S4C is a Welsh-language British public TV channel that is broadcast throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. It has some great Welsh offerings, and some of them are also in English. The network carries a variety of different types of programming. That includes sports, science, dramas, and more. You can watch S4C on the website or you can view some shows on the BBC iPlayer. Though it is free to watch, you must be in the UK. If you try to watch the network from outside of the UK, iPlayer and s4c will block you unless you use a VPN.
Quickstart Guide for Using a VPN with S4C
If you want the easiest and quickest way to watch S4C, 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 BBC iPlayer or to the S4C website. Keep in mind you may need to sign in or register on either website first before you can watch anything. When you do so, you may be asked for a postcode. If you remember yours, enter it now. If not, you can look it up on the web. Make sure to say yes if you are asked if you have a TV license if you have not already.
- Watch and enjoy S4C.
How to Watch S4C 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 S4C 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 S4C 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.
After looking at those options, here’s a look at some other popular shows available on the BBC iPlayer. Below, we have them divided by category.
- Drama & Soaps – Keeping Faith, Our Girl, Hidden, Holby City, Poldark, Versailles, The Bridge
- Documentary – Celebrities of the NHS Frontline, The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, Rich Hall’s Working for the American Dream
- Current Affairs – Panorama
- CBeebies – Hey Duggee, Bing
- Entertainment – Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
- Comedy – Mock the Week
- CBBC – Tracy Beaker Returns, Hetty Feather
If you are looking for the categories available for S4C, here are some of the options.
- Drama
- Music
- Rural
- Cyw
- Stwnsh
- Entertainment
- News
- Sport
- Factual and Arts
- Religion
Of course, there are many shows within the category. Remember, you may have to register before you can watch the series. You also need to be connected to a VPN first, or you will be geo-blocked.
About Geo-blocks
Geo-blocks are often 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, want to watch region specific coverage, or just want to watch something new from an area, the blocking software will stop you. Since it can detect IP addresses, it can tell if you are outside of the targeted area. By connecting to a VPN, the blocking software will think you are located someplace else. Of course, you can watch more than just S4C when you use one.
Not All VPNs Will Unblock S4C
The truth 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 types of blocks. There is no point in trying to access S4C if you are having issues with the VPN. That is why we suggest the options we mentioned above.
You now have some great tools to use so you can unblock S4C shows. Though there are other providers available, we think you’ll be happy with our choices. If you are a fan of BBC or S4C programming, you don’t have to miss out on great shows because of where you are. If your goal is to unblock and watch the network, we can help you out.
