The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the world’s oldest national broadcaster and the biggest too in terms of the number of employees. Regarded as a national treasure in the United Kingdom and beloved by many for its leading news coverage, drama TV series, and kids’ shows too, it’s a big force in the field of entertainment, and its iPlayer service has a lot to offer.
First launched back in 2007, the BBC iPlayer is an internet streaming service for BBC shows, allowing users to watch live BBC channels and stream a wide range of BBC content, including kids shows, popular British series like Dr. Who, Killing Eve, and Peaky Blinders, documentaries, news broadcasts, and films that have recently aired on BBC channels too.
In general, since the BBC is the British public national broadcasting service, it’s only available in the United Kingdom. However, many people in other countries around the world want to enjoy top quality BBC programming on their devices, and the best way to do this is through the use of a VPN for BBC iPlayer. Read on to learn how BBC VPN services work and why you might like to get one.
Why is the BBC iPlayer Region Locked?
If you try to access the BBC iPlayer when not in the United Kingdom, you’ll receive an error message. The service has been region-locked to try and ensure that only those based in the UK can access it. Why? Well, it all comes down to rights.
This is the same reason why Netflix has different content depending on the country and why certain other streaming services like Hulu and Amazon Prime can have different restrictions in different parts of the world. It’s all about who owns the rights to individual shows and films.
For example, the BBC may have the rights to broadcast certain shows or films in the UK, but those same shows and films might be under the control of other rights holders in other countries, so it would technically be a violation to allow users from around the world to simply log on to the iPlayer and view content straight from the BBC.
How Does a VPN Work for BBC iPlayer?
A VPN can let you stream BBC content and watch BBC channels on-demand. It does this by effectively bypassing the geo-restriction system that the BBC has in place. Put simply, it makes the iPlayer service think that you’re in the UK, even if you’re actually in the US or Australia or anywhere else in the world.
VPNs work by masking the user’s IP address and then connecting them to sites and services, like the BBC iPlayer, via secure, private servers located in different countries around the world. In the case of the BBC iPlayer, since it’s a UK-only service, VPN users can connect to it via UK-based servers.
How to Use a VPN to Access BBC iPlayer
If you want to use a VPN to get into the BBC iPlayer and enjoy all those great shows, films, and more, you don’t need to worry. The process might sound complicated on a technical level, but it’s really simple in practice, especially when you’re using one of the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer.
All you need to do is load up your VPN and then connect to one of the servers in the UK. It doesn’t matter if the server is in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, or any other city, as long as it’s part of the UK, as the iPlayer is available all across the country.
Then, once the connection to a UK server has been established, simply head over to the BBC iPlayer site and log in or create your BBC account to access the content.
Do I Need to Have a BBC Account?
Yes, in order to access any content on the iPlayer, you have to have a BBC account. However, the accounts are totally free and anyone can make one. You’ll need to provide a UK-based postcode when making your account, but any British postcode will work and you don’t actually need to live in the UK to have an account.
Do All VPNs Work with BBC iPlayer?
Unfortunately, no. Many VPN providers have struggled to bypass geo-restriction systems put in place by companies like the BBC, Amazon, and Netflix to prevent users from accessing their content from other locations, and a lot of them have simply given up on this idea entirely.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of top-rated VPNs for BBC iPlayer that work flawlessly with the service. No matter where you are in the world, the best BBC VPNs will let you hook up to a UK server and access all of the brilliant BBC content without any restrictions or error messages.
Can I Watch BBC Live with a VPN?
Yes! One of the key features of the BBC iPlayer is instant access to live BBC programming across 11 different channels. The channels you’ll get access to with this service are as follows: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Parliament, BBC Scotland, BBC Alba, and S4C.
To watch live BBC TV with a VPN, simply access the service in the same way detailed above and then click on the ‘Channels’ tab at the top of the screen. Next, click on the corresponding logo of the channel you’d like to watch and then click the ‘Watch Live’ button.
Will a VPN Affect my BBC iPlayer Streaming Speeds?
This is a possibility. You need sufficient download speeds in order to be able to stream BBC iPlayer content in high quality and especially in order to watch the live channels without any buffering or other issues.
A VPN can affect your internet speeds. Unreliable or lower quality VPNs can have big impacts on download speeds, but the best iPlayer VPNs are able to maintain your download speeds and ensure that you can watch and enjoy all the content you want without any interruptions.
What Can I Watch on BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
With a VPN for BBC iPlayer, you have full and complete access to all of the regular iPlayer content. This includes all of the live channels we mentioned earlier, as well as countless ‘Catch Up’ shows and films across a range of categories. Some of the most famous and popular series available on BBC iPlayer include Peaky Blinders, Fleabag, and Call the Midwife.
A VPN for BBC iPlayer will also allow you to enjoy various reality shows, documentaries, and other unique offerings such as Dragons’ Den, Panorama, Top Gear, MasterChef UK, and Race Across the World. The BBC iPlayer is also home to a lot of children-friendly content via the CBBC and CBeebies channels, as well as plenty of different films that air regularly on the BBC network.
Can I Watch Sports on BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
Yes, sports content is available on the BBC iPlayer with a VPN as well. The BBC often has broadcasting rights for matches of major soccer, rugby, tennis, athletics, and golf events, as well as offering highlights packages and sports news and discussion shows too.
Can I Listen to BBC Radio with a VPN?
The BBC iPlayer used to feature radio channels. Now, the BBC has set up its own separate radio service entitled BBC Sounds, which allows users to listen live to radio stations like Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5, Radio Scotland, World Service, Radio Wales, CBeebies Radio, and many more.
You can use a VPN for BBC iPlayer to access the BBC Sounds service and enjoy all of these different radio stations live and crystal clear. The Sounds service also lets you access a range of podcasts and other audio files related to all kinds of subjects.
Which Devices Can I Use to Watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
This all depends on which VPN service you choose. Some VPNs for BBC iPlayer only work on computers and Macs, while others have their own dedicated mobile apps for use on Android and iOS tablets and smartphones. There are even some VPNs that can be set up on smart TVs and video game consoles too, letting you stream content via the BBC iPlayer on any device you like.
How Do I Find the Best VPN for BBC iPlayer?
If you enjoy BBC programming and want to get access to the best BBC content on-demand, even outside of the UK, getting a VPN is a wise move, but you shouldn’t just dive right in and install the first VPN you find. As mentioned earlier, not all VPNs work flawlessly with BBC iPlayer and some of them might even reduce your download speeds, making the content unwatchable.
When looking for the best BBC iPlayer VPN, you need to focus on download speeds and server locations. Naturally, you need to choose a VPN that has servers in the UK, and the more servers it has, the better. You’ll also want to consider the price, free trial policy, and security features too, and you can check out our in-depth VPN reviews for recommendations on the best iPlayer VPN.