How to watch Rai.it outside Italy
Chris
Chris, a UK-born media connoisseur, is an expert in watching international TV. Known as "The Global Screen Wanderer", he has travelled extensively across the globe with long stints away from home. With over 10 years of experience he has become the go-to guru for streaming content from home and abroad.
Rai.it is one of the biggest online streaming services in Italy but if you’ve tried to watch while outside Italy then you’ll know like me that you’re blocked from watching.
If you’re Italian and you’re outside Italy this can be disappointing but even if you’re not Italian there is a good selection of content shown on Rai.it that will likely appeal to you such as the recent coverage of the Rio Olympics.
The good news is there is a really simple way to watch Rai.it from outside Italy and in this guide I’m going to show you exactly how that’s possible with the minimum amount of effort.
So let’s find out how.
How to watch Rai.it outside Italy
If you’ve already tried to watch Rai.it outside Italy then you’ll be stopped from viewing and either just see a blank screen or a block message similar to the one below.
An example of a block message you may see.
The reason you’re blocked is because you’re outside Italy and the website can see this based on your IP Address.
An IP Address is a set of numbers like a phone number that identifies your connection. The downside is as well as identifying your connection it also lets websites see what country you’re in.
Once Rai.it sees that you’re not in Italy then it blocks you from viewing.
The great news is that you can use a tool called a VPN to alter your online location and appear elsewhere.
A VPN is a small tool that you can download for your computer or phone or tablet device and are available from a range of companies.
All they take is just a few clicks and then you’re connected and can watch Rai.it from anywhere in the world.
So let’s find out where you can get a VPN to watch Rai.it outside Italy.
Where to get a VPN
VPN services are originally intended to protect your online privacy and as online privacy has become big business in recent years it means there are now a lot of different companies offering VPN services.
This is great news if you want to watch Rai.it from outside Italy but the amount of choice can be confusing and overwhelming.
The first thing you need to look for is a VPN provider with an “Italian VPN server” and the second is that they are fast enough to stream video which is harder to discover.
I’ve been testing some of the leading VPN providers to see which are suitable for watching Rai.it outside Italy and put together a list of the three best below.
All you need to do is select a provider from the options above by clicking on their name to visit their site.
Once there sign-up and continue reading below where I’ll show you how you can use the VPN service to wait Rai.it outside Italy.
How to use the VPN service
Once you’ve signed up to one of the VPN services listed above the next step is really simple.
All you need to do is download the software or app for your device, install it and then connect to an Italian server. Once connected you can simply visit the Rai.it website and you’ll be able to watch as if you are in Italy.
Below I’ve put together a more detailed guide using the ExpressVPN service on a Windows PC but it’s the same process using a Mac too as the software is identical. If you want to use it on a mobile device such as Android or iOS then it’s even easier to use.
ExpressVPN:
- Visit the ExpressVPN website and sign-up.
- Download the software from the Products area of the website.
- Install and run the software.
- Login with your account details.
- Press Choose Location, then press Italy.
- The app should connect for you but if it doesn’t press Connect.
The ExpressVPN software will take care of connection for you. Once connected all you need to do is visit the Rai.it website and rather than being blocked from viewing you’ll be able to watch any of the shows either live or on catch-up TV.
You can connect and disconnect as many times as you wish within your subscription period and watch Italian Rai.it from anywhere in the world.
