How to watch TV abroad with a VPN
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.
If you’re wondering how you can watch TV abroad, especially with the use of a VPN then this is the guide for you.
In this guide I’m going to show you not only what a VPN is and how they work, but also how they’re used to help you watch your favourite TV shows and networks abroad on a multitude of devices.
Living or travelling abroad can be a lot of fun and excitement. New cities, new people and new culture. However amongst that newness, most of us hanker for some familiarity.
TV is without question one of the number 1 things that people request when they’re away from their home country.
So whether you’re a long-term expat, a short-term holidaymaker or you’re just outside your own country for another reason, read on to find out how you can watch TV abroad with a VPN.
What is a VPN and how can it help you want TV abroad
A VPN is a completely legal privacy app.
Their intended purpose is to help you protect what you do online. This stops things like companies tracking your movements online or hackers trying to intercept your connection.
One feature of this privacy protection is allowing you to disguise your location. Or in other words, letting you appear in another country.
It is this feature of a VPN service which helps you watch TV abroad.
How do TV services block me abroad
The best way without question to watch TV abroad is to do so via internet services. This can be on your regular desktop/laptop, tablet/phone set-up or on some kind of Smart TV or plugin device like an Amazon Firestick for example.
When you use these online TV services they use geo-fencing and check your internet connection to determine where you’re located.
Geo-fencing is when a website puts up a wall or ‘fence’ around their service so it’s only accessible from a certain geographical region, ie; a country.
This is how they block you from watching when you’re abroad.
By using a VPN like ExpressVPN you can hop over these ‘geo-fences’ and pretend you’re in the country that the TV service is intended for.
But with so much VPN choice out there the number of services can be overwhelming. So which VPN should you use?
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Which VPN to use for watching TV abroad
Which VPN service you should use mainly depends on where the TV service you’re trying to access is from. The VPN service you choose needs to have what is known as a ‘Server’ in that country.
For example, if you want to watch US Netflix abroad then you need a VPN that has a United States ‘Server’. If you want to watch BBC iPlayer abroad then you need a VPN that has a United Kingdom ‘Server’ and so on.
My recommendation is to use ExpressVPN. Not only do that have VPN servers in more than 94 countries but they also support almost every device including computers, laptops, tablets, phones and even the Amazon Fire TV and Firestick.
If you want more options then my Top 3 choices without question for VPNs to watch TV abroad are:
- ExpressVPN – Highly Recommended!
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
They all offer lengthy money back guarantees up to 30-days which means if you can’t get it working then there is no risk. Simply get your money back.
If you want to know how to sign up and use a VPN for watching TV abroad then keep on reading below.
How to get and use a VPN to watch TV abroad
Getting a VPN service is actually really simple.
Below I’m using my recommended provider ExpressVPN. Just follow the simple steps and you’ll be up and running and watching your favourite TV abroad in no time.
How to watch TV abroad:
- Visit ExpressVPN by clicking here and sign up for their service.
- Download the correct app for your device from the Products section of their website or your regular app store.
- Open the app and login when required.
- Press Selected Location and then select the country of your TV service.
- The app will start making automatic connection but if not just press the Connect button.
ExpressVPN lets you watch TV abroad.
Once the app has connected any website or service you use now thinks you’re in that country.
All you have to do is either launch the TV app of your choice or visit the TV service’s website.
Rather than be blocked as you would have before you will now be able to watch TV as if you were in that country.
You’re not just limited to watching TV from one country either. As ExpressVPN supports over 94 countries you can basically connect anywhere and watch TV from all over the world.
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What if my device doesn’t support VPN
If you’re using a device that doesn’t support VPN such as a Smart TV then you’ll need to use a hardware router with built in VPN.
The best VPN router for the job is the InvizBox 2. It’s a small hardware device that connects to your regular home router.
It then creates a new Wi-Fi hotspot (or can be used by a wired connection) with a VPN for the country of your choice. All you need to do then is connect your device such as your Smart TV to the new hotspot (or via wire).
You can then watch your favourite TV on your none-VPN enabled device. The InvizBox 2 takes care of all the VPN connectivity for you.
Another awesome feature is you can create different hotspots for different countries.
So say someone in your household wanted to watch US Netflix on your Smart TV and another person BBC iPlayer on their tablet. You could create one US Hotspot and one UK Hotspot. Connect the relevant device to the relevant hotspot and everyone can watch their favourite shows at the same time no matter which country they’re from.
Summary
Watching TV abroad is now really simple. With hundreds of VPN companies and easy to use apps, all it takes is a few minutes of your time.
Choosing the right VPN service is critical. Get a bad one and you’ll be plagued by buffering and poor playback. For this reason you should consider one that has a money back guarantee offer.
I recommend using ExpressVPN. They’ve got a huge 30-day money back guarantee letting you test the service risk free. If you can’t get it working or it’s just not doing what you want, simply get a refund.
They also support over 94 countries letting you watch almost any TV network in the world. Click the button below to grab 3-months free on their annual package.
Once you’ve signed up, download their app and connect to the country of your choice. You’re then free to watch TV from your home country or any other country in the world.
✔ Beginner-friendly
✔ Quick to set up
✔ Money back guarantee
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I’d love to hear what TV you’ve been watching and what your favourite network is. Why not let me know in the comments section below.
