How to Stream Regionally Locked UK TV Shows From Outside the UK
By now, we all know that a VPN can be used to watch region-specific content on international streaming services like Netflix and Hulu , but what about regional services like the BBC? Any UK resident with a TV license can stream BBC content such as Killing Eve or Peaky Blinders for free on various devices via the iPlayer app , but users outside the UK are blocked. Well, very good news: With a VPN, you can sneak past the BBC iPlayer location tracker and watch programs that would normally require you to be overseas.
It may seem illegal, but technically you are not breaking any laws. Morally dubious? May be. But as long as VPNs are legal in your country (like the US), you’re fine. Here’s how to take it off.
Find a reliable VPN
Obviously, the most important step is finding a VPN. We strongly advise against using “free” VPNs , which are notorious for spreading adware, malware, and other types of scams. Paid VPNs are more reliable and only cost a few dollars a month. They are also easy to set up and use. While I prefer VPNs with a reputation for transparency and security features like Mullvad VPN, the truth is that most of the popular paid VPN services are quite safe and reliable, especially when you only use them to view region-blocked content on such services. like the BBC. iPlayer or even Netflix. I used to use Surf Shark to bypass regional blocks, but other popular tools like NordVPN also work.
Make sure your VPN supports all the devices you plan to stream BBC content to. Almost all known VPNs work on Windows PCs and Macs, and many work on smartphones, but the BBC iPlayer app is also available on devices like Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV. If you want to watch through one of these TV boxes, you’ll need a VPN that works on your router as well, not just on the streaming device itself. Most paid VPN services offer this feature, but you need to set up your home router to connect to the VPN servers. The process used will depend on which VPN you’re using, but you should be able to configure your settings through the VPN desktop app.
After that, the next steps are similar to those we outlined in our guide to watching regionally-referenced content in general, but with a distinct BBC flavor or “smack”.
Create a BBC account
First, create a new BBC account if you don’t already have one. The easiest way to register is through the official BBC iPlayer web page. Don’t worry if you don’t live in the UK; you can still create an account.
- Open the BBC iPlayer web page.
- Click Login , then select Register at the bottom of the login window.
- Follow the instructions on the screen
- When asked about your region, select “UK”, then enter the UK postal code. Google “UK postcodes” if you don’t know them, but don’t worry too much about it; any UK postal code will work.
- Click “Register” in the last step to complete the account creation process.
How to access BBC iPlayer via VPN
- Enable VPN on your device.
- Select a UK server as a proxy connection (if you don’t know how to do this, visit the VPN webpage for tutorials).
- Go to the BBC iPlayer web page .
- Click Sign In and sign in to your BBC account.
- Select a show or movie to start watching.
- (Optional) Select “I have a TV license. Look.” if prompted.
- (Optional) Similarly, select “Play without PG Lock” if you are asked to turn on parental controls – unless, of course, you want parental controls to be enabled, in which case select “Enable PG Lock”. (You can change this in your account settings at any time.)
That’s all there is to it – you can now watch BBC content online, even if you don’t live in the UK. And if you haven’t already corrected the situation, this process will also work for other UK channels such as Channel 4. 4All and ITV Hub.
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