Are you in Canada and want to catch the latest love tangles on Love Island, or catch up on the ever-thrilling Top Gear? Here’s how to watch UK TV in Canada?
UKTV has some fantastic TV shows, and it’s no surprise why there are so many adaptations of some favorite UK shows abroad, including here in Canada. The biggest issue is the time difference. Many UK shows, especially the prime ones, are not broadcasted worldwide on time. What you can do is board a plane to the UK or choose the most workable option, a VPN.
How to Watch UK TV in Canada with a VPN?
Catching up on all the drama, the intrigue, and the nail-biting action that only the best UK shows can offer is accessible through a VPN. The good thing about living in Canada is excellent internet speeds. Using UK TV won’t be any different from switching on your TV or streaming device.
The tricky thing about using VPNs is, they’re not the same. The VPN that you go for can either give you an incredible viewing experience or a torrid one.
The following are detailed steps on how to watch UK TV in Canada:
- First, choose a good VPN service (our top choice is ExpressVPN).
- Install the VPN app on your favorite streaming device. For example, if you’re using a PC or a Mac, simply download and install the application.
- Launch your VPN app or software and check the list of servers. Because you want to stream British TV, choose and connect to UK-based servers.
- Wait for a few seconds for your VPN app or software to connect, and once connected, turn on UK TV in Canada.
All below mentioned VPNs will work with ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, Channel 5, UKTV Play, TV Player, or any other streaming service that offers access to UK TV abroad.
Why Is UK TV not available in Canada?
UK TV is a fully-featured television channel and one of the largest in the UK, run by BBC Studios. It was launched in 1992 as a result of a collaboration between BBC and Thames tv. It has all the genres to meet the needs of UK TV lovers in Canada.
UKTV Play is the first digital-only brand of UK tv, launched in 2014 to stream on-demand and catch-up video from UKTV’s free-to-air channels i.e., Yesterday, Dave and Drama.
However, UK TV is not available in Canada due to licensing issues of media houses. Whenever a user in Canada tries to access UK tv, he gets an error message, and the only way to access it is through the best and most reliable VPN.
The Best VPNs to Watch UK TV in Canada
VPNs are God’s gift to Canadians who can’t get enough of UKTV. Still, as we stated earlier, VPNs are not the same, and the experience you get depends on the VPN service you choose.
The following are some of the best VPNs that make it possible to watch British TV in Canada:
1. Express VPN- Our No. 1 Choice for UK TV in Canada
This is one of the most notable VPNs in Canada, with fast UK servers that make streaming UK TV a joyful experience. It has solid privacy and security features and unblocks all the popular UK streaming sites.
ExpressVPN’s prominent features include but are not limited to
- 5500+ servers in 94 countries
- MediaStreamer DNS proxy feature designed to improve your streaming experience
- Easily connects up to five devices simultaneously for multi-streaming
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Also unblocks UKTV, Peacock tv, Sling tv, Stan tv, HBO max USA, Hotstar, and many alike
- Compatible with all major platforms and offer device apps and browser extensions.
- Costs $6.67/mo for 15 months
2. NordVPN
Another one of the most used VPNs in the world with a respectable number of super-fast servers. With NordVPN, you can access geo-restricted content from the UK and other countries around the globe from the comfort of your internet-enabled device.
The main features of NordVPN are as follow
- Have 5200+ servers in 59 countries. 650+ UK servers
- Six device connections are allowed in one subscription
- Kill Switch, CyberSec, Double VPN, NordLynx protocol, Dedicated IP addresses
- 30 days money-back guarantee and 24/7 user’s support
- Access to 400+ streaming platforms
- Also Unblocks in Canada: US Netflix, Kayo Sports, UKTV, Voot, Vudu, VH1, and more
- Works perfectly with all devices and charges $3.67/mo for 2 years subscription
3. Surfshark
This is the VPN you should go for if you’re looking for the best budget VPN in Canada. It’s easy to use, doesn’t keep logs or a set device limit which is perfect when connecting more devices.
Few prominent Surfshark VPN features are as below.
- Offers 3200+ servers in 65+ countries
- Unlimited devices with one account
- Double VPN protocol
- Unblocks UK tv, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Netflix, Hulu, US Prime Video, and more
- Device Compatibility with: macOS, iOS, Linux, Windows, Android, and more
- Costs $2.49/mo
- Easy to use and well-designed interface for the apps
How to Select the Right VPN for UK TV in Canada
There are many VPNs to choose from, but there are a few features you should look for when looking for a VPN to watch UK TV abroad. The apparent features that a VPN must have are:
- High server capacity
- Security
- No speed throttling
- 24-hour support staff
However, the best VPN for accessing British TV channels must include:
- Fast speeds to stream content from any part of the world
- Ability to access all top streaming sites, including UK Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and any other channels that allow Canadians to watch UK TV live.
