VPN Not Working With Virgin TV Go? Here Is How To Fix It (2024 Edition)

At a Glance

Virgin TV Go is a streaming service from Virgin Media that offers live streams of networks, as well as on-demand movies and TV show episodes. While the streaming service is an excellent option for cord-cutters, it’s only available to viewers based inside United Kingdom borders. This means that even if you subscribe to the streamer, you will not be able to view your favorite shows and films if you are traveling or living outside of the UK.

Luckily, there is a way to get around Virgin TV Go’s virtual geographical roadblocks. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides access to Virgin TV Go and other geo-blocked streaming services from almost anywhere in the world. However, some VPN users are finding that their VPN of choice no longer provides reliable access to Virgin TV Go and other popular streaming services.

While some VPNs have given up on accessing video streaming services like Virgin TV Go, there are providers that are still fighting the good fight.

Why Virgin TV Go Blocks VPN Providers

The early days of video streaming were a bit like the wild west. You could take almost any VPN service and use it to unblock your favorite video streaming site.

However, Virgin and other streamers soon caught on to the VPN trick and began actively blocking VPN-provided IP addresses from accessing their content.

It should be noted that streaming services don’t block VPN users from their content simply to be jerks. They are required to limit viewing of the content to specific viewing areas due to the contracts streaming services sign with television and film producers.

How Virgin TV Go Blocks VPN Users From Viewing Their Content

When connecting a device to a VPN server, the server temporarily assigns a fresh IP address to your device. The VPN-assigned IP address is one that is designated for use in the country where the server is located.

That means that you may be in New York City in the states, but the rest of the internet sees you as connecting from London in the United Kingdom.

When you receive a VPN-provided IP address, you’re usually sharing that IP address with several other VPN customers.

A VPN server works similarly to your home WiFi router. While presenting a single IP address to the world, it internally handles the requests and responses for all of the devices sharing that IP address.

Shared IP addresses have certain advantages and disadvantages.

On the plus side of things, a shared IP address helps protect a user’s anonymity. Using a shared IP address means none of your online activities can be directly traced back to you (the same goes for all of the other users on the shared IP).

A big minus, though, is that if a large number of shared IP users try to access the same video streaming service using that IP address, the streamer may investigate. If it finds that the IP address belongs to a VPN, the streamer will block that IP address from connecting to its servers.

When the IP address is blocked, so is access to the streamer’s content library. When VPN users know this, they may complain to their VPN’s customer service folks. When that happens, the VPN may investigate, and if they find that the IP address is indeed being blocked, they will hopefully set up new servers with unblocked IP addresses.

This fix, while restoring access to the streaming service, is usually temporary at best, as the streamer eventually discovers the new IP address and blocks it. Then the VPN service creates new IP addresses, and… I think you get the picture.

Some lesser VPN providers have given up on attempting to keep the lines open to geo-blocked streamers. However, a hardy few VPNs are still responding quickly to restore access when needed.

Methodology for Assessing a VPN for Virgin TV Go

You’ll soon learn that not all VPN service providers provide reliable access to Virgin TV Go and other geo-blocked sites and services.

These VPN features are compared on a provider-by-provider basis to determine which provider works best for reliable access to Virgin TV Go:

• Connection speed: Streaming fans will find that most video streaming services offer their content in 1080p HD format, while a large number of services are beginning to offer 4K streams. Both formats require fast connection speeds. Any VPN you consider will need to offer fast download speeds. NordVPN’s connections can easily handle both HD and 4K content.
• Server network: Streaming services block VPN-provided IP addresses when they detect them. That means you’ll want a VPN provider with a large global server network, with numerous servers located in the country you wish to unblock. This will help you be more successful in accessing a streaming service in that country. Plus, a large number of servers helps prevent a single server from being overloaded with requests.
• Value: A VPN’s value is best calculated by comparing the features it offers to the price it charges. If a VPN charges a premium price but lacks premium services, it’s not worth considering. All of the providers I recommend in my articles (NordVPN in this case) offer an excellent return on investment.
• Ease of use: VPN apps should never be overly complicated to use. Most VPN users do not have an IT degree, and many are first-time users of VPNs. Look for a VPN provider with easy-to-use apps for most popular device platforms. NordVPN offers excellent native app support, as well as browser extensions and extensive router support.
• Security and privacy: A VPN should provide top-notch connection protection and also protect your privacy. Connection protections should include government-grade encryption, a kill switch, and other security and privacy protections. Bonus points should be awarded for extras like malware and virus protection, ad blocking, and other protections. The provider should never save server logs of any kind.
• Streaming: Only consider VPNs that offer reliable access to geo-blocked streaming sites like Virgin TV Go, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and other sites. Any VPN that I recommend for streaming will offer reliable content-unblocking abilities.

