I finally found a use for a VPN: live TV

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I finally institute a use for a VPN: alive Tv set

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I read and hear a lot about VPNs (virtual private networks). The best VPN services are services used by some to make their computer appear to be somewhere else. They're popular for logging into remote servers, watching international Netflix to see stuff that isn't licensed for your country and hiding your activeness from your ISP (among other things).

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Stream Time is where Tom's Guide senior editor Henry T. Casey dives into the large choices nosotros brand nearly streaming media. We tackle information technology all, from the best and worst streaming services and devices, to the never-ending listing of shows to watch.

None of that really appeals to me though. I accept more than than enough Netflix to watch (I'm criminally backside), and the many other reasons just did not apply. And then I spent years thinking "yeah, VPNs are not bad if y'all have a reason."

Last month, though, on a vacation, I finally institute a reason for a VPN: to sentry live programming. And while it worked right once, that wasn't always the instance. But since I managed to utilize a VPN to see some of the live shows I wanted to, I thought I should at to the lowest degree share that data with yous.

• The 59 best Netflix shows
• Cheque out our total ExpressVPN review
• Plus: Google VPN explained

That's because of a weird beliefs from certain cable channels, such as USA and TNT. Both have Due east and W coast feeds, and that's not exactly a not bad thing. Sure, it helps the channels evidence movies during the prime fourth dimension slots, but both networks also air my not-so-guilty pleasure: pro wrestling.

And the affair about pro wrestling is that it's then much improve live. So why, I wondered, equally I stared at my hotel TV, does the USA Network air Monday Nighttime Raw at eight p.m. PT, when it'south originally circulate alive on air at 8 p.m. ET, three hours prior? Or at least why isn't the USA east declension feed easily available?

I don't want to belabor the point more than, only in an age of the constant online chat about live events on social media, this makes so little sense. TNT doesn't do this with NBA games, and is its pro wrestling prove (All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite) any less live?

How I got effectually it

So, honey reader, at effectually 5 p.m. on a Monday in Las Vegas, I watched pro wrestling at the same fourth dimension equally everyone out east. And it worked pretty easily. I opened ExpressVPN, prepare my region to New York, and opened a live Telly streaming app I was testing.

At that moment, I'd regretted not buying an USB-C to HDMI dongle so I could watch information technology on my hotel TV and not my iPad Pro, but I got to see (an OK episode of) Mon Night Raw alive. And and then at eight p.m. PT, it was fourth dimension to have dinner. Honestly, I thought to myself, this is pretty neat. I almost thought I'd rather this schedule (but that's too the signal).

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

And then if you lot're bellyaching by a Television aqueduct not showing programming alive, only on a record delay instead, a VPN may be your new all-time friend. Otherwise, I'd probably have gone hunting for the illegal east coast feeds hosted on sites that get taken down on an annual basis.

For me, I can see signing upwards for a VPN whenever I continue a trip. Information technology doesn't seem like a must-have year-circular, just your mileage (of course) may vary.

VPN didn't always work — though alternatives be

That previous Fri night, I was in a pickle. My buddy and I were hanging out in Vegas trying to observe a way to watch the hotly anticipated (you guessed it) wrestling outcome of the month: CM Punk was rumored (just not appear) to brand his render to pro wrestling. And he was going to practice it on AEW Rampage on TNT.

Simply, as you may remember, TNT is one of those channels. And for some reason ExpressVPN on my phone wasn't unlocking the TNT'southward e coast variant. Fortunately for me, my internet friend Sam (who I'd finally met and thanked subsequently that night) put me onto a tip: the TNT app has the east coast feed for free, provided you have an account to log in with.

The just other effect I had with using a VPN for fourth dimension-shifting alive programming was when trying to use it for the Fox broadcast channel. For some reason, every unmarried alive streaming service I was testing refused to give me the east coast Trick feed, no thing what country my VPN said I was in. I managed to find a style to make information technology work, just that's a story for a different article.

Be sure to bank check out my guides to the best streaming devices  (and best streaming services ) for more than recommendations. Email me at henry.casey@futurenet.com or leave a comment below with anything yous'd like to see me cover in the streaming world — I might but accost it in a future installment.

• Read next: I'm testing fuboTV to cut the cord — here's the pros and cons

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past half-dozen-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'southward Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Mag. He's too covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/i-finally-found-a-use-for-a-vpn-live-tv

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