How to Watch Filipino TV Abroad in 2024

Filipino TV that you can watch online for free includes the channels TV5, GMA News TV, ABS-CBN, CCTN GMA 7 and more. Unfortunately, if you’re abroad for any reason, such as for a business trip, a vacation or because you’re living abroad as an expat, you’ll find that it’s impossible to access Filipino TV.

The reason is because you’re trying to connect with a foreign IP address. If you want to access Filipino TV, you have to have a Filipino IP address, but if you happen to be in, say, Australia, you’ll have an Australian IP address. Filipino TV streaming providers won’t like that and will boot you off their digital platform.

Can a VPN Help Me Watch Filipino TV?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you regain access to your favorite geo-blocked content.

By connecting to one of a VPN provider’s servers in the Philippines, it will give you a Filipino IP address (temporarily). With that Filipino IP address, Filipino TV streaming services will have no choice but to open the gates wide to their digital content.

But not all VPN providers are the same, and not every single one is up to unblocking Filipino TV. Luckily for you, you have a VPN expert on your side, and I’ll give you all the information you need about the best VPN for unblocking Filipino TV.

In this article, I’ll explain how and why Filipino TV is blocked and also let you know which VPN provider is the best choice for gaining access to Filipino TV again. (Hint: It’s ExpressVPN).

Why Do Filipino Streaming Services Ban International Viewers?

You could complain to your favorite Filipino TV streamer that you have a subscription, and that you should be able to watch Filipino TV from anywhere, but it wouldn’t do you any good. Filipino TV is geo-restricted.

The reason is because online streaming services make contracts with TV and movie studios that include the caveat that the content is restricted to viewers currently located within the Philippines.

This results in a lot of profit for TV and movie producers. Instead of viewers in just any country accessing the content they want in one location, they have to find it available from multiple different providers in their home country. That way, TV and movie producers can sell their content in those countries to more video streaming providers.

There’s also the pesky little issue of restrictive governments. These oppressive governments don’t want their citizens watching just anything, as they might get ideas or watch what the government deems as “immoral.” To avoid issues with these governments, streaming providers restrict their content access.

How Geo-Restrictions Work

Streaming providers are able to restrict their content by rejecting all users with a foreign IP address.

What is an IP address? An IP address is something every internet-connected device has. It identifies your device on the internet, letting other devices know where a request came from and where a response needs to go.

You can think of it like a home address for your device. A home address lets postal carriers know where mail came from and needs to go, like how an IP address lets other devices know where a request for, say, a website came from, and where access needs to go.

But IP addresses, like home addresses, reveal your physical location.

Video streaming providers in the Philippines take one look at your foreign IP address and refuse to let you access their local content.

How Can I View Filipino TV If It’s Blocked?

The answer to all your Filipino TV-related woes is a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

All you have to do is connect to a VPN’s server in the Philippines. This server will hide your true IP address and make you appear to have a new (albeit temporary) IP address in the Philippines.

Content providers will see this Filipino IP address, and all the content you’ve been anxiously waiting for will be at your doorstep.

The process is simple. Just complete the following steps.

1. Subscribe to a reputable VPN provider (I strongly recommend ExpressVPN).
2. Install its app(s) onto your device(s).
3. Open up the app and connect to a server located in the Philippines.
4. Visit your favorite Filipino TV streaming service.
5. Enjoy the show!

You could be located anywhere in the world, but for all the internet knows, you’re in the Philippines. Watching Eat Bulaga! will just be a matter of a couple clicks of a mouse.

But VPN service providers have a lot of advantages to them, not just unblocking video streaming content in other countries.

A VPN can unblock other services that are routinely geo-blocked, such as music streaming services, gaming servers and content, and financial services.

VPN services also cover your connection in a blanket of encryption, keeping the prying eyes of governments, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and bad guys far away from your online activities.

Public WiFi hotspots are a hazard to your online health because they ordinarily lack much encryption, meaning hackers have easy access to the personal, business and financial information of their users. But a VPN’s encryption prevents hackers from having any access to your data.

Your ISP may also have the nasty habit of throttling your internet connection speeds when you’re P2P file sharing or streaming from certain “unapproved” services. But VPNs can stop ISP throttling because of their encryption, which prevents your ISP from having any idea what you’re up to.

Which VPN Is the Best for Unblocking Filipino TV?

Most VPNs used to be capable of unblocking all sorts of international TV, but unfortunately, times have changed.

Filipino TV streamers have realized that VPNs are enabling international customers to access their content from abroad, and have figured out how to block the VPN IP addresses that they’re using.

VPN service providers then have to replace the IP addresses that the streaming providers have blocked with new IP addresses. But then, the streaming services just block those new IP addresses, and the game continues.

This is a tough game to play, and not all VPNs are up to the challenge. It takes a lot of resources and a desire on the part of the VPN to continue to provide access to international content, and not all VPNs have the resources or desire.

