restrictions on these devices.
So there is no way around it with an iPad whatsoever?
Downloaded VPN express and purchased gamecenter. Local game still blocked. Help!?!? B
Hi Dee. On what devices are you trying to watch NHL.TV?
TunnelBear VPN is not woking on the new app. Mexico or Brazil. Or anywhere else.
Hi. It seems a lot of VPN and Smart DNS services are not able to bypass blackouts on the new NHL.TV app. However, I’ve tested Unlocator and can confirm that I was able to bypass blackouts on NHL.TV on Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One/360, PS4, and PS4 using their Smart DNS service.
Since the switch to NHL.tv, I have been blacked out off local market games using a Roku 3 and going through Unlocator. Any hints or tips to make it work? Thanks
Hi. Did you make sure Unlocator DNS is properly configured on your router? Have you tried contacting Unlocator support regarding the issue? I’m sure they’ll help you out.
Difficult to get working again for me also. I finally had success on my home network using vpn Sweden server and spoofing my location to Cancun. When I try it in my Sprint network I get message “NHL app cannot reliably verify your location” a couple times, I kill the app, then it works. What a pain in the ass. What is so wrong with not being meat a tv in your local area and wanting to watch your home team. Blackouts are bullshit. Needs to be a lawsuit about that…
I try to purchase the nhl game center live product but it says unavailable in your region.
Hi. Are you using Smart DNS or VPN to purchase NHL GCL?
Great Info!
At home, my internet connection feeds both my personal gear, and my work gear. There is a Cisco VPN Router (881-W) between the internet connection and my work gear. My personal gear includes a Roku, and it does NOT go thru the VPN Router.
I’d like to use Unlocator so i can subscribe to Gamecenter Live and use my Roku to watch Flyers games and avoid blackouts.
I’m concerned that if i use Unlocator, it will confuse and/or conflict with my work VPN connection.
Any suggestions?
thx much!
feenyman99
I have a German Game Center account and a VPN (set to Germany) however when I am in Canada I cannot log in without having this Rogers try to subvert me.
Hi. Are you positive that you’re getting a German IP before accessing NHL Game Center? The NHL Game center website is not the same as the Rogers NHL Game Center site.
Update: I can watch the game on my android tablet 4.2.2 however when I attempt to cast my TV shows me as blacked out. However when I tab-cast from my MacBook Pro (with cloak) it works. It looks choppy compared to casting from the NHL app. And it is not the Rogers version of the app. Very confused.
When I say cast I am referring to Chromecast, within the NHL app. And it does cast the out of marke games.
Hi, would you know by using Unlocator smart DNS Proxy would I be able to get NHL playoff games? Does the proxy set the location in Europe?
Hey. Yeah Unlocator should allow you to watch the NHL Playoff games.
Thanks!
I tried this last year, and the app requires your GPS to be on so they can double check your location. If your GPS says you’re not in Mexico, they’ll still lock you out regardless of where you tunnel your stream through. If your GPS is off, it won’t boot.
So annoying. It’s not like I didn’t pay to watch these games – last year I paid twice both via my cable package and nhlGCL. God forbid I’m not strapped to a sofa while watching.
I just saw that Gamecenter is not available to purchase in the US during the playoffs. I switched my VPN to Germany and found it could be purchased for 30 US dollars. Would I be able to purchase with a US billing address?
Yes that should not be a problem
Hi, my question might be a bit of topic, but, do you know if blackout restrictions also apply in Mexico? I have a NHL Gamecenter live account and just recently got a blackout message on a Coyotes Oilers game, I don’t know if it will be the same for the playoffs when sky sports and espn broadcast it here in Mexico as well? Could I benefit from Unlocator as well?
Normally Unlocator would fix this, however most ISPs in Mexico do apply transparent proxies, in that case try VPN with a location in EU
Would i need to install Unlocator on my computer or does the router need to be changed? I was hoping to be able to use Chromecast on my tv to get NHL gamecenter. That’s really all I care about. Thanks for the info!! Not sure I know what I’m doing but it sounds easy enough that I might try it.
The best way out would be to ask the support of the service you are using, but chromecast does need router changes.
This is my problem also. I use my laptop to watch NHL.TV or Chromecast it to my tv.
What exactly do I ask my internet provider (COX) for?
Hi David. If you setup Unlocator DNS on your laptop or router you can bypass NHL.tv on that device. However if you wish to cast games from your PC to Chromecast, you might need to setup static routes to block Google DNS as well. Otherwise, your Chromecast will use Google DNS instead of Unlocator DNS.