Channel 5 in the UK is a relative newcomer to the market. It was the 5th national terrestrial analog network (free-to-air). As far as market share goes, it consistently takes 5th place in the country and has since the UK government launched on Easter Sunday in 1997. Though not as popular as the competition, there are still some great programs available. Some of the genres available include entertainment, documentary, drama, soaps, 5 news, sport, film, competitions, and more. The problem is, they gear the network to use only in the UK. If you want to see what it has to offer, we’ll tell you how to watch Channel 5 with a VPN.
Quickstart Guide for Using a VPN with Channel 5
For the quickest and easiest way to watch Channel 5, follow these steps.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee).
- Once you have opened the client, locate a server in the United Kingdom.
- Open a browser and connect to the Channel 5 website. Keep in mind you may need to sign in or register on their website first before you can watch some content. If you choose to do that, you’ll need to register with the VPN on as well.
- Watch and enjoy all of the great programming options of Channel 5.
How to Watch Streaming Services with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN 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.
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.
How to Watch Streaming Services with NordVPN
NordVPN 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.
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.
How to Watch Streaming Services with PIA VPN
Private 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.
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.
Since you see the best choices to use above, let’s have a look at some popular shows available on the Channel 5 website.
- Drama & Soaps – A Woman Betrayed, Airwolf, Alien Hunter, Fatal Justice, Cagney & Lacey, and several others
- Films – Garage Sale Mysteries, Get Smart, Girlfriend Killer, and more.
- Entertainment – Greatest Celebrity Wind-Ups, Baby Ballroom, Cats Make You Laugh Out Loud, and more.
- Documentary – Adolf & Eva: Love & War, and others.
- Sport – Welsh Cup, Rugby, and more.
There are definitely more shows available than we are listing here. Those include news shows, movies, American, and others. If you want access to all of the network, you will want to register first . Again, if you are not in the UK or don’t to a VPN server, you will be geo-blocked.
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 region specific coverage, 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 just Channel 5 when you use one.
Not All VPNs Will Unblock Channel 5
The truth of the matter is, ineffective VPN products litter the community. 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 Channel 5 if you are having issues with the VPN. That is why we suggest the options we mentioned above.
We have just shown you some great tools you can use to unblock the Channel 5 shows. Though there are other providers available, we think you’ll be happy with our choices. If you are a fan of programming from the UK and US, you should not have to miss out on great shows because of where you are located. If your goal is to unblock the Channel 5 website, you have come to the right place.