Thankfully, there is a VPN that has a long track record of succeeding at unblocking Filipino TV from abroad. That VPN is ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN

Apr 2024

ExpressVPN is the top VPN for providing access to Filipino TV from anywhere.

ExpressVPN can unblock Filipino TV, and its speeds are fast enough to allow HD or 4K viewing. Apps for all of the most popular devices are available, and customer support is only ever a few clicks away. The provider protects your connection with military-grade encryption and never keeps any logs of your online activities.

Read the full ExpressVPN review here.

1. Connection Speed

When you’re watching Filipino TV, you don’t want to have to deal with long buffering times or have an unclear picture. That makes fast connection speeds a definite need for your Filipino TV-binging sessions.

ExpressVPN’s speeds have always been consistently fast, providing reliable access to 4K and HD streams. Those speeds are also optimal for online gaming and file sharing.

ExpressVPN doesn’t believe in restricting your connections with data caps or bandwidth limitations.

2. Multi-Platform App Support

You don’t want to be restricted to only a couple of devices when you’re trying to watch Filipino TV, so having a VPN that offers plenty of app support is essential.

ExpressVPN offers extremely wide app support, including apps for the iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire and Chrome OS devices. There are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and even Edge, and you can connect all of your devices through one point of access thanks to comprehensive router support.

ExpressVPN also offers what it calls its MediaStreamer DNS service, which allows customers to stream international TV (like Filipino TV channels) from abroad on devices like gaming consoles, smart TVs and other set-top boxes. Just keep in mind that the service doesn’t encrypt your connection like the VPN service does.

You can connect up to 5 devices to the VPN’s servers at one time on one account.

3. Customer Support

While using ExpressVPN, questions may come up, and when that happens, you won’t want to have to wait a while for the answers.

ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live support chat, meaning support agents are available around the clock to answer your questions. There’s also email support, a trouble ticket tracking system and an easy-to-search support library.

4. Global Server Coverage

You’ll have no problem finding Filipino servers to connect to when using ExpressVPN. However, it’s possible that you may one day want to check out what other countries have to offer in the way of content, so a VPN’s global server coverage is definitely something to consider.

ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers that cover the globe in more than 90 countries, the Philippines being one of them.

5. Privacy and Security

Your online security and privacy is assured when using ExpressVPN. The provider keeps your online activities incognito, thanks to its use of military-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, a kill switch, a proprietary Lightway connection protocol and much more.

All ExpressVPN servers are run free from user logs, meaning there will never be a record of any of your online activities. Plus, all ExpressVPN servers are run 100% from RAM, with no data ever being written to a physical hard drive. So, all data is securely and completely wiped whenever a server is rebooted or shutdown.

6. Pricing

ExpressVPN offers a premium service – at a premium price. But if you don’t mind spending a few bucks more than average for excellent service, you’ll definitely find yourself happy with the provider.

ExpressVPN offers a no-risk, 30-day money-back guarantee.

Visit ExpressVPN.

Methodology for Assessing VPNs for Watching Filipino TV From Abroad

If you’re a Filipino expat or if you’re traveling abroad on business or vacation, you’ve likely discovered that you’re blocked from enjoying your favorite online content that originates back home. While a VPN can help, make sure it provides reliable access to geo-controlled content.

There are several key factors to consider when deciding which VPN to use to gain access to Filipino TV from abroad:

• Connection speed: When it comes to streaming your favorite TV shows and movies in HD and 4K, fast speeds are a requirement. ExpressVPN delivered top five speed in my most recent connection speed tests.
• Server network: Watching TV from outside of the Philippines or any other country requires an IP address assigned to users inside of that country. ExpressVPN has a high server count in many countries, which means the server you’re connected to shouldn’t be overloaded with too many users.
• Streaming: Reliable unblocking of video streaming content in other countries is an important factor. In addition to Filipino TV, ExpressVPN offers reliable access to streaming services around the globe, including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more.
• Value: The features and functionality of a VPN should justify its asking price. ExpressVPN provides excellent value.
• Ease of use: A VPN should offer apps for popular device platforms so that your favorite viewing devices are supported. Easy to use apps provide a way to quickly connect and begin viewing your favorite streams. ExpressVPN provides easy-to-use apps for most popular device platforms.
• Security and privacy: A VPN provider should provide comprehensive online security and privacy. Banking-level encryption, an automatic kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection are a minimum. VPNs should never save server logs of your online activities. ExpressVPN follows all of these rules while also providing additional protective features.

My research does not end here. The above factors and features are just part of my overall VPN testing methodology. My approach allows me to have an in-depth understanding of VPNs and their services, allowing me to recommend only those that are a good fit for your favorite online activities.

How to Watch Filipino TV channels Abroad FAQ