How To Watch UK TV in the USA Easily & Effortlessly?

Urfa Sarmad

Urfa Sarmad

May 29, 2024
Updated on May 29, 2024
How To Watch UK TV in the USA Easily & Effortlessly?

The UK TV industry has many popular shows that have shaped pop culture. Some popular shows aired on UK TV include Eastenders, Love Island, and Bake Off. So, while you may be excited to watch these TV shows, the bad news is that many of the UK’s popular streaming services like BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and Sky are geo-restricted, and you cannot access these streaming services outside the UK. If you’re eager to get around these blocks and gain unlimited access to geo-blocked content, then using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is best. VPNs mask your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, meaning third parties cannot intercept your online activities.

Using a reliable VPN provider allows you to change your IP address and connect to a server in the UK, bypassing these restrictions. So, if you’re a USA resident and want to discover how to watch UK TV easily and effortlessly using a VPN, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through how to watch your favorite British TV shows without being there. All you need is a reliable premium VPN, and you’re ready to watch British TV in the USA.

What Are Some Popular UK TV Channels?

Here are some of the most popular UK TV channels that people have come to grow and love. You will find dedicated fans eagerly waiting to watch the shows aired on these channels. Some of the most popular British streaming services that air these beloved TV shows include:

ITVFamily Guy, Mr. Bean, Love Island, Coronation Street, The Chase  
Channel 4Black Mirror, Derry Girls, The Tudors, Skins, The Good Doctor
BBCEastEnders, Doctor Who, MasterChef, The Young Offenders
E4Misfits, The Change, Crazyhead, Humans
Netflix UKFool Me Once, Heartstopper, Bridgerton, Baby Reindeer
Amazon UKThe Boys, The Summer I Turned Pretty, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus  

Why Do I Need A VPN To Watch British TV In The USA?

If you live in the USA, you’d need a VPN to watch UK TV for various reasons. Some of the primary reasons why you’d need to invest in one include:

1) Enhanced Privacy and Security

Using a VPN allows you to keep your online activities secure and private. If you’re streaming a show using a public network, it offers you protection by ensuring that no malicious actors can intercept your online activities. Public networks are the most vulnerable to interception by malicious actors and hackers, so using a VPN when you’re accessing UK streaming services ensures that you’re secure, as all data gets routed through an encrypted VPN tunnel.

2) Bypassing Geolocation Restrictions

VPNs allow you to bypass geolocation restrictions and quickly access geo-blocked content. Since you cannot watch UK TV from the USA, a VPN will enable you to connect to a server in the United Kingdom, bypassing these blocks and quickly gaining unlimited access to all of your favorite British channels and TV shows. You no longer have to worry about being in a geo-blocked region.

3) Bypassing ISP Throttling

Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can sometimes throttle your internet connection if you’re using websites or apps that consume a lot of bandwidth. Streaming services also consume a lot of bandwidth, which causes your ISP to throttle the connection and cause issues such as slow performance and buffering.

They would also block access to the content since they know you’re watching from a geo-blocked location. Using a premium VPN allows you to avoid these situations altogether. The VPN conceals your IP address and enables you to connect to a server in the UK, preventing them from throttling your connection. The VPN masks your online activities while also allowing you to bypass geo-blocks.

How To Watch UK TV in the USA With AstrillVPN?

Here’s how to watch UK TV in the USA using AstrillVPN:

  1. Download and install AstrillVPN directly from the website.
  1. You can now choose the download link, depending on your operating system.
  1. Register for your AstrillVPN account and sign up.
AstrillVPN account and sign up
  1. Once you have access to your login credentials, connect to a server in the UK to begin watching UK streaming services.
access to your login credentials
  1. You can also switch to a better protocol that meets your needs and preferences.
switch to a better protocol
  1. Turn on the VPN connection and enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted streaming experience watching British TV.
on the VPN connection

What makes AstrillVPN stand out as the best VPN For Watching UK TV?

If you’re on the hunt for the best VPN to watch UK TV in the USA, look no further than AstrillVPN. There are many reasons why AstrillVPN should be one of your top picks for bypassing geo-blocks and watching UK TV. With excellent security features and dedicated streaming servers, you can watch shows on any UK streaming service easily and effortlessly.

1) Excellent Security Features

AstrillVPN offers a host of security features, including a Kill Switch feature, Smart Mode, DNS leak protection, and robust encryption protocols like OpenVPN, StealthVPN, and Wireguard. It also provides AES-256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard. This helps secure and protect your online activities, ensuring that ISPs and other third parties cannot snoop on them.

2) Extensive Servers

AstrillVPN has a wide range of servers, with over 300+ servers across 57+ locations. The more servers there are, the easier it is to bypass geolocation restrictions and connect to servers that aren’t overloaded with users, which prevents buffering and slow performance. AstrillVPN has many servers in the UK, allowing you to watch British shows instantly.

3) Great Customer Services

AstrillVPN has a competent team of customer support representatives who can promptly answer all your technical queries. They are also available 24/7 through various modes of communication, such as live chat, email, and phone. You can also access their AstrillWiki, which has helpful tools and resources and an FAQs page. However, you must contact the customer support team for more in-depth guidance.

4) Compatibility With Different Devices

AstrillVPN is compatible with multiple devices and operating systems. It is available on Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. This offers you the convenience of streaming your favorite British TV shows on any operating system you’re using, as well as your laptop, phone, and tablet. This is convenient when you’re traveling and on the go and want to pass the time and watch a TV show.

5) No Logs Policy

If you prioritize their privacy, you would be pleased to know that AstrillVPN adheres to a strict No Logs Policy. A No Logging policy means that the VPN provider does not track your online activities or store your data when using the VPN. Any data you enter and browsing sessions get automatically removed when you log out of the VPN. For a clearer picture, you can catch up on AstrillVPN’s Privacy Policy, which states that they maintain a strict No Logging policy.

