How to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada
Jeff
Pennsylvania's Jeff is a seasoned streaming technology expert at WatchTVAbroad. His expertise spans global legal streaming services, particularly for sports like MMA and boxing, TV shows, and movies. His knowledge, born from a late-teen passion for media, is extensive and highly respected.
In this article I’ll be showing you how to watch the UK’s BBC iPlayer from Canada. Allowing you to enjoy all the shows, movies, and other content that it has to offer.
Typically, the BBC iPlayer streaming service is only available to UK residents. This is a problem for anyone who wants to watch it overseas.
It should be impossible for everyone, whether you are an expat from the UK, or a Canadian, born and raised.
As you can imagine if you want to stream iPlayer in Canada, you’re not alone. Everyone from expats to lovers of British TV shows is interested.
Luckily, there is a way to cure this issue and below I’ll show you how whether you’re in Toronto, Edmonton, Nova Scotia or anywhere else.
What you will need to get access
The reason why no one can access BBC iPlayer from Canada, or any other place around the world apart from the UK itself, is the fact that it is geo-restricted. It’s similar to how Canadian services like CraveTV and TSN are blocked outside Canada.
This is a form of online censorship that services, internet providers, and even entire governments often employ to make sure content is only available to a specific group.
To bypass it, you will need a VPN for BBC iPlayer.
VPN: It’s a privacy tool that millions of users across the world use to stay safe online known as a ‘Virtual Private Network’.
After some extensive testing and trial and error with many different VPN providers, I found ExpressVPN to be about the best for the job.
It offers excellent speeds which are perfect for streaming. It has servers in the UK which are essential to make it look like you are located in the UK, and it is not blocked by BBC iPlayer, which is an issue that many VPN services suffer from.
Apart from ExpressVPN, you could also use NordVPN, CyberGhost or a few others – you are free to choose.
Step-by-step how-to stream iPlayer in Canada
Now that you know what you need, it is time you learn what to do. The process of getting a VPN and gaining access is very straightforward, and you can be watching within minutes.
Just follow these steps:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN or one of my other recommendations from above.
- Choose your payment plan and enter your payment details.
- Download the appropriate app for the device/system you wish to view iPlayer on.
- Install the app and launch it.
- Press the Selected Location button and then click on the United Kingdom.
- Now visit BBC iPlayer or use their app and enjoy watching.
Watch iPlayer in Canada using ExpressVPN.
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What devices can I watch on?
These days, you can install VPNs on most devices.
Devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and even gaming consoles and Smart TVs can use them. You can even use some routers for this, which is very convenient.
The same goes when it comes to OS you might be using. You can use VPNs on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and even Linux systems.
This means you can view iPlayer anywhere in Canada on any device. Great if you’re at home with your big screen or convenient if you’re travelling and need to watch in a portable device.
In most situations, you should be fine with any device and system you may have. Of course, there are a few exceptions, and it might be that your device is one of them, and it simply cannot install a VPN.
If that ends up being the case, read the next section.
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Can I watch on other devices?
As mentioned, there are a few exceptions to the rule – a few devices that cannot use a VPN by themselves.
However, there is a solution to this problem as well. It comes in the form of the InvizBox 2 – a small hardware router that allows you to encrypt your entire connection and change your location across all your devices.
You can easily create a UK Hotspot in your very home, and all devices that connect to the internet through it will appear as if they are in the UK.
The InvizBox 2 will let you watch BBC iPlayer on any device.
This will allow you to access BBC iPlayer from any device, even if they cannot use a VPN which is great for things like Smart TVs.
InvizBox 2 allows you to protect any device and as many as you like at the same time. So you could unblock iPlayer for your entire family across all devices.
Of course, the downside is that it will cost you a bit more than a regular VPN, but not too much. It’s probably the best option if you’re living in Canada rather than just visiting temporarily.
Is using a VPN legal?
Absolutely. VPNs are viewed as online privacy and security tools, and since privacy and security are your rights, you are free to use them as much as you want.
When it comes to using a VPN, you should not have any problems at all in Canada, as they are entirely legal in most countries around the world.
Summary
Watching BBC iPlayer in Canada can be difficult due to geo-restrictions imposed by the UK. In fact, it should be entirely impossible.
However, there is a way to do it anyway, and bypass the restrictions anytime you want.
The key is in the use of VPNs, where ExpressVPN is the best option. It is perfect for streaming allowing you to unblock BBC iPlayer either live or on catch-up across Canada.
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