Even if your name is Prince Harry, you can’t legally watch US TV in the United Kingdom. It’s disappointing, but it’s true. Just like it isn’t in many other countries, American television isn’t available in the UK as well. So, if you’re an American ex-pat or you’re just an American TV adherent residing in the Queen’s country, you won’t be able to stream American channels.
Or you could find a way out. Of course, there is always a way to get past any hindrance on the internet, including this one. If “how can I unblock and watch US television in the United Kingdom” is a question you’re currently asking yourself, we’ve got all the answers.
In this guide, we’ll be teaching you how to unblock, access, and stream American television in the European country. You will see that our advice is quite the same as the one in our guide on how to unblock and watch ITV abroad.
Why Can’t I Watch US TV in the UK?
While your inability to unblock US channels in the United Kingdom might be down to a number of reasons, it’s usually due to censorship and licensing agreements.
The agreements that streaming providers sign usually demand them to restrict their services to only the shores of the United States. As a result, your access will be denied whenever you try to watch US TV in the United Kingdom.
It doesn’t even matter if you have a subscription with the channel or not.
How Do They Detect My Location and How Can I Hide It?
It’s very easy for streaming channels to detect your location. In the form of an IP address, every computer in the world has an address to which it can be traced. Stream providers usually have systems in place to read the IP address of visitors.
Once the system discovers that you’re attempting to unblock, access, or watch their content from the UK, it blocks you automatically.
So, how can I hide my location? It’s not really difficult. The most effective method is to use a Virtual Private Network. VPN companies usually have several servers spread across different locations around the world.
When you connect to the VPN to unblock US TV, it will automatically connect you to one of the VPN’s servers in the United States, thereby giving you a US IP address.
Subsequently, your restriction will be lifted and you’ll be able to stream American streaming services since the websites will now be seeing your locations as the United States.
3 Best VPNs to Watch US TV in the UK
There are about 500 VPNs in the world. Of course, there is no way you can test all of them, which makes it difficult for you to determine which one is right for you. How can I figure out the perfect one to unblock, access, or stream in the UK, then?
Read our reviews below.
1. ExpressVPN
Tagged as the best VPN in the world by millions of people worldwide, ExpressVPN is the most reliable option to turn to in times of urgent needs. Even if no other VPN is working, ExpressVPN will surely help you to learn how to unblock, access, or watch US TV in the UK.
The provider offers 3,000+ servers in more than 94 countries worldwide, along with the broadest platform support you will find anywhere. We aren’t talking about only native clients for Mac, Linux, Windows, Android, and iOS – there are tons more!
The VPN has custom firmware for a couple of routers, browser extensions for compatible browsers, and DNS content-unblocking for a range of smart TVs and devices. All that functionality could intimidate first-timers who want to stream or watch US TV in the UK.
So, ExpressVPN offers a great support website. If the support website is unable to help you, the 24/7 live chat support will surely help, and that’s true even if you want to know how to watch United Kingdom TV channels.
Elsewhere, ExpressVPN offers P2P support, a no-logging policy, military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. You can also connect up to five devices concurrently so that your friends can also unblock, access, and watch their favorite US TV shows in the UK as well.
While the VPN comes at a premium price, it offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee to secure your investment. If the service doesn’t impress you within the first 30 days, you can cancel your subscription for a full refund.
You can also take advantage of the generous 49% discount the company is currently offering. Besides, there is a 3-month free subscription that’s activated when you buy a 12-month plan.
Enjoy a 49% Discount With ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost
With its incredible combination of ease of use and power, Romanian-based CyberGhost has won the hearts of over ten million users around the world. Operating 6,300+ servers scattered across 90 countries around the world, the company adequately covers the basics.
The VPN offers applications for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS, coupled with supreme P2P capabilities.
Another major highlight is the super helpful app. How can I determine the right server with CyberGhost? Well, you don’t even need to worry about that because the app does it for you.
Rather than guessing which server to choose, the app will automatically choose the best one for you to unblock, stream, or access your favorite US TV shows in the UK. There are also a lot of extras. For example, the VPN is capable of blocking trackers, malicious websites, and ads.
Automated HTTPS redirection guarantees that you make the most secure connection whenever you watch or access US television in the United Kingdom. It is not all good news though. The support website is sub-standard, the desktop app interface is a bit complex, and the company only offers a miserly 24-hour trial for desktop.
In general, though, the VPN provides you with lots of uncommon functionalities for a reasonable price and it’s worth being given a closer watch. You won’t find many options better than this one to stream US TV. Needless to say that with it, you will be able to unblock Netflix US.
Watch US TV in the UK With CyberGhost
3. NordVPN
Based in a country that’s hardly a tech hub, it is quite surprising how NordVPN has managed to become one of the most reliable VPN solutions in the industry. Only a few rivals can match or beat NordVPN’s current stream of services in the UK or anywhere else.
Offering 5,600+ servers in more than 60 countries, NordVPN offers a lot of bandwidth when you try to unblock restricted content. Not only that, but it also uses industry-standard 2048-bit encryption, supports 6 devices simultaneously, has a solid DNS leak protection, and features an in-built kill switch.
Everything in this VPN has been designed to help you watch or access US TV in the UK with a minimum of fuss.
The fast SmartPlay feature can be used to bypass geo-blocking and access, stream, or unblock a large number of streaming services. While the service finds it hard to connect to some servers, it will deliver above-average speeds as soon as it’s able to establish a connection.
NordVPN is also amazing when it comes to customer support. Sure, email support is a tad slower, but why go for it when you have the live chat option? Here, you’ll be able to get an instant response and fix your VPN related issues in a blink of an eye!
Enjoy US TV in the UK With NordVPN
Conclusion
Regardless of what your last name is, there is no way to legally watch US television in the United Kingdom. With that in mind, we’ve included everything you need to know regarding how to watch US TV in the country of the Queen.
Can you now travel to the UK without any fear of missing out on your favorite shows? Of course, the answer is yes – with ExpressVPN, that’s entirely possible! Or any other provider for that matter.
FAQ
? Why are American TV channels unavailable in the UK?
Because of TV rights. All US TV channels must restrict access to their programs only to people that are currently located in the United States. Why? Quite simply because these channels do not have the right to broadcast their programs outside the US.
? How to bypass the geo-restrictions?
In order to avoid such blocking, you will have to modify your IP and therefore, your location (virtually of course). With ExpressVPN for example, you will be able to get a US IP in just a few seconds, allowing you to watch US TV from the UK.
⚠️ Is it possible to use a free VPN to watch American Television?
Unfortunately, no. All the free VPNs that we have been able to test are each time detected by the main American TV channels. If you really want to pay nothing to watch American TV in the UK, go for the 30-day trial period offered by ExpressVPN.
? Can a VPN help me watch US TV on my smartphone?
Of course! Whether you take ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, or NordVPN, they all have an application on Android and iOS, which will allow you to access US TV programs from abroad easily on your smartphone.
Michael is a talented writer who has dedicated a lot of time into making sure that everyone around the world can use the internet securely. Being an avid traveler, he has acquired a lot of experience while using different VPNs on his travels. When it comes to doing comprehensive “how to tutorials” or testing some VPN functionalities, he’s always the best pick ! He’s here to help you solve your VPN-related issues.
