What Are NBA Local Blackouts?
If you have ever tried to watch your hometown NBA team on League Pass only to see a blackout message, you are not alone. NBA local blackouts exist because Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) pay billions for the exclusive right to broadcast games in a team's home market. When an RSN like FanDuel Sports Network or NBC Sports holds those rights, NBA League Pass is contractually required to block the live feed for anyone located inside that team's designated broadcast territory.
These blackout zones are determined by your IP address, and they typically cover a radius of 75 miles around a team's arena, though some markets extend much further. Games that air on national networks like ESPN, ABC, Peacock, or Prime Video are also blacked out on League Pass nationwide for the duration of the broadcast.
Why RSNs Matter
Regional Sports Networks are the local cable channels that carry the majority of a team's regular-season schedule. For decades, fans simply subscribed to cable to get their local RSN. But the cord-cutting era has disrupted that model. Several RSNs went through bankruptcy in 2023 and 2024, and many were rebranded under the FanDuel Sports Network banner. The result is a confusing patchwork: some RSNs stream through their own apps, some are available on select live TV services, and others remain cable-only.
Live TV Streaming Services That Carry RSNs
The most reliable way to watch blacked-out local games without cable is to subscribe to a live TV streaming service that includes your RSN. Here are the current options:
- DirecTV Stream (Choice plan, $108.99/month): Carries the most RSNs of any streaming service, including most FanDuel Sports Network channels and NBC Sports regional networks.
- FuboTV (Pro plan, $79.99/month): Includes select RSNs and is particularly strong for markets covered by NBC Sports regional channels.
- FanDuel Sports Network App: Some markets now offer a standalone streaming subscription directly through the FanDuel Sports Network app for around $19.99/month.
YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV dropped most RSNs in recent years, so they are not reliable options for local NBA games in most markets.
Using a VPN to Bypass Blackouts
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your real location by routing your internet connection through a server in a different city or state. By connecting to a server outside your team's blackout zone, League Pass sees you as an out-of-market viewer and unlocks the game.
Popular VPN services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all work with NBA League Pass, though the NBA does not endorse this approach. It technically violates League Pass terms of service, but enforcement is rare. Most fans pair a League Pass subscription ($14.99-$22.99/month) with a VPN ($3-$13/month) for a combined cost that is still cheaper than most live TV packages.
Other Options Worth Knowing
Some teams have begun offering direct-to-consumer streaming packages, bypassing the traditional RSN model entirely. The NBA has also been expanding League Pass to include local games in select markets on a trial basis. Check your team's official website for the latest local streaming options, as this landscape changes frequently.
For nationally televised games, you do not need League Pass at all. ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month), Peacock ($7.99/month), and Amazon Prime Video ($14.99/month) cover all national broadcasts between them.