The American Broadcasting Company offers lots of popular shows. Thanks to the high-quality content, it is among the most-watched in the United States. As the name suggests, the channel is based in the USA and it cannot be streamed abroad, as explained in our article on how to watch HBO abroad. This is disappointing if you travel abroad and you can’t watch the shows you love, but there is a way of getting around the block. So, if you are searching for the answer to how can I unblock and access ABC abroad, continue reading this guide.
Why Are There Restrictions?
There is a simple answer as to why content on ABC is restricted outside of the United States. In fact, it’s all down to licensing. The channel is paid for by the TV license fee people pay in the US.
On top of that, the network has agreements with third-parties. Countries outside of the US do not have agreements in place so content cannot be shown. This leads to the question of how to unblock ABC outside of the USA.
How Are Restrictions Enforced?
It is easy for the networks to geo-restrict content based on countries as all computers and devices have an IP address. This is what distinguishes one device from another on the World Wide Web.
In fact, all countries have a range of IP addresses, which are detected when accessing websites. Go to stream content from ABC outside of the states and your IP address is flagged as being abroad. Still wondering how to watch ABC abroad? Continue to read.
Removing Restrictions
So, it is the device’s IP address that stops you from gaining access to ABC. Therefore, if you can change the IP address to match one from the range in the United States, the restrictions are removed.
However, it is not as easy as it sounds, unless you sign up for a VPN. A Virtual Private Network provides what is needed in order to unlock the mystery of how to access ABC outside of the USA.
With a VPN, you can choose from a wide range of servers around the world, including servers based in the states. If you are connected to a server from America you have an IP address from the USA.
So, for all intents and purposes, when you visit websites it looks as though you are actually located in the United States. But, in actual fact, you could be anywhere in the world.
Now, to answer the question of how can I unblock and access ABC abroad. The VPN hides your IP replacing it with one from a server anywhere in the world, in this instance, from the US.
We are not going into the technical details of how it does it because it is not really needed.
Of course, you are going to need to know the steps required to obtain a new IP through a VPN. After all, that is the main reason why you came here in the first place, to find the answer to how to stream ABC outside of the US, and we are going to show you how below.
Similarly, as we did in our article on how to unblock CBS, here is a quick guide.
Guide to Streaming the Channel Abroad
The first thing you will need to do is choose a VPN provider and there are many out there. Our top three choices are ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN.
Here, we will show you the process of downloading and installing software with ExpressVPN. However, the process will be virtually the same for any of the three providers above.
Consequently, the first step is to choose a plan and sign up with the provider.
The next step in understanding how to access ABC abroad is to choose and download the software for your device. ExpressVPN offers software and apps for a wide range of devices, whether you want to stream content on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or any other device.
Click on the download and install the software onto your device. Now, find the icon created by the installation and click on it to run the software.
To continue learning how to access ABC abroad all you have to do now is choose a US-based server from the list of servers in the drop down box.
Notice that at first you are not connected to the server. You will see the wording “Not connected” with a button in red.
To establish a connection, choose the server then hit the “Connect” button and it should turn green. You will now be connected to your chosen server in America and you have the answer on how to unblock ABC abroad.
Top 3 Choices to Stream ABC Abroad
Our top three choices for getting around geo-restrictions are ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN. Here is a quick description of each of them.
Why Choose ExpressVPN?
We have used ExpressVPN as our example in the guide above as the provider offers blazing-fast speeds with 3,000+ servers around the world, all of which are fully optimized.
While it may not be the cheapest provider of the three, you do get a great deal for the money. ExpressVPN offers a 49% discount with a 12-month plan, and on top of this, you get three months free, making for a total of 15 months.
A VPN is the answer to the question of how can I unblock and access ABC outside of the United States, but it also provides an additional level of security thanks to state-of-the-art encryption. Combined with a 30-day money-back guarantee with absolutely no conditions, it makes ExpressVPN a terrific choice.
- Very good speeds
- Unblocks Netflix US, UK, CAN, AUS, and many more.
- 94 countries covered with 3000+ servers
- Client support with online chat
- 30 days money-back guarantee
- 5 simultaneous connections
- Not the cheapest option
Stream with fast servers thanks to ExpressVPN >
Why Choose CyberGhost?
CyberGhost is another VPN provider worth considering as it offers 6,300+ servers in 90 countries around the world, helping you bypass geo-restrictions.
The provider offers software for numerous devices and monthly or yearly packages, along with the chance to connect 7 devices simultaneously – great when asking how can I unblock ABC on multiple devices.
- 90 countries covered
- Dedicated servers for streaming
- 7 simultaneous connections
- 45 days money-back guarantee
- Cheap 3 years deal
- Speed can be slower
- Does not work in China and Turkey
Bypass geo-restrictions with CyberGhost >
Why Choose NordVPN?
NordVPN offers a range of servers located in different countries around the world and allows for 6 connections at the same time. That is partially why you can find it in our shortlist of VPN for China.
The provider also offer 24/7 customer support, as do the others, along with software for numerous devices. With more than 5,800 servers available, there is no doubt that you will be able to find the one to help you unblock and watch ABC abroad.
- More than 5,800 servers
- Client support 24/7/365
- Unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max
- Very good security
- Less than $3.5/month with the 2-year plan
- 1 month plan is expensive
- Some struggles to connect sometimes
Unblock content now with NordVPN >
A professional writer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since his youngest age, he loves everything related to internet, technology, fitness, games, and dogs! He joined our team in order to bring his deep knowledge in security services, among which VPN is of course a key component.