- Thousands of servers across the world, especially the UK servers
- Support for all devices including different operating systems
- A money-back guarantee
How Does a VPN Help to Unblock UK TV in Canada?
You can’t access British TV shows online outside the UK; it’s impossible.
UK TV services block users outside of the UK from accessing their content through geo-blocking. Any user who doesn’t have a UK IP address cannot access UK streaming services with geo-blocking enabled.
A VPN solves this problem because it overrides the IP restrictions allowing the user to stream British TV from anywhere.
For example, when a person in Canada uses a VPN to access any UK streaming service like UK TV or Channel 4, he’ll be presented with a British IP address. So, when the UKTV Player checks the device’s location, it’ll see the UK as the location and allow the user full access.
Can I use a Free VPN to Watch UK TV in Canada?
There are many VPNs on the internet, paid and free. The most popular ones are paid, and there’s a reason for that. Free VPNs don’t work at all or don’t work that well, and you can’t use them to watch live UK TV.
The free VPNs that work are crowded, and your stream will keep buffering. Also, many UK TV services ban their IP addresses, so you’ll be kicked out as soon as you connect.
Last, there are privacy and security issues. Your data is at risk when using a free VPN, and they can sell the information you give them to advertisers.
Preferably use a paid VPN service because it offers security, privacy, and it never logs your data or sells to advertisers. you can also check the low-budget VPN providers in Canada to save money but no compromise on your cybersecurity.
What’s Good to Watch on UK TV in Canada?
Now that you know the best way to watch UK TV in Canada, are there any good streaming sites, TV shows, or movies over there? Here’s a list of some of the notable titles that are only exclusive on UK TV:
- Top Gear
- MI-5
- Liar
- Taskmaster
- Sliced
- Death in Paradise
- Noughts and Crosses
- Horrible Histories
- Hypothetical
- The World at War
- My Life is Murder
- Judge Romesh
This can’t possibly be the only list. This is because there’s so much more to watch on UK TV in Canada.
How to Connect and Watch UK TV Through Streaming Sites
Once you’ve settled on your favorite VPN, watching UK TV in Canada is simple. Launch your VPN app and select the UK server.
It’s important to note that regardless of the VPN you choose, it won’t come with an account of the channel you want to stream. You must have a separate account for the streaming service or find other ways to watch UK TV in Canada for free.
You will need to have an account for Netflix (paid), BBC iPlayer (free), and ITV Hub (free). Setting up an account with any UK TV play channels is fast, but you need a UK postal code if you’re asked to provide one.
If you face connection problems when accessing via a browser, try clearing the cache and cookies, or you can switch to a different one if the problem persists.
Can You Watch UK TV Through Streaming Apps?
Yes. Watching UK TV through streaming apps is easy, and all you’ll need is a VPN to hide your IP address on your mobiles before downloading the UKTV Play app.
This is where a paid VPN comes in handy when trying to watch UK TV in Canada for free because you can connect multiple devices simultaneously. First, however, disable GPS on all your mobile devices, or it might expose your location.
Do You Need a UK TV Streaming License?
According to the TV licensing rules in the UK, “People who no longer live in the UK don’t need to apply for a TV license again before it expires and is entitled to a refund.”
Therefore, it makes sense to believe that if you live in Canada and have never set foot in the UK, you don’t require a TV license to stream UK TV.
UK TV Supporting Devices
Both the recommended VPNs and UK TV are fully compatible on the following devices and you can watch your favorite UKTV shows without any issue.
- Windows, Mac OS, Linux
- Android, iOS
- Smart TVs
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Amazon FireTV
- Now TV
- Chromecast
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I watch Britbox in Canada?
Is UKTV Play free to watch in Canada?
Can I watch Now TV outside of the UK?
Since Britain has a lot of quiz shows, what are some of the good ones?
Why can't you access UK TV in Canada?
Conclusion
If you’re not physically in the UK, you cannot access any UK in Canada that’s geo-restricted. As this article has perfectly shown, the only way to do it is to use a VPN to hide your IP address and location and mask it with a UK one. The streaming service will think you’re in the UK, but you’re curled up on your couch at home in Canada.