BBC iPlayer is a streaming service that offers BBC content on demand. It is available on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. Moreover, it’s the most user-friendly streaming service available today. It’s also one of the most popular, with an impressive catalog of content to choose from.
The only problem? BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK. If you’re lucky enough to be traveling there, you can stream away to your heart’s content. But what about when you’re outside the UK? We are here to help and guide users on how to access BBC iplayer from anywhere they want.
In this article, we’ll show you how to access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, so you can keep up with your favorite shows no matter where you are. Keep reading to find out more!
Why is BBC iPlayer geo-blocked?
It is no news that BBC iPlayer is only available to users in the United Kingdom (UK) and is geo-blocked for outsiders. This means that UK users cannot access its content. This is a major downside of the service; however, if users can connect to a UK VPN server, they can stream on the BBC iPlayer.
The main reason for this geo-blocking is due to licensing restrictions placed on the BBC by rights holders. The BBC pays for the rights to broadcast certain programs in the UK only. As such, they cannot legally make these programs available outside the UK. If they did so, they would violate their licensing agreements and could be subject to legal action.
Furthermore, another reason for the geo-blocking of BBC iPlayer is due to government regulations. The British government has placed strict rules on what content can and cannot be accessed by citizens of other countries. This includes content from streaming services like BBC iPlayer. By geo-blocking BBC iPlayer, the British government can ensure that only residents of the UK have access to its content.
Finally, there may also be commercial reasons why BBC iPlayer is geo-blocked. The BBC may want to encourage users to sign up for a paid subscription in order to access its content. This would allow the BBC to generate additional revenue that can be used to produce more high-quality content.
Therefore, users can connect to a reliable VPN service and form a connection with a UK-based server to access BBC iPlayer outside the region.
Here’s how to unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN:
Time Needed 5 minutes.
Many VPNs are on the market, but not all will work with BBC iPlayer. To bypass geo-restriction, you will need a VPN with a large number of servers and a high encryption rate. We recommend ExpressVPN as it is one of the few that consistently works with BBC iPlayer.
Here’s how to use ExpressVPN to unblock BBC iPlayer:
- Sign Up For VPN
Sign up for a free trial or purchase a subscription for the best VPN that works with BBC iPlayer
- Download & Install
Download and install the best VPN app on your device (Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android).
- Connect UK IP
Open the VPN app and connect to a server in the UK (London or Manchester should work)
- Open BBC iPlayer
now restart your BBC iPlayer APP and enjoy watching from anywhere now
Follow these few basic and simple steps, and you are good to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Best VPN to Access BBC iPlayer From Abroad
If you’re a fan of the BBC iPlayer content and live outside of the UK, then you know how frustrating it can be to try and access their content. The good news is that several VPNs can help you bypass these geographical restrictions and watch the BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
- ExpressVPN: it offers servers in 94 countries, including the UK. It’s fast, reliable, and easy to use. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
- NordVPN: it has over 5,000 servers in 62 countries, including several in the UK. It’s an excellent option for streaming video content like the BBC iPlayer.
- CyberGhost: offers over 3,500 servers in 60 countries around the world. It also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it without risk.
- Surfshark VPN: it offers 3200+ servers in 99 countries that ensure fast speed and no border feature helps bypass geo-restrictions.
- ProtonVPN: the alternative routing technology promises easy bypassing of restriction and 1600 servers in 63 countries further help.
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable VPN to help you stream content from the BBC iPlayer, any options on this list will do the trick.
Do Free VPNs Work With BBC iPlayer?
If you are looking for a free VPN that works with BBC iPlayer, then we can ensure that there is none. We have tested many proxies, browser-based VPNs, and free VPN clients to bypass the restrictions, but BBC iPlayer can detect VPNs each time.
If you’re using a free VPN to access BBC iPlayer, you may get an error message saying, “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK.” This is because your IP address will appear outside the UK when using a free VPN. To fix this, you’ll need to connect to a server in the UK. Apart from that, there are several other issues with free VPNs, such as:
- Servers bandwith too low
- UK servers aready caught by BBC iPlayer bots
- Since they do not have subscribers, they might sell your information for revenue
Therefore, it is crucial to stay safe and use a paid VPN that can help ensure reliable and secure access to restricted BBC iPlayer content.
Are there any Other Ways?
There is no way to access the BBC iPlayer without a VPN, proxy, or DNS service. The only free way to access the content is to go for a paid VPN, proxy, or DNS service. We recommend using a VPN because it will encrypt your traffic and keep your data private.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN is one of the most reliable online privacy and security tool. They help hide your data from online snooping and help ensure anonymity. A VPN works in a follwing way:
- As soon you connect to a VPN, it encrypts your data into encrypted packets
- It sends your data through a secure tunnel
- The data is rerouted through a remote server in the location you want to access
In the context of BBC iPlayer, using a VPN will allow you to access content only available in the UK. This is because BBC iPlayer uses your IP address to determine your location and only shows available content in that country. Connecting to a UK-based server with a VPN can trick BBC iPlayer into thinking you are in the UK and gain access to its complete catalog of content.
FAQs
If you want to watch BBC iPlayer on your TV from outside UK by using NordVPN, follow these steps:
1 – Sign up for a NordVPN account. You can do this on their website.
2 – Download and install the NordVPN app on your TV.
3 – Connect to a VPN server in the UK. This will allow you to appear as if you’re accessing BBC iPlayer from within the UK.
4 – Launch the BBC iPlayer app and begin streaming!
No, BBC iPlayer is not free on Amazon Prime. You would need to sign up for a paid subscription in order to access it. However, some limited free episodes are available on the Amazon Prime Video app.
If you want to watch BBC iPlayer outside of the UK, your only option is to use a VPN. Although there are other ways to unblock BBC iPlayer, such as using a proxy server or a Smart DNS service, these methods are unreliable and can often result in buffering and lag. A VPN, on the other hand, will encrypt your traffic and route it through a server in the UK, which will allow you to stream BBC iPlayer content without any issues.
Yes, you can use a VPN to change your virtual location and bypass geo-blocks on BBC iPlayer. A VPN will hide your digital footprint and mask your IP address allowing you to access all the UK-based content on iPlayer.
If you are using a free VPN, BBC iPlayer might be able to detect your unusual activity. However, we advise using a paid and trustworthy VPN like ExpressVPN. It is a reliable VPN with fast speed and several servers that can help in bypassing VPN blocks and geo-restrictions.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a British expat looking for a way to stay connected to your homeland or simply want to watch BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, there are a few different ways to do it. Using a VPN, Proxy, or Smart DNS service, you can change your IP address and access BBC iPlayer no matter where you are. Give one of these methods a try and see how easy it is to watch your favorite BBC shows from anywhere in the world.
