VPN Not Working With NOW TV Here is How To Fix it (2024 Edition)

NOW TV is an excellent way for U.K. viewers to view Sky and Sky Go content without the need for home cable or an extended service contract.

Sadly, unless you’re currently inside the borders of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland or Italy, you won’t be able to view your favorite films, sporting events and other NOW TV content.

But, I Have a VPN

Fortunately, you subscribe to a VPN provider, which allows you to view NOW TV content from outside of the above countries. Unfortunately, your VPN no longer reliably provides that access. What is one to do?

NOW TV and other streaming sites – such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and numerous others – block VPN users from their content libraries. When a streamer discovers an IP address that belongs to a VPN service, they place the IP address on a blacklist to be blocked from accessing their servers.

This means that there is a constant game of virtual whack-a-mole going on between VPN providers and streaming services.

While many VPNs don’t have the willingness or the resources to continue this competition, there are still some VPN providers that are up to waging battle.

Why NOW TV Blocks VPN Providers

Once upon a time, it was easy to access nearly any streaming provider by using a VPN from most spots around the globe.

However, streamers soon began to get hip to the VPN trick. (That’s how the kids talk today, right?)

They soon began actively blocking VPN-provided IP addresses from accessing their services. They were forced to due to the contracts they sign with television, film and sports producers, which require them to restrict access to the content to only viewers in a designated country.

This means that NOW TV is legally required to block access to their content from anyone outside of its designated viewing area, whether they’re using a VPN or not.

How NOW TV Blocks VPN Users From Accessing Their Content

When you use your VPN app to connect to a VPN server, your device is temporarily assigned a new IP address belonging to the country where the VPN server is located.

For example, this means you can be physically located in Los Angeles, California in the U.S., but if you connect to a server located in the United Kingdom, to the rest of the internet, it appears as if you’re located in the U.K.

In most cases, when you connect to a VPN server, you’re actually sharing an IP address with other VPN customers. This is called a shared IP address. In this case, a VPN server acts much like your home WiFi router. It presents a single IP address to the outside world, while routing requests and responses to the multiple devices connected to it.

Like just about anything in this world, shared IPs have advantages and disadvantages.

In the “plus” column is the added anonymity that a shared IP address brings. When multiple users are connected via a shared IP address, it’s tough to pin a certain online activity on a single user.

Over here in the “minus” column, we see that a shared IP address is a drawback if multiple users are using the same IP to access a streaming site, like NOW TV. When multiple devices using the same IP address all attempt to access a streaming site, the streamer may investigate. If they discover that shared IP belongs to a VPN service, they’ll block that IP address.

Once they detect a VPN-provided IP address, streaming services will add that IP address to a “blacklist,” which is then used to determine whether an IP address should be allowed access to the streamer’s content.

Once a VPN user discovers that the server they’ve been using to view NOW TV content no longer works, they may complain to their VPN’s customer support folks. Ideally, the VPN provider’s tech folks check out the situation, and if they confirm the IP address is being blocked, they’ll set up new servers boasting fresh and unblocked IP addresses.

Eventually, NOW TV then blocks that newer IP address, and the battle begins anew.

This game of constant back and forth has caused some VPN providers to give up on actively working to provide access to streaming services. However, there are still a few VPN providers that are still in there swinging.

Best Blocked NOW TV Workaround: NordVPN

Apr 2024 unblocks Now TVTested
Apr 2024

If you’re looking for reliable access to NOW TV and other streaming sites, I strongly suggest you check out the services that NordVPN offers. NordVPN not only offers access to NOW TV, but also to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+ and many others.

You can check out a full review of NordVPN and how we test VPN providers.

1. Connection Speeds

When you’re streaming content from streaming services, especially HD and 4K streams, connection speed is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding on a VPN provider. A slow connection will lead to extended buffering, pauses for the stream to catch up, and playback in a lower resolution.

NordVPN provides blazingly-fast download speeds (in the top five in recent testing), meaning all of your favorite NOW TV shows and movies will play back smoothly and at an optimum resolution. (Depending on your usual, ISP-provided speeds, of course.)

The provider never hampers your online enjoyment with data caps or bandwidth throttling.

2. Global Server Coverage

While we are focusing on finding a VPN provider that offers reliable access to NOW TV, I don’t want to miss the chance to tell you about how important a large global server network can be, and how it provides access to geo-blocked content around the globe.

NordVPN’s global server network currently boasts 5,400+ servers based in 60 countries.

This means you’ll have access to the majority of countries where your favorite geo-blocked content may be available. This includes streaming sites, gaming sites, financial services, and other sites and services that might not be available from where you currently reside.

3. Online Security & Privacy Protection

It’s an always-connected world, and this means you’re always in danger of having your online travels monitored and recorded, while hackers try to steal important information like logins, passwords, credit card info and more.

NordVPN encases your internet connection in a tunnel of banking-grade 256-bit AES encryption, prevents your activities from being inadvertently exposed with kill switch protection, and also offers IP/DNS leak prevention. The provider’s new NordLynx connection protocol is based on WireGuard and is designed to offer optimized performance and improved security.

NordVPN also protects your personal privacy, with a strict no-server-logs-ever policy, as well as a privacy-protecting Bitcoin cryptocurrency subscription payment option.

The provider also runs all server operations 100% from RAM, writing no data of any kind to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is securely and totally wiped from the server whenever it is rebooted or shutdown.

NordVPN owned-and-operated servers keep third-party contractors paws off of your precious private information.

4. Multi-Platform App Support

Most streaming services are available on multiple device platforms, allowing you to view your favorite shows, no matter where you might be at the time. Computers, smartphones, tablets and game consoles are just a few of the platforms where streaming is a popular pastime.

This makes it extremely important to subscribe to a VPN that provides comprehensive multi-platform app support.

NordVPN offers native apps for macOS (including M1 Mac support), Windows, Linux, iOS, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Android device platforms. In addition, the provider offers browser extensions for the Chrome, Edge and Firefox platforms.

PlayStation (4 and 5), Xbox (One and Series S & Series X), Apple TV, Roku and smart TV owners can also access geo-controlled content thanks to NordVPN’s SmartDNS service. (Be warned, a DNS service doesn’t encrypt your internet connection like a VPN does.)

NordVPN allows up to 6 devices to be simultaneously connected to its network. If you require more than 6 connections, the provider also works with multiple router makes and models. If you prefer, you can buy NordVPN-ready routers from FlashRouters.

5. Customer Support

You may be thinking, “if a VPN is worth its salt, I won’t ever need to talk to customer support.” Well, that’s all well and good, but even users of top-notch VPN service providers will find that they need to contact support from time to time.

NordVPN offers 24/7 support in the form of always-available live support chat, an email support option and a searchable support library.

I’ve contacted NordVPN customer support agents a few times over the last few years and have always been well satisfied with the fast and well-informed replies to my queries. Their support library is also an excellent source of information.

6. Pricing

NordVPN provides an excellent return on investment. Despite its top-notch VPN protection, the provider keeps its pricing reasonably low, especially if you opt for its 2-year option.

A 30-day money-back guarantee provides plenty of time to make sure NordVPN is the right VPN provider for you.

Conclusion

NOW TV subscribers who are looking for a reliable way to watch their favorite movies and shows are recommended to check out the VPN services that NordVPN provides.

NordVPN’s fast and well-protected connections, always-available customer support, impressive global server coverage, comprehensive app support, and top-notch online security and privacy protections add up to an excellent value.

For more information or to subscribe, visit the NordVPN website.