6) Speed & Performance

AstrillVPN has fast and reliable servers that are perfect for online streaming TV shows and movies. Its fast network of dedicated servers from across the globe offers an enjoyable and uninterrupted experience. It has an impressive download speed of up to 80 Mbps, with speeds sometimes going as far as 200 to 275 Mbps. This makes it ideal for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

How To Watch UK TV on Fire Stick With VPN?

Fire Stick is compatible with most VPNs, which makes it an ideal choice for streaming content. Since AstrillVPN isn’t available on the Amazon Fire Stick App Store, you can use the following method to install the AstrillVPN app on your Amazon Firestick:

  1. You can install the AstrillVPN app on your router and secure your network.
  2. Sign Up for AstrillVPN and ensure that the router you purchase is compatible with the service.
  3. Configure your AstrillVPN account on your router.
  4. Once you’ve installed AstrillVPN on your router, login using the credentials provided by AstrillVPN.
  5. Open your Firestick and connect it to the network.

How To Watch UK TV on Smart TV With VPN?

Aside from watching UK TV on Fire Stick, you must think, “How can I watch British TV on my Smart TV?” Popular UK TV streaming services like BBC iPlayer are available on Smart TVs. You can access BBC iPlayer by launching the app, using your device’s on-screen menu, and pressing the red button on your remote from a BBC channel. To check if your device is supported, take a look here.

There are multiple different versions of BBC iPlayer that manufacturers use on their devices. Because of technical limitations between these versions, there can be some variations in features (subtitles, HD, etc). Each device must be connected to the internet to use BBC iPlayer. Devices like Smart TVs and gaming consoles don’t typically support VPNs, so the best option for you is to install VPN on the router.

  1. Make sure the router you use is compatible with the VPN provider.
  2. Sign up for AstrillVPN and choose a router that supports it.
  3. Follow Astrill’s configuration guide, and configure the VPN on your router.
  4. Once you complete these steps, all the devices connected to the router will be using the VPN.
  5. Connect to a server from the UK.
  6. Start watching UK TV easily and effortlessly.

Watch UK TV With VPN on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android

This method can also work for other operating systems and devices like Linux and Android TV. Here’s how you can watch UK TV with AstrillVPN on multiple operating systems:

  1. Download AstrillVPN from the website or the official app store.
  2. Connect to a server in the UK. You will find a list of different servers in the UK.
  3. Open your favorite streaming platforms from the UK and begin streaming.

Can I use a free VPN to access British streaming platforms?

Although a free VPN may seem enticing, we do not recommend using it. Free VPNs are notorious for compromising your privacy and security since they often sell your personal and confidential information to third parties like advertisers to make a profit. In some cases, some free VPNs also fail to hide your IP address, making it challenging to bypass geolocation restrictions and prevent your ISP from snooping on your online activities.

Another downside of using free VPNs for streaming is that limited server locations make it harder for you to bypass geolocation restrictions, and the limited servers lead to a server overload since multiple people are using the same server. Sever overload leads to slow and poor performance and affects the streaming quality, leading to buffering and disruptions. Some free VPN providers carry viruses and Malware, which can cause harm to your device and compromise your sensitive and confidential information.

What Should I Do If I Can’t Access UK TV With A VPN?

So you have tried to access UK TV with a VPN but are surprised to discover it’s not working, and you’re still blocked from accessing it. There are a couple of ways you can get around this issue:

  • First, check that your VPN connection is up and running.
  • You have cookies on your device, which can tell you’re watching from outside of the UK.
  • The IP address and GPS location of your device don’t match.
  • The VPN you used hasn’t been able to unblock your streaming service.
  • Your actual IP address has started leaking.

There are ways, however, that you can rectify these issues, and the most effective ways include:

  • Switch on the leak protection setting of your VPN provider.
  • Contact your VPN provider’s customer support.
  • Try using a different web browser.
  • Clear all your cache and cookies.

Is It Legal To Watch UK TV Abroad?

British people already know they require a license to watch any of the UK’s free-to-air channels on live TV. The same rules apply if you’re living abroad, so if you’d like to watch British TV, which includes BBC, ITV, Channel 4, or other Freeview channels, you will also require a TV license. However, you don’t need a TV license to watch anything on BBC iPlayer, and you don’t need to watch any catch-up content on any other channel. However, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN to watch UK TV abroad unless you reside in a country that permits the use of VPNs.

Wrapping Up

The UK TV industry has many iconic TV shows widely loved by a global audience. Although many UK streaming services have blocked this content, you can easily bypass these blocks and access geo-blocked content using a VPN. VPNs allow you to access UK TV streaming services no matter where you are and ensure your privacy and security are taken to the next level. Long gone are the days when you have to worry about geolocation restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Zee TV free in the UK?

Although Zee TV is free, you must purchase subscription plans to gain access to premium content.

Is Pluto TV in the UK?

Yes, Pluto TV is available to watch in the UK.

Is there a British TV app?

Various British TV apps, including the popular BBC iPlayer, allow you to watch and stream your favorite BBC shows online.

How do I download UK TV?

You can easily download content from UK TV using any streaming service available on TV. Most popular streaming services are available on desktops, iOS, and Android; you can download and watch the content offline.

How does British TV work?

Broadcast television is distributed as radio waves via terrestrial or satellite transmissions or electric or light signals through ground-based cables. In the UK, the Digital Video Broadcasting standard is used.

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About The Author

Urfa Sarmad

Urfa is a business management graduate who delved into the world of tech, data privacy and cybersecurity and has been writing tech and privacy related content ever since. In her free time.

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