BBC iPlayer is a British streaming service which is popular for it’s all-round coverage of entertainment. It is a geographically restricted and exclusive service which functions only in the UK.
So, if you would like to enjoy watching BBC iPlayer outside UK, you will need a VPN. A VPN will help you watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere around the world. Just make sure that you are choosing a good, strong, and reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN.
Steps to use a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer outside UK
Follow the steps given below to watch BBC iPlayer outside UK:
Step 1: Subscribe to a good, strong VPN like ExpressVPN.
Step 2: Download and install the VPN app on your device.
Step 3: Sign up and log in to the VPN app.
Step 4: Connect to a VPN server in the UK on your VPN app.
Step 5: Go to BBC iPlayer and enjoy uninterrupted streaming from anywhere outside UK.
Why is BBC iPlayer only available in UK?
BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK because it is subject to distribution and licensing agreements in order to maintain the exclusivity of the content offered on it. Such agreements are very common among streaming services and BBC iPlayer is also one of them.
The service is geographically restricted in all countries except for the UK and thus anyone outside the UK will not get access to it.
How does a VPN help in watching BBC iPlayer outside UK?
As BBC iPlayer is geographically restricted outside the boundaries of the UK, people located in other countries are unable to enjoy streaming on it. A VPN can help you by providing you access to BBC iPlayer from anywhere you are located.
What a VPN does is that it hides the IP address of your device because the reason you are unable to get access to the service is that your device has an IP address of a country other than the UK and this is how the service finds out that you are located in a geographically restricted area.
In order to give you access to BBC iPlayer a VPN assigns your device an IP address of the UK by connecting to a server in that country. This is how a VPN can easily and safely bypass geographical restrictions and let you have access to BBC iPlayer from any country you are in.
Do I need to pay for streaming on BBC iPlayer?
BBC iPlayer is a free streaming service and you do not have to pay anything for streaming on its website as well as on its app. All the thousands of titles offered by this service are free to watch as it does not have any subscription plans.
Downloading and installing the BBC iPlayer app as well as signing in on it to start streaming is also free of cost which means that there is no charge for using this streaming app.
This is for people located inside the UK and for anyone from outside the UK they need to spend money on getting a VPN service to get access to the service and then it’s free to watch unlimited content.
Why is VPN not working with BBC iPlayer?
There might be many reasons why your VPN could be unable to unblock BBC iPlayer outside UK. One of the most common reasons is a weak VPN service. If you are not using a good, strong and reliable VPN service, it is very easy for BBC iPlayer to detect that you are trying to access from outside UK. This is why you should strictly avoid free and bad-quality VPNs.
If you think that your VPN is not the problem, you should try these easy fixes:
- Try reloading the page after clearing all cookies on your device.
- Use a different browser.
- Contact your VPN customer support team and report the issue to get assistance.
- It is important to make sure that your VPN has leak proof technology. Go to the settings of your VPN app and make sure you have this feature turned on.
- Try using another device.
Which BBC services are available outside UK?
There are many BBC services which are available outside the UK. These include:
- BBC Sport
- BBC News
- BBC Podcasts
- BBC Three YouTube channel
- BBC Sounds
However, you have to check their availability for your specific country. Some countries may not have even these services. Here again, you can make use of a VPN to get access to any of these from anywhere around the world by simple connecting to a UK-based VPN server.
In the UK but still can’t access BBC iPlayer?
There have been many cases reported of the BBC iPlayer service not recognizing a user’s location to be that of the UK when they, in fact, are in the UK. More often than not, it is because you are using a VPN.
If you are connected to a VPN server outside the UK, BBC iPlayer will perceive your location to be that of outside the UK. As a result of this, your access to BBC iPlayer will be blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to stream on BBC iPlayer when I am outside the UK?
Yes, it is possible to stream on BBC iPlayer when you are outside the UK. What you are required to do is employ a good VPN on your streaming device because doing so will give your device an IP address of the UK and hide its original IP address, allowing you to get access to BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Do I need to sign in on BBC iPlayer for streaming?
BBC iPlayer is a free service to use, however, you need to sign in on it to start streaming. It is very easy to download and sign in on this platform.
Can I stream on BBC iPlayer for free of cost?
BBC iPlayer, a streaming service in the UK is free to use. You can stream unlimited content of your choice without having to pay anything. Don’t forget that the service is geographically restricted outside the UK and if you are in some other country then you will have to buy a VPN to get access to it.
Is it compulsory to download the BBC iPlayer app for streaming on it?
No, it is not compulsory to download the BBC iPlayer app for streaming on it because you can stream on its website directly.