Don’t let regional restrictions prevent you from watching your favourite international TV shows and regular TV channels! Tekkie Help have some solutions like streaming BBC iPlayer on AppleTV.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Installing a VPN is one of the most common ways to work around regional restrictions and watch international content. This lets you connect through a third-party server. To the external world, this looks like your computer is actually located in the UK, or indeed anywhere in the world that you choose.
When you want to watch something, connect through the VPN and start downloading. You can watch these TV channels or BBC iPlayer on your computer or use AppleTV or Chromecast to stream the content to your television.
If you have a Smart TV or AppleTV, you may wish to connect it to the VPN – in order to do this, the VPN needs to be configured on the router or the device.
One of the downsides of watching through a VPN “tunnel” is that there are often bottlenecks in the streaming path. This results in buffering or reduced picture quality. For this reason, we advise against configuring the main household router with a VPN. Instead, we recommend investing in a dedicated VPN router and connecting the devices to it.
There are a number of VPN services available; some are better than others, and the cost per month can vary from free to around $10 per month.
Domain Name System (DNS)
A DNS services is an alternative to a VPN – GetFlix is highly recommended. When you access sites with geo-blocks, a DNS automatically bypasses the blocks by providing you with a local IP address.
DNS offers a more seamless viewing experience as streaming speed is generally higher. Additionally, it can be configured directly on computers as well as AppleTV, without any impact on performance. This negates the need to connect every time you wish to watch TV shows. As AppleTV can be configured with a DNS, it means that you’re able to access the region-specific apps – BBC iPlayer, for example – directly on your TV.
Amazon Fire Stick, AppleTV & Roku
These are devices that have content apps pre-loaded. Access will be dependent on the region of your account and the location the device was purchased in.
They need to be used in conjunction with a DNS or VPN service and can be used to stream content on your computer to your TV. We find AppleTV to be the most stable and reliable option.
Which is the best solution for me?
It will depend on what TV shows you want to see and what equipment you have. You may need a combination of methods to let all the family get their favourite TV channels and BBC iPlayer!
Tekkie Help can provide tailored advice and set up a solution for you. It usually takes around one hour, and the cost is $160 for the first hour and $120 for any subsequent hour.
This article first appeared in the September 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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