Blackout restrictions on Max
Depending on your location, some live sports games can't be streamed due to league blackout policies. A game may be unavailable in a location regardless of where it's being played.
To find out if you can watch a game from your location, go to our Digital Assistant Game lookup tool. If you enter your ZIP Code, we'll let you know if you can watch the game from your location.
If a live game is unavailable at your location, you'll get a blackout restriction message when you try to watch it. If a game is blacked out for your location, check your local listings to find out where the event is being broadcast in your area.
'This event is blacked out in your location' message
If you're getting a 'This event is blacked out in your location' message when you try to watch a game, there may be a blackout restriction for your location.
If you don't think you should be getting a blackout restriction message, choose the device you're using and follow the steps below.
Choose the device you're using:
Try the following steps:
First, find out if a game has blackout restrictions for your location. Here's how:
- Go to our Digital Assistant Game lookup tool, and enter the team or league you're trying to watch (e.g. enter Denver Avalanche or NHL).
- Pick the game you want to watch and we'll check for blackout restrictions.
- If the game has blackout restrictions, enter your ZIP Code.
If there isn't a blackout restriction for your ZIP Code, go to Step 2.
Max determines your location using location-based services.
To watch live sports, you need to share your location. Here's how:
- Choose a live game and share your location when prompted.
If you don't get a prompt to share your location, check your device settings:
- Android: Go to Settings > Location > App location permissions and then choose Max. Here you can give Max access to your device's location. For more info, go to Google's Location settings article.
- iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and then choose Max. Here you can give Max access to your device's location. For more info, go to Apple's Location services article.
Once your device's location is shared, try watching the live game again.
If a Wi-Fi network is available, try connecting to a wireless network instead of using your cellular data connection (on your device go to Settings and connect to a Wi-Fi network).
Once your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, try watching the live game again.
Try restarting your modem and router. Here's how:
- Turn off or unplug your phone or tablet with Max.
- Unplug the power from your network devices (modem, router, etc.).
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the power to your modem and wait for it to connect to the internet (about a minute).
- Reconnect the power to your router and wait for it to connect to the internet.
- Turn your phone or tablet back on, open Max and try watching the live game again.
If you still get a blackout restriction message, gather the following info and contact us via our Digital Assistant.
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Your IP address (open a browser and type 'what is my IP address' to get this)
Try the following steps:
First, find out if the game has blackout restrictions for your location. Here's how:
- Go to our Digital Assistant Game lookup tool, and enter the team or league you're trying to watch (e.g. enter Denver Avalanche or NHL).
- Pick the game you want to watch and we'll check for blackout restrictions.
- If the game has blackout restrictions, enter your ZIP Code.
If there isn't a blackout restriction for your ZIP Code, go to Step 2.
If the game doesn't have blackout restrictions for your location, your IP address might be blocked or incorrectly identified.
To fix this, disable your VPN, proxy, or anonymization service so that your IP address is not blocked. Now, try watching the live game again.
Try restarting your modem and router. Here's how:
- Turn off or unplug your computer.
- Unplug the power from your network devices (modem, router, etc.).
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the power to your modem and wait for it to connect to the internet (about a minute).
- Reconnect the power to your router and wait for it to connect to the internet.
- Turn your computer back on, go to max.com and try watching the live game again.
If you still get a blackout restriction message, gather the following info and contact us via our Digital Assistant.
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Your IP address (open a browser and type 'what is my IP address' to get this)
Try the following steps:
First, find out if the game has blackout restrictions for your location. Here's how:
- On your phone, tablet, or computer, go to our Digital Assistant Game lookup tool, and enter the team or league you're trying to watch (e.g. enter Denver Avalanche or NHL).
- Pick the game you want to watch and we'll check for blackout restrictions.
- If the game has blackout restrictions, enter your ZIP Code.
If there isn't a blackout restriction for your ZIP Code, go to Step 2.
If the game doesn't have blackout restrictions for your location, your IP address might be blocked or incorrectly identified.
To fix this, disable your VPN, proxy, or anonymization service so that your IP address is not blocked. Now, try watching the live game again.
Try restarting your modem and router. Here's how:
- Turn off or unplug your TV.
- Unplug the power from your network devices (modem, router, etc.).
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the power to your modem and wait for it to connect to the internet (about a minute).
- Reconnect the power to your router and wait for it to connect to the internet.
- Turn your TV back on, open the Max app and try watching the live game again.
If you still get a blackout restriction message, gather the following info and contact us via our Digital Assistant.
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Your IP address (open a browser and type 'what is my IP address' to get this)
