We are just days away from the biggest horse race in the world, and it is time to get prepared. If you managed to get a ticket to watch the race in person, congratulations! This is going to be an experience of a lifetime, especially considering that this is their 150th Anniversary and it is going to be something special.
However, for those of us who not only don’t have a ticket for the race but also live outside the US, watching the Kentucky Derby requires a lot of setting up.
The goal is to secure a way to watch the race, learn how to bet on horse racing with TwinSpires, place some bets, and enjoy the race.
This is a US race that will be broadcast live on NBC and the Peacock app, and both of them are available only to US residents.
So, what does this mean for people living outside of the US? Can they watch the Kentucky Derby live?
Check if the Local TV Network Bought the Rights of the Race
In the past, the Kentucky Derby organizers sold the rights overseas to multiple TV networks, which means that maybe your local sports TV channel will broadcast the race life.
So, before you start digging into complicated setups like VPN and other apps, it’s best to check whether or not some of the sporting channels on your Cable TV purchased the rights for the Kentucky Derby. You can usually do that by checking their website or future programs.
We’ve seen TV channels like Sky Sports, Sports Club, Fox Sports, TSN, and others that have purchased the rights for the race, and they are available in Europe, Asia Australia, and Canada.
So, do some digging up and find out whether you get lucky.
Online Streaming Platforms
But what if you don’t have access to Cable TV and you still want to watch the race? Well, there is a solution.
If you don’t have cable TV but you want to watch some sporting channel, you can do that by subscribing to a streaming platform.
There are many streaming platforms like FuboTV, YouTube, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and more. These platforms will allow you to access some of the world’s most popular sporting channels.
However, some of them are limited to your geolocation, meaning that you cannot make an account if you are coming from an unsupported country. Unless you are using a VPN.
These streaming platforms cost from $15-70 per month, but most of them offer a free trial, which means that you can sign up, watch the race on a free trial, and cancel your subscription.
KODI
Kodi is a quite powerful platform that will enable you to get access to multiple channels that will broadcast the Kentucky Derby.
However, before we move on with this option it is important to mention that Kodi operates in the grey area. In some places using Kodi is illegal due to copyright laws, and in some places, you won’t get in trouble.
But the truth is, you are getting access to all kinds of TV channels, without their permission, so you might get in trouble.
If you are feeling brave, here is a guide on how to use Kodi to watch the Kentucky Derby.
First, you need to install add-ons that support some of the channels that will broadcast the race. In this case focus only on NBC, since you are sure that they will be the official broadcaster of the derby.
The next step is to find an add-on online that has NBC. There are plenty of sports add-ons for Kodi, but make sure you do some digging and find the best one that is easier to set up and has a high-quality streaming option.
Follow the instructions to install the add-on and there you go. You have access to NBC Network.
Using VPN
A more legal-friendly way is to use a VPN to get access to some of the broadcasters. If you are coming from a country outside of the US, you’ll be geo-restricted, which means that you cannot access NBC’s, TVG’s, and other apps’ content.
However, we can trick their system into thinking that we are coming from the US all with the use of a VPN. You can get a VPN for a few dollars a month, and this will enable you to bypass any geo-restrictions you’ve faced when you’ve tried to access some of the Kentucky Derby content.
It might be a bit more complicated to set up compared to turning on your TV, but it will be worth it. After all, we are talking about one of the greatest horse races on the planet. And you cannot miss the action!