The United Kingdom’s television industry is one of the most productive and well-respected TV industries in the world. It produces excellent series and movies, which are appreciated by viewers around the world. U.K. television content, much like the content in other countries, is licensed for broadcast and streaming only to residents of the U.K.
While U.K. television streaming content is easily available for viewing by residents of the United Kingdom, most of the streaming services are blocked to viewers in other countries. Viewers outside of the U.K. are met with a polite message (these are the Brits, after all), telling them that the content they’re trying to access is only available in the U.K. due to rights issues.
The Best Way to Watch U.K. TV Online From Abroad
U.K. television providers limit access to their streaming services to viewers residing in the United Kingdom. This means that if you want to view your favorite BBC iPlayer shows, your device needs to have a U.K.-based IP address.
The best tool to pull this off is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN can temporarily assign a new IP address to your connected device(s). That means that although you’re sitting in a Tim Horton’s in Toronto, the rest of the world will believe you’re sitting comfortably at home, in your London flat.
I have years of experience using VPNs, and I feel secure in recommending NordVPN as the best available VPN provider to help you unblock your favorite British sitcoms and detective series, no matter where you’re located.
A 30-day money-back guarantee provides plenty of time to decide if NordVPN is the right VPN for your viewing needs.
In this article, I discuss why international viewers are blocked from accessing British television, and what you can do about it.
About U.K. Television
Television in the United Kingdom began as a free, no-ads public service in 1936. Currently, there are over 480 channels of free-to-air, free-to-view and subscription services available in the U.K, plus on-demand programming.
Today, U.K. viewers enjoy hundreds of networks, including the BBC, BBC News, Sky, Sky Sports and many more.
Most all networks based in the United Kingdom offer their shows via streaming services. For instance, the BBC makes their content available online through BBC iPlayer, and Sky offers a service called Sky Go.
All of these streaming services restrict their content to users whose devices have an IP address located inside the U.K. (more about that later).
Why Are International Users Banned From U.K. TV Streams?
If you’re a subscriber to a U.K.-based television streaming service, you have likely discovered that you cannot access the service when you are traveling abroad.
United Kingdom-based broadcasters block access to their content from outside the U.K. due to licensing restrictions and possible loss of revenue.
British television networks, and the shows’ producers, make a good bit of cash by selling the international viewing rights for their shows on a region-by-region basis.
If viewers in the U.S. could access these shows for free on the internet, why would an American or another country’s streaming service pay to offer the episodes to their customers?
Another reason why certain shows might not be available in other regions is local censorship laws. Many countries are extremely strict about what their citizens are allowed to view.
How Is Content Geographically Blocked?
When your devices connect to the internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns them an Internet Protocol address (IP address).
An IP address lets other computers on the internet know who sent them information and where they should send the reply. This is similar to how the post office uses your home address to send and receive snail mail.
In addition to virtually identifying your device on the internet, an IP address can also be used to detect a user’s physical location. You can see your location by visiting this website.
By detecting a viewer’s IP address, the BBC can detect if you’re attempting to watch the latest episode of EastEnders from outside the United Kingdom. They can then instruct their servers to reject any connection attempts by IP addresses not located in the U.K.
How Can I Watch Blocked U.K. TV Overseas?
If you’d like to view your favorite shows from U.K. television networks while outside of U.K. borders, you’ll need to acquire an IP address located inside the U.K. This will make it seem as if you are located inside the United Kingdom.
The best way to acquire an IP address in the U.K. is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN assigns your device a new, temporary IP address by connecting it to a VPN server stationed inside the U.K.
This hides your real IP address, making it appear that the VPN server’s IP address is your device’s IP address.
A VPN’s IP address-“spoofing” feature not only opens access to U.K.-based television streams, it also helps open the door to other types of streaming content, gaming content and services from other regions.
A VPN also helps protect your online activities from the prying eyes of others by encrypting your internet connection, ensuring that no person or entity can observe your activities.
Which VPN Is Best for Streaming U.K. TV Abroad?
There are more VPN services available today than there have ever been, and many of them do an adequate job of unblocking U.K. streaming content.
Yet, there is only one VPN that does an excellent all-around job of unblocking U.K. television streams, while also delivering top-notch protection for all of your internet-related activities.
NordVPN
NordVPN is your best option for opening access to your favorite U.K. television shows and movies. The VPN service has servers located in the United Kingdom, providing reliable access to U.K. content.
NordVPN delivers connection speeds that can easily handle the high-definition video streams that television streaming services in the United Kingdom offer. The provider is also well-positioned to handle the 4K content many streaming services will be providing in the near future.
1. Connection Speed
Connection speed is one of the most important factors when considering a VPN provider, as on the internet, faster is always better. It’s of even more importance when considering a provider for streaming video.
Most popular streaming services deliver content using a 1080p high-definition format. Many of those services either already do or are planning to offer 4K HDR content.
Both formats require fast, reliable connections. If a provider’s connection speeds are too slow, content could take a long period of time to begin streaming, or the content might not stream properly.
NordVPN’s connection speeds are some of the fastest I’ve ever seen – more than fast enough to handle streaming video requirements. The provider does an excellent job of delivering smooth-playing video streams.
2. Multi-Platform Support
If you have a connected device, there’s a good chance you can view streaming video on it.
Most streaming services are available on numerous devices, including computers, mobile devices, streaming boxes, game consoles, smart TVs and more. This makes native app support an important factor to consider when mulling over VPN providers.
