How to Watch British TV Abroad

British TV ChannelsThe UK has long been known for its great television shows. For many years, British culture has crept into mainstream society. Examples of that are Monty Python, Downton Abbey, and many more. If you are a fan of British programming, you are not alone. There are millions around the world that are as well. If you want to watch the great shows and networks of the UK, the non-cable and non-satellite channels are free to air, providing you are in the UK at the time. Those that are not would typically be blocked. That said, we can tell you how to watch British TV abroad by using a VPN.

Quickstart Guide for Using a VPN with British TV

Let’s take a look at the easiest and quickest way to watch British TV abroad. In this example, we’ll use the BBC iPlayer.

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee).
  2. Connect to a server in the US.
  3. Open a browser and go to the BBC iPlayer website. There, you can sign up for service. You will want to register for the service with the VPN on as well if you have not already.
  4. After your purchase, you can watch and enjoy all the great shows on British TV.

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Here are the best VPNs to help you get around the geo-blocks.


How to Watch British TV Abroad with ExpressVPN

ExpresVPNExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking popular streaming services and live sporting events. The ExpressVPN team has combined their VPN service with a Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer. The combination will protect your privacy and unblock access to a wide range of content all over the world. You can run the ExpressVPN app on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and router. The MediaStreamer service extends support to streaming media devices (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Kodi boxes, etc.), Smart TVs, gaming consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch), and more.

ExpressVPN app

The team at ExpressVPN is currently offering our visitors a discount on their all-inclusive VPN service. You can enjoy unlimited access to both their VPN network and MediaStreamer service for 49% off with 3 months free. In addition, they are offering a 30-day money back guarantee to all new members so you won’t feel rushed while testing the service. You’ll have a month to watch live events, unblock streaming services, and fully experience the advantages of ExpressVPN. You can expect to be quite impressed with the service.

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How to Watch British TV Abroad with NordVPN

NordVPNNordVPN is a good choice for unblocking live sporting events and streaming services. The VPN will help you unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and many more channels. You still need a subscription for paid services like CBS All Access but NordVPN will help you unblock the geo-restrictions. They are one of the few VPNs that can still access Netflix US from outside the United States. This makes NordVPN a great choice for those who want to stream content from other regions of the world.

NordVPN app

As you can see, the NordVPN app is easy to use. You can select a server location from the map or from a list of countries. Unfortunately, NordVPN doesn’t let you choose a specific city in locations like the United States. However, it will pick a server based on your current location. We found this to result in slower speeds than ExpressVPN. At times we had to try a few different servers to find one that offered the performance we desired. Otherwise, NordVPN offers everything you need to unblock your favorite websites.

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How to Watch British TV Abroad with PIA VPN

Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access, often referred to as PIA, is one of the most popular VPN services in the world. They are headquartered in Silicon Valley and have contributed heavily to the privacy community. You have likely seen PIA in the news as they support a wide range of privacy-related campaigns. From full-page ads to promote privacy bills to support of the open source community, the PIA team is a strong privacy advocate. You will find the VPN service offers everything you need to encrypt your connection and unblock access to many of your favorite web sites.

PIA VPN app

We have experienced positive results when trying to access Netflix through PIA. You will find that popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer are getting good at blocking VPNs. It’s a game of cat and mouse in which the VPNs find ways to stay ahead of the game. In addition to unblocking restrictions, PIA is also very popular in the file sharing community. Torrent users turn to PIA to secure their privacy with sites like TorrentFreak promoting the service. You will find that PIA has a lot to offer for a very reasonable price.

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We have given you the best options to get connected above. Now, let’s see the channels you can watch.

  • S4C
  • BBC
  • Channel 4
  • ITV

And quite a few other options. We feel you should be able to access the great networks no matter where you are.

About Geo-blocks

Geo-blocks can be annoying. Because of world licensing and broadcasting rights, the media companies block anyone outside of their targeted area. In other words, if you are traveling or want to watch content from a specific region, the blocking software will stop you. Since it can detect IP addresses, it can tell if you are outside of the area it wants you to be in. By connecting to a VPN, you can make the blocking software think you are located someplace else. Of course, you can watch more than British TV abroad when you sign up for service.

Not All VPNs Will Unblock British TV Abroad

The truth of the matter is, the community is littered with ineffective VPN products. Though they may help you in other ways, you are removing one of the biggest benefits of a VPN if it does not unblock geo-restrictions. Even some of the more well-known providers do not work well to get you past those blocks. There is no point in trying to access British TV abroad if your VPN service won’t do its job. That is why we suggest using one of the options we mentioned above.

We have just shown you some good ways to watch British TV abroad. Though there are other providers available, we think you’ll be happy with our choices. If you are a fan of some of the great British channels, you should not have to miss out on great options because of where you are located. If your goal is to unblock British TV abroad and enjoy the great games, you are in the right place.

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