OT: I Actually Need Real Help to Watch the Next Three Games; Checked Bar Locator Already
Let me preface this by saying that I find the "Where do I watch the game in Southern France" threads as annoying as anyone else. I have hammered people for them. But I throw myself on my knees asking for help, as this is truly the only place I know to turn. But, I HAVE ALREADY CHECKED THE BAR LOCATOR THREAD (or at least searched it) and found nothing. That's not surprising, as one of these countries has no bars (it's dry), and the other has only a handful of Americans (though lots of U.S. servicemen and women, which could be my ace in the hole).
Anyway, I will be in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain the next three Saturdays. I strongly doubt I will be able to stream from over there, as it's usually blocked in places like this. And I am not nearly tech-savvy enough to by-pass these things. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can work around this to watch the next three games? An internet trick, some way to by-pass IP address identification that blocks me, or (low chance) some physical location to actually watch the games late night there? Any legitimate advice would be deeply appreciated.
P.S. This is not a humblebrag. I will be working. I don't want to be there at all; like, 0% desire to be there. It's not romantic or evidence of a cool or exotic lifestyle. It's working in the desert for two weeks without beer or smiles. It's bad, I'm bad, etc. So anyone with REAL ideas, please help...
EDIT: Maybe I can turn this thread into one that serves a greater good. I have gotten three options I plan to try to get the game from a foreign country that blocks internet access to streaming services:
1. VPN into a stateside network (I've downloaded one and it works, but may download a few more just to have multiple VPN options).
2. CFB Streams on Reddit. I can't really test this until there are games on, but this could be the simplest and best option.
3. Mate with a local woman and let hijinks ensue. Football somehow will be watched during this...
September 7th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
September 7th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
I think she knew exactly what jihad. Problem was, in bed, you were always trying to Ramadan her throat.
Thanks folks, we're here all week...
September 7th, 2017 at 11:22 AM ^
My cousin, who is a huge Michigan Fan, was stationed in Bahrain with the Coast Guard for a year. I'll check with him to see how he watched the games while there.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
Honestly, thank you very much. I will be in Bahrain at least one weekend, and can probably escape Riyadh for a second. Having been there before (not during the season), I got to see all the U.S. military folks, and thought maybe - just maybe - there were enough there to get one of the 11,000 bars in that country tuned-in to American football...
Again, thanks! This would be huge, as I'd rather watch in public, while I have the chance to be in a bar surrounded by non-burqa-non-hijab-wearing lady people...
September 7th, 2017 at 12:39 PM ^
Definitely seek out the area where the military guys hang out. There should be bars where you'll think you're back in the US for four hours while you watch the game.
I had to do the same thing in S. Korea pre-internet and the area by the base had bars where you could get a real hamburger (i.e., not a patty on sketchy Wonder bread with sliced radishes and turnips - crazy Korean cooks), drink decent beer, and watch American football. When the games weren't on you could pop a movie in and watch it while sitting on one of the couches in the bar.
Of course, when you left you were shocked back to the country you didn't really want to be in, but it was just the ticket for watching UM football with some homies and pretending you were back home.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
I think I pay about $6/mo for 12 months. There are tons of others out there, but that's the one that I like. It's very, very easy to use. That should enable you to get past any IP blockers.
I assume you have Comcast or DirecTV as a content provider, so you should be able to stream the game like you normally would in the states, by directing your traffic through the VPN.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
Look at Mr. Fancypants, traveler of the world!! Big woop, you are going to be vactioning in paradise, while we are all stuck in our banal everyday life.
Why don't you just CHECK THE BAR LOCATOR MAP?!?!!?
I hate threads like these. In fact, I didn't even read what OP posted.... maybe I should loop back up and check it out.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
1. Opera browser has a built-in VPN. You can turn that on and then use Watch ESPN.
2. If #1 doesn't work, you can get a VPN service as others have mentioned. If the UM Alumni one works for you, that's an option. However, if I'm going somehwere and knowingly breaking the local law, I'd rather use a paid private VPN that does not keep logs so you pretty much can't get in trouble. I use StrongVPN.
September 7th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^
September 7th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
Have you considered getting a slingbox? I use one for tigers games/red wings and lions games since I live outside of Michigan. If you are worried about the connection being blocked I would definently get a VPN
September 7th, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
If you have the Slingbox hooked up to a TV that someone at home uses, you can be competing for TV time. Maybe the technology has improved, but I remember my house sitter changing to the Logo channel while I was trying to watch a Lions game. Since she didn't know I hooked up the Slingbox, I kept randomly changing the channel to freak her out. That was definitely more enjoyable than trying to watch the Lions.
September 7th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
I would just put the slingbox on the TV that gets used the least. So if you have a guest room or a secondary TV somewhere in the house that is probably the best bet.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
September 7th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
This.
If you can't use a VPN (dont know how, dont want to do so with a work computer, etc.) then using reddit to find a stream is incredibly easy.
I did this in Colombia and got a great HD stream on a hotel computer. Works like a charm.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
I was recently deployed to Bahrain and had no problem streaming games on the BTN, even without a VPN.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
Seriously, this would be ideal. I can watch the game via my laptop in a hotel bar while having a nice beer!
September 7th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
Bring a HDMI cable and have them put on their big screen. You'll be a hero.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
Might just want to quit your job. Any employer that sends a football fan overseas weekends from September - early January is clearly abusive.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^
Email this dude (I won't post his email here, but it's the same guy for both countries you are going to).
September 7th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
September 7th, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^
This article seems to be fresh off the press, but I can't copy the URL or even print. (Of course any PC magazine worth its salt would know how to protect their intellectual property.) www.pcmag.com, article dated today by Max Eddy.
September 8th, 2017 at 6:16 AM ^
I'll let you use one of my Slingboxes for free, for three weeks.
mgovault at gmail dot com