How to Watch UK TV Channels in Australia
Australia is part of the Commonwealth, and the country even acknowledges Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia. That’s how deep the ties run between Australia and England. Despite this friendly relationship, Australian locals still cannot access UK TV channels as they remain unavailable in the land down under.
Geo-restrictions are content providers’ way of protecting their copyrights. Regardless, I’ll demonstrate two ways in which you can unblock UK television channels from Australia. These two ways involve using a VPN and Smart DNS, so you don’t miss out on your favorite programs.
Why Are UK TV Channels Unavailable in Australia?
Well, it’s nothing personal against Australia. UK TV channels are only accessible inside the United Kingdom due to copyright issues. So if you’re an expat, student living abroad, or merely taking an extended vacation, UK television is off-limits.
The reason behind that limitation has to do with your IP address revealing your geo-location to the internet. If streaming channels like BBC iPlayer or Sky Go find out you are outside the authorized coverage regions, they will lock you out. However, you can unblock any channel you want using a virtual private network (VPN) or a Smart DNS proxy.
Unblock UK TV Channels with VPN
UK television is home to some of the biggest shows and programs in the world. Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and Coronation Street are just a few examples of widely popular British shows that have an international following. So imagine how annoying it would be if you couldn’t watch the latest episode.
But with a VPN, you won’t have to experience that feeling. This tool uses software to spoof your physical location. The VPN redirects your online traffic to a network of your choosing. Also, it conceals your IP address and gives you a new one from any region you select.
So once you connect to a UK server, you’ll receive a new local IP address and appear as if you were in the United Kingdom. Then all UK TV channels instantly become available.
The following steps should make things even more straightforward:
- Subscribe to a reliable and efficient VPN service. I recommend ExpressVPN.
- Get the app on your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device. Alternatively, you can install the VPN on routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
- Connect to a server from the UK.
- Make sure you got a different IP address on WhatIsMyIP.network.
- Stream the latest UK programs from anywhere within Australia.
Why You Should Consider ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is among the elite brands in the VPN industry and certainly number one in our book. This brand allows you to bypass all sorts of online restrictions no matter where you are thanks to a set of excellent features.
First of all, the company has one of the biggest networks of servers, with more than 1,000 servers in 94 countries. You can undoubtedly unblock UK channels. Second, it offers incredible speed rates that allow you to stream full HD shows without any buffering issues.
It has high-quality security and privacy features. ExpressVPN uses a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption that provides users online anonymity, even from ISPs and government snooping. Furthermore, it abides by a no-logging policy, which means they ‘never keep traffic logs.’ Additional security specs include a kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection.
And finally, the company is fully compatible with Netflix, so you can access any library you want, even the US version. Moreover, it authorizes P2P torrenting and file-sharing activities. Download any movie or series without worrying about legal issues.
Other VPN Services
There are other VPN brands you could consider. You’ll find them in the table below.
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN owns over 3000 thousand servers in 94 countries, which pretty impressive. The ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth so it’s perfect for gaming. You can connect up to 5 simultaneous connections, which might come in handy when having plenty of devices. As far as other devices go, you can benefit from their Smart DNS feature Media Streamer. The company keeps no logs and applies split tunneling. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer service. You’ll learn more about ExpressVPN if you check out this review.
BulletVPN
BulletVPN states on the website: “We make sure our servers are not overloaded and use premium grade carrier lines to provide the highest speeds possible.” Additionally, just like ExpressVPN, BulletVPN uses an AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and free Smart DNS. The company applies a strict no-log policy and promises nothing but ‘blazing fast speeds.’
Perhaps its only disadvantage is a small server network compared to its elite counterparts. It currently has 47 servers in 21 countries. Check out this BulletVPN review for additional information.
NordVPN
VPN users praise NordVPN for its incredible security features. What’s most interesting about this provider is its Onion over VPN feature. With its no-logs policy and tight encryptions, all connected users are safe online. Also, the company manages a network that consists of 5,000 servers inmate than 61 countries. Claiming its one of the largest in the industry is not an understatement. With a Panama based provider like Nord-VPN, you can rest assured about the safety of your data. The company is in a location where there are no data retention laws. To learn more about NordVPN in this review.
Watch UK TV Channels with Smart DNS Proxies
The other method to unblock UK TV channels is via Smart DNS Proxies. These tools also allow you to bypass geo-restrictions by rerouting the URLs that reveal your location. However, they don’t change your IP address, which means you’ll still have access to Australian websites. But it also means that you may not always bypass any geo-block.
Furthermore, Smart DNS proxies don’t protect your traffic with encryptions, which could be a significant privacy concern although your internet speed won’t be affected. If you don’t mind specific weaknesses and still want to set up a Smart DNS proxy on your device, you’ll have to do the following:
- Make a Smart DNS subscription. Unlocator would be our number one choice.
- The service must support UK- based channels like Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, and ITV.
- Configure your Smart DNS on the device you want to use for streaming.
- Alternatively, you can install them on routers, gaming consoles, or Smart TVs.
- Access and stream any UK-restricted channel from any country in the world.
Top UK TV Channels
Some UK TV channels host premium quality shows, programs, and sports. If you are interested in watching any abroad, here’s what you should consider:
- BBC iPlayer
- BT Sport
- Sky Go
- ITV
Watch UK TV Channels in Australia – Conclusion
Many are the programs that you can enjoy streaming on UK TV channels. Content like this doesn’t just catch the eye of UK expats or locals. International viewers might also be interested in watching what UK channels have to offer. So, if you’re planning an extended stay in Australia or anywhere else in the world, subscribe to a VPN or Smart DNS to unblock UK television channels. It’s worth it.
If you agree, let me know which one of these methods you end up choosing in the comments.