Now TV is a subscription-based streaming television and on-demand service owned by United Kingdom-based Sky Limited. Now TV offers access to the same content as its sister service Sky Go, without the need for home cable service or an extended contract.
While the Now TV website is accessible from around the globe, the service’s streaming content access is restricted to viewers inside the borders of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. If you’re outside of those countries, that content is inaccessible – that is, unless you use a Virtual Private Network.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can make it appear that you’re inside the Now TV viewing area, opening access to the service’s content.
A VPN can “spoof” a user’s location, making it appear as if they’re located inside the proper borders. It does this by temporarily assigning a U.K.-, Ireland- or Italy-based IP address to the user’s internet connection, which causes the rest of the internet to see them as based in one of those countries. This fools the Now TV servers into serving up their content.
A VPN also provides other useful features, such as keeping your online activities from being tracked by outsiders, preventing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from throttling or blocking your activities (like P2P file sharing), and much more.
Not all VPNs are created equal, and it’s important to know which VPN offers the best ability to open access to Now TV.
The Best Way to Watch Now TV From Abroad
Now TV is a geographically-restricted streaming service available only to viewers who have an IP address located inside the borders of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy.
Happily, there is a way for folks outside of those areas to view the content. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) opens access to Now TV from anywhere around the globe.
A VPN unblocks Now TV content by connecting your device to a VPN server located in one of the three countries Now TV is available in.
NordVPN is the best VPN for unblocking nearly any geo-blocked content, Now TV included. The provider delivers fast download speeds, has servers located around the globe (the U.K., Ireland, and Italy included), and offers optimal privacy and online security. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
Most video streaming services – including Now TV, Netflix, HBO Go, and others – limit viewing of their content to specific areas of the world. This means viewers lack access to their favorite content when they’re traveling or living abroad.
However, this doesn’t need to be the case, as a VPN can open access to all of your favorite online streaming content, no matter where you might be.
About Now TV
Now TV is an internet television and video-on-demand service, offering content from British and foreign networks, including Sky-owned channels, Fox, ABC, and many others.
In addition to a selection of live television offerings, the provider also offers on-demand content, including classic and recent movies, sporting events, and more.
Why Does Now TV Ban International Viewers?
Unfortunately, even though you pay your hard-earned money for access to Now TV, the moment you leave the borders of the U.K., Ireland, or Italy, you can no longer view your favorite shows or movies.
While you may not trust huge corporations (and who does nowadays), Now TV doesn’t block international viewers from viewing their content simply out of spite.
Instead, the geographical limitations they place on the content are due to the contracts the service signs with television and movie producers.
Streaming agreements place geo-restrictions on where the content can be made available.
This serves a dual purpose, as it allows a television or movie studio to sell the same content multiple times around the globe, and it also eliminates any issues with governments and religious groups that have guidelines that the content may not adhere to.
How Geo-Restriction Blockades Work
Every connected device you use has an IP address. An IP address acts as an identifier (much like your home’s mailing address), which allows other devices to know where an information request came from, and where the information should be sent to.
That IP address also identifies the geographical location of your device (again, like your mailing address).
That allows streaming services to identify whether or not you are located within their viewing area. If you are not, they block your device from viewing their content.
How Can I View Now TV If It’s Blocked?
If you want to view content that’s only available in certain countries, then you need to appear to be located inside that country. You do this by “changing” your device’s IP address.
The most reliable way to “change” (spoof) your device’s IP address is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A quality VPN provider has servers located around the globe. When you connect to one of these servers, your device appears to the rest of the internet as being located in that VPN server’s country.
For example, if you select a VPN server located in the United Kingdom, the rest of the internet will see your device as being located in the U.K.
Once the Now TV servers see your IP address as showing that you are located in the U.K., they will allow you to access the content you subscribed to.
However, unblocking geo-controlled content is not the only benefit of a VPN.
A VPN also encases your internet connection in a tunnel of encryption, hiding your online activities from third parties that would love to monitor your online activities. This can include your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the government, or the guy with the impressive laptop sitting one table over down at Starbucks.
By hiding your online activities, a VPN can also prevent your ISP from throttling your connection speeds or blocking your connection completely, simply because you’re sharing files via BitTorrent, or because you’re streaming movies from an “unapproved” provider.
Which VPN Should I Use to Unblock Now TV?
Once upon a time, the answer to that question would have been “pick a VPN, any VPN.”
However, streaming services – such as Now TV, Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others – have become adept at detecting when a viewer is using a VPN server to connect to their content libraries.
When this happens, the streaming service immediately blocks the IP address, shutting down the access users once had.
When this happens, it’s up to the VPN provider to set up new VPN servers, using fresh IP addresses, to restore access to the streaming service. This works great – at least until the streamer blocks that IP address and the game of virtual whack-a-mole begins anew.
What all of this means is that you need to find a VPN provider that is hanging in there and has the resources to keep the internet channels open to your favorite streaming service.
One provider offers reliable, fast, and efficient access to streaming services around the globe.
NordVPN
NordVPN delivers reliable access to Now TV and other streaming services from anywhere around the globe.
The VPN service offers comprehensive global server coverage, with servers in 60 countries. Those servers deliver blazing-fast download speeds, with no data caps of any kind. The provider’s connections are protected with bank-grade encryption, keeping your online activities well undercover.
The provider’s multi-platform support has all of the major device platforms covered and also offers protection for all of your other devices thanks to its comprehensive router support.
Read my full NordVPN review here.
1. Connection Speed
Connection speed is one of the most important considerations when you’re deciding on which VPN provider is the right one for your needs. This is especially true when using one to stream HD video, such as what Now TV offers.
NordVPN scores well in this category, delivering impressive connection speeds, which are easily up to handling HD and 4K content from any streaming service.
I have never experienced any lengthy buffering delays or any issues in streaming quality with this VPN. Also, the provider never restricts your viewing with daily or monthly data caps.
2. Multi-Platform Support
Now TV is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS (with native M1 Mac support), iOS, and Android. NordVPN offers app support for all of those devices and more.
Plus, its SmartDNS service opens up access to Chromecast, Apple TV, and gaming console users. In addition, any Now TV-compatible devices not covered above can access the service via NordVPN’s excellent router support.
Up to 6 devices can simultaneously connect to the service on the same set of login credentials.
3. Customer Support
If you have technical issues when you’re using a VPN, the last thing you want to put up with is a lengthy wait to receive assistance.
Luckily, NordVPN offers around-the-clock support, with 24/7 live support chat, email support, and a helpful troubleshooting library.
4. Global Server Coverage
While this article concentrates on how to watch Now TV from abroad, you’ll find that a VPN’s global server coverage is also an important consideration, simply because of all of the content consumption options the feature can enable.
NordVPN has 5,200+ servers located in 60 countries around the globe. That includes servers stationed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy, so it has your Now TV needs all covered.
5. Pricing
NordVPN is a surprisingly low-priced provider, charging only a pittance for its service, especially for its multi-year subscription deals.
NordVPN offers a no-risk way for new users to sample its VPN service thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
“What’s your TV got for you?” by Jaggery licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