Our research doesn’t end here. Evaluating the factors above is just a small part of our comprehensive VPN testing methodology. Our data-driven approach helps us better understand the VPNs and their services, so we can recommend only those VPNs that are a good fit for your needs.

Best Blocked-Virgin TV Go Workaround: NordVPN

Apr 2024 unblocks Virgin tv GoTested
Apr 2024

Virgin TV Go viewers who are, well, on the go abroad or expats living abroad would do well to give NordVPN a try for their viewing needs. In addition to Virgin, the provider also offers access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and numerous other streaming services.

A full review of NordVPN is available for your enlightenment, and you can also read how we test VPN providers.

1. Connection Speeds

Most streaming services these days offer their content in 1080p HD, as well as 4K formats. Both formats require fast download speeds for smooth playback.

NordVPN delivers fast download speeds that were some of the fastest I saw during my most recent testing (your experience will vary depending on your usual connection speeds). NordVPN never ruins a good bingeing session by imposing data caps or by throttling your bandwidth.

2. Global Server Coverage

While the main point of this article is how to restore access to Virgin TV Go, we should also look at other advantages that a large global server network can provide. The larger your global server network, the more access you have to geo-blocked content around the globe.

NordVPN currently has 5,600+ servers based in nearly 60 countries.

3. Online Security & Privacy Protection

If you’re connected to the internet (and these days it seems you’re ALWAYS connected to the internet), there is a good possibility that your online travels are being monitored. Whether it’s a hacker, the government, or your ISP, someone is probably watching you. This makes the digital security and privacy features that VPN services offer an important consideration.

NordVPN does a top-notch job of keeping your online travels incognito. The provider uses government-grade 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, and IP/DNS leak prevention to protect your connections. The company says its new NordLynx connection protocol (based on the open-source WireGuard protocol) is optimized for improved security and performance.

Excellent privacy protections from NordVPN include a strict no-server-logs-ever policy, as well as an acceptance of Bitcoin in return for its reliable services.

Additional privacy protection will be offered once NordVPN completes the process of moving its server farms to a fully self-owned-and-operated model, which will keep third-party contractors away from its users’ personal information.

All NordVPN servers run their operations directly from RAM, never writing data of any kind to a physical hard disk. This ensures that all data is completely wiped from the server whenever it is restarted.

4. Multi-Platform App Support

Virgin TV Go is compatible with multiple devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. This makes it important to make sure a VPN supports your favorite streaming-capable devices.

NordVPN supports a large number of connected devices, with native apps for the macOS (with native support for M1/M2 Macs), Windows, Linux, iOS, Amazon Fire, Android TV, and Android device platforms. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions also make the scene.

PlayStation (4 and 5), Xbox (One and Series S & Series X), Apple TV, Roku, and smart TV owners whose device(s) can’t download a VPN app to access geo-blocked content can take advantage of NordVPN’s SmartDNS service (be warned: a smart DNS service does not encrypt your internet connection as a VPN does).

Users can connect up to six devices to NordVPN servers at once. The provider also offers excellent router compatibility. NordVPN-ready-out-of-the-box routers are available from FlashRouters.

5. Customer Support

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that none of my readers have any issues with their VPN service provider. However, the chances are good that you’ll have questions from time to time about your VPN services.

NordVPN’s always-available customer support services include 24/7 live chat, email support, and a self-service support library.

Whenever I had a question about my VPN service, NordVPN customer support agents replied immediately with knowledgeable answers. The provider’s support library also proved to be a great way to get a quick answer.

6. Pricing

NordVPN’s top-notch VPN services and reasonable prices combine to make it excellent value. The provider’s two-year subscription option is a particularly attractive option.

A 30-day money-back guarantee makes trying NordVPN a no-risk proposition.

Conclusion

Virgin TV Go viewers in search of reliable access to their favorite shows, films, and sporting events while outside of the UK are strongly recommended to subscribe to NordVPN.

NordVPN boasts an impressive global server network that delivers reliable access to streaming sites around the globe. Fast, well-protected connections are the rule, and they provide an enjoyable viewing experience while keeping your online activities secure and private. Comprehensive app support and customer service are other highlights.

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

Virgin TV Go FAQs