NordVPN delivers apps for the Android, iOS, macOS (with M1 Mac support), Windows, Linux and Android TV device platforms. If you do your streaming via a browser, Chrome, Edge and Firefox browser extensions are available for your protection.
If you do your binging on an Apple TV, Roku box or game console, you can take advantage of NordVPN’s SmartDNS service, which offers access to foreign streams. (Be advised that SmartDNS does not encrypt your connection like the provider’s VPN service does.)
Up to 6 devices can connect to NordVPN’s servers at once while using the same login. If that’s not adequate for your needs, you can take advantage of the provider’s excellent router compatibility.
3. Customer Support
If anything can go wrong, it will, so although NordVPN provides highly reliable VPN service, there may come a time when you’ll need assistance.
NordVPN provides top-notch customer support, with 24/7 live support chat, an easy-to-use support library and email support.
4. Global Server Coverage
Global server coverage is vitally important when you’re considering a VPN for its content roadblock-busting abilities. In addition to multiple locations inside the U.K., NordVPN also has servers located in strategic countries around the globe.
NordVPN has over 5,500 servers in 60 countries around the globe, including the U.K. Your entertainment possibilities just became endless.
5. Privacy & Security
Security and privacy are never an issue when using NordVPN, as it uses military-grade encryption to protect your connection. The provider also follows a no-logs policy, so no records of your online travels will ever be available.
Plus, NordVPN’s owned-and-operated servers keep third-party contractors’ hands off of your personal info. Plus, the provider runs all of its servers 100% from volatile RAM, meaning no data is written to a physical hard drive, so all data is completely wiped when a server is shutdown or rebooted.
6. Pricing
Surprisingly, NordVPN offers its exceptional service at a very affordable price, meaning you can enjoy all the VPN has to offer without your wallet complaining.
A 30-day money-back guarantee will provide plenty of time to run NordVPN through its paces and decide if the provider is the right one for your needs.
Methodology for Assessing VPNs for Watching U.K. TV in the USA
If you’re a United Kingdom expat or are visiting the U.S. on business or recreation, you’ll likely find that you can’t enjoy all of your favorite online content from the other side of the pond. A VPN can help, but only if it reliably provides access to geo-controlled content.
That’s why you should carefully consider several factors when deciding upon which VPNs to recommend for viewing U.K. TV from the U.S:
- Connection Speed: Connection speed is always an important consideration. When it comes to streaming your favorite U.K. TV shows and movies, fast download speeds are a must. NordVPN provided some of the fastest download speeds I saw in my most recent connection speed tests.
- Server Network: If you’re going to watch U.K. TV streams from outside of the country, you’ll need a way to grab an IP address that identifies you as being located in the U.K. NordVPN has you covered there and has a large number of servers stationed in most countries, meaning the servers won’t get overloaded with too many users.
- Streaming: If you’re going to watch U.K. TV streams, your VPN’s ability to unblock video streaming content in other countries is vital. In addition to U.K. TV streams, NordVPN also offers reliable access to other streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more.
- Value: The features and functionality of a VPN should justify its asking price. NordVPN offers an excellent value for what it asks.
- Ease of Use: VPN apps should be available for a variety of device platforms. Also, easy-to-use apps make it easy to quickly connect. NordVPN’s easy-to-use apps are available for popular device platforms.
- Security and Privacy: At the very least, a VPN should protect your online activities with banking-level encryption, an automatic kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection. Also, the provider’s VPN servers should never save any logs of your online activities. NordVPN offers all of the above and more.
While all of the above may sound like a lot, these factors are not the only ones I consider. They are just a bit of my overall VPN testing methodology. This research-driven method means I have an excellent understanding of VPNs and the services they offer, allowing me to recommend only those that are a good fit for your needs.
UK TV VPN FAQs
Will a VPN Allow Me To Watch UK TV From Abroad?
Absolutely. Just make sure that the VPN you select has servers located inside the United Kingdom. That way, your viewing device will be assigned an IP address located inside UK borders, opening up access to UK streaming services, like BBC iPlayer.
Is Netflix in the U.K. Different From Other Countries?
Yes, the content shown on Netflix UK is different than that shown in other countries. While some of the content is the same, each country's flavor of Netflix offers shows and films that are exclusive to that country.
How Can I Watch Dave TV in America?
You can watch Dave online from America or any other part of the world by using a reliable VPN to gain an IP address located inside UK borders.
Conclusion
Just because you’re outside of the United Kingdom, it doesn’t mean you should miss your favorite shows. NordVPN provides the best way to open access to your favorite shows from back home.
NordVPN does an excellent job of unblocking access to U.K. content, while providing top-notch connection speeds. It also provides excellent security and privacy protections.
For more information or to give NordVPN a try, visit the NordVPN website.
Contents [hide]
- The Best Way to Watch U.K. TV Online From Abroad
- About U.K. Television
- Why Are International Users Banned From U.K. TV Streams?
- How Is Content Geographically Blocked?
- How Can I Watch Blocked U.K. TV Overseas?
- Which VPN Is Best for Streaming U.K. TV Abroad?
- NordVPN
- Methodology for Assessing VPNs for Watching U.K. TV in the USA
- UK TV VPN FAQs
- Will a VPN Allow Me To Watch UK TV From Abroad?
- Is Netflix in the U.K. Different From Other Countries?
- How Can I Watch Dave TV in America?
- Conclusion
