We can all agree that the UK has some of the best TV channels that broadcast amazing content to its viewers. Unfortunately, access to this content is limited to the people residing in the UK only. This means that even if you are a faithful subscriber to any of the channels, you cannot access them once you check out of the county — you get automatically geo-blocked.
Therefore, if you are trying to access BBC iPlayer while in the US, Canada, Australia, or any other country, sorry you can’t — it's a matter of rights issues. Now, the big question is, can you ever watch any British channel online while abroad? The answer is yes — learn more here.
How Do You Get Blocked Geographically, and Why?
Information is power, and we are giving you this power to understand how geo-blocks work and how you can bypass them. That said, when you connect to the internet, the device you are using gets assigned with an IP address. This address helps other computers to know who they are sending information to or where they are getting requests from. That is exactly how your favorite TV channel knows that you are not accessing their content from the UK but from abroad. Their servers will reject your IP address as soon as they realize you are not in the UK — and this happens immediately — as soon as you try to connect.
But why do British television channels block IP addresses outside the UK? The most straightforward answer to this is licensing restrictions. While this is true, the main reason for geo-blocks with all broadcasters is the loss of revenue. They are making money when they sell viewing rights to customers from different regions. So if you could access all UK-based TV programs for free while seated on your couch in the US, why would anyone pay to watch these programs?
How to Watch Any Blocked British Television Online From Abroad
As it is your device’s IP address that is revealing your whereabouts when you try to watch UK television channels, the best thing you can do is hide this address — be anonymous. In this case, hiding your IP address means getting a new IP that is located in the UK. You can only achieve this anonymity by using a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN). Get yourself a VPN for BBC iplayer, and you won’t have to miss your favorite British drama series.
A VPN will help in hiding your real IP address and assigning you with a temporary one in the UK — it makes you seem like you are in the United Kingdom. What happens is that the VPN’s server has a UK IP, which your device receives, allowing you to stream to any British television online without getting noticed.
The good thing about a VPN is that you not only watch television channels in the UK, but you can also access other content such as gaming, among other limited services. Finally, by using a VPN, you are protected from cybercriminals who are prying to observe your online activities or even plan to commit online frauds.
Which Is the Best Vpn to Help You Watch British Television Online From Abroad?
There are numerous VPN service providers in the market. And while most of these will adequately hide your IP address, you have to choose the best so as to get excellent services. This includes unblocking your favorite British television channels and providing paramount protection against cybercrimes. Your VPN should also encrypt your traffic completely without saving logs.
Things to consider when choosing a VPN
- Should have a list of UK servers to choose from
- Should allow you to access most British television contents and this includes BBC iPlayer and Netflix UK
- Should have a fast and highly reliable connection
- Must have robust security features for total encryption of data
- Should not keep logs of your online activities
- The quality of customer support — in case a streaming site notices that you are using a VPN, can you get an alternative server?
- ExpressVPN: This is one of the top best VPNs available with superfast servers, making it easy to stream to any UK TV channel without an issue. It also has superior security and privacy features — perfect for internet connection from abroad. ExpressVPN has different premium packages, and each comes with a 30-day guarantee of a monetary refund.
- NordVPN: NordVPN also comes with the numerous UK servers, which are capable of unblocking most geo-blocked channels in the UK. Their privacy and security measures are top-notch as well.
- CyberGhost VPN: CyberGhost is one of the easiest VPN to use and will help you unblock most British television channels. It is also perfect for your online protection.
- Surfshark VPN: This VPN can be used on any device and comes with superfast streaming without buffering. You are also guaranteed your money back within 30 days. Finally, you are free to watch your favorite program on UK television channels.
- PrivateVPN: If your favorite streaming site is BBC iPlayer, then PrivateVPN is perfect for you. Its privacy and security features are also remarkable.
- IPVanish: IPVanish VPN is known for its high connection speeds and privacy protection. However, it may not be good enough when trying to connect to iPlayer or Netflix UK.
Therefore;
If you do not live in the UK or you are a UK citizen who traveled abroad, just know that you are blocked from accessing your favorite TV channels in the UK. But, here is the good news — a premium VPN can help you to continue watching these programs and access much more. However, make sure that you get yourself a reliable VPN for top-notch services.
