Watching international TV with a VPN

Why a programme can disappear abroad

Streaming rights can vary by country. A series saved to your watchlist at home may be missing when you open the same account at a hotel. Downloads can also have location restrictions. Look up the title in the broadcaster’s own travel guidance before you leave.

A VPN changes the IP address a service sees. It cannot grant viewing rights or change the territorial terms of a subscription. Sports fixtures, live streams and on-demand repeats can each have different rights.

Check the broadcaster first

Start with the service’s travel and VPN pages. Netflix says that connecting through a VPN may restrict viewing to titles it has licensed worldwide. It also says it does not support VPNs for live events or its ad-supported experience. A VPN advert naming a service tells you little about your particular title, account or destination.

For an international channel, check whether the broadcaster runs an official UK app or sells rights to a UK service. That route may already be included in a subscription you own.

If legitimate viewing stops working

When you are in a supported region and a streaming app shows a location error, disconnect a personal VPN and reopen the app. On a work device, check with IT before adjusting network settings. If a service still identifies the wrong country on your normal connection, use its help centre.

Before committing to a long VPN plan for travel, check your device’s app support, the provider’s refund conditions and the streaming service’s current terms.

Broadcaster guidance

• Netflix on watching through a VPN
• Netflix on watching away from home