Today you asked yourself, “Why can’t I watch BBC iPlayer in Australia?” and that must’ve put you off – well, at least, I was put off. Regardless of your location, some streaming services are geo-blocked. In its case, BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK.
So, is there anything that we can do to bring across continents to Australia? Absolutely, and here it is.
BBC iPlayer: the Hype is Real
Let’s start off with facts.
Since its initial release in 2007, BBC iPlayer has grown into an industry with some serious content like BBC documentaries, latest movies, top shows, and of course, the English Premier League.
The reason for BBC iPlayer’s recent success, according to its Controller Dan McGolpin, is the provision of the latest news, learning tutorials, and content like Killing Eve, amid the quarantine.
One of these might also be the reason why you’re here today, keen to stream BBC iPlayer from Australia. The painful part – that you’re already aware of – is that it’s only available in the United Kingdom as it’s a subsidiary of BBC, Britain’s public broadcasting service.
The relieving part is that I’ve got an excellent solution.
How to Watch BBC iPlayer in Australia
One reason why this solution is excellent is its simplicity. Follow this procedure to stream BBC iPlayer from Australia:
- Purchase a VPN subscription – ExpressVPN is the best option.
- Log in to the VPN and connect to a UK-based server.
- Open and stream BBC iPlayer.
This is crazy, right? All that you might have to pay for in this 3-step method is the VPN only. If you don’t yet know, then yes, the BBC iPlayer is a free utility, but only for the UK residents.
But watching BBC iPlayer in Australia for free is only possible when you have a VPN that’s fast and safe, or in short, is the best.
Best VPN for BBC iPlayer in Australia
To be the best, your VPN must have these features:
- Fully secure data transmission and encryption
- A diverse and extensive network of servers across the world
- Ability to connect to more than one servers
- Compatible with most devices and OS
- Affordable with free trials and money-back guarantees
With that said, we have in mind what a great VPN looks for. No, don’t worry, you won’t have to go out and look for them. I’ve shortlisted three great picks for you. Check these out:
1. ExpressVPN [Recommended]
The king of all VPNs, ExpressVPN is the quickest, largest, and most trusted VPN brand out there. Simply the best VPN for BBC iPlayer in Australia.
Besides BBC iPlayer, with ExpressVPN you can also unblock other popular streaming services such as US Netflix, TV Player, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Channel 4, Peacock TV, and Hulu in Australia.
Offers 30-day money-back guarantee!
2. NordVPN
What makes NordVPN unique is the two-way encryption, also known as the ‘Double VPN’, which encrypts your data twice by using two VPNs.
Offers 30-day money-back guarantee!
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is a big bang for a little buck. A yearly subscription not only costs you $30 but also brings a whole free extra year with it. It’s more like $1.25/month – cheapest!
Loved these? Yeah, me too. These VPNs don’t fail to surprise. Now that we have our best VPN at hand let’s see what it’s really doing in the background.
Offers 30-day money-back guarantee!
How VPN Lets You Access iPlayer Australia
In simple words, when you go to iPlayer’s site, instead of taking you there directly, the VPN takes you to a server in the UK. Then the UK-based server takes your search forward to the iPlayer.
VPNs are more like a relay race, only that the purpose is to have you listed as the UK web traffic. This allows you to access iPlayer and hides your data from the ISPs, hackers, advertisers, and other agencies.
But this is the case for paid VPNs. The paid ones provide this service to you in exchange for subscriptions; the free ones use unreliable low-cost servers and sell your data to sustain their business.
Privacy and trust make ExpressVPN the best VPN option. With ExpressVPN running in the background, you know that you’re safe, and you enjoy iPlayer for days on end!
P.S. Another bad thing about the free VPNs is that they aren’t available on all devices and OS, so yeah, that’s that.
Devices that Support BBC iPlayer
The VPNs that I have listed above have another upside. Along with the iPlayer, these VPNs support a range of different devices and operating systems. Regardless of your location, as long as you have any of the following devices, you’ll rock iPlayer from Australia.
- Apple Macs, Tablets/iPhones, and Apple TV
- Windows, Linux, and Android Phones
- Samsung SmartTV and Amazon Fire series
You’re more than likely to have at least one of these. There’s a 100% chance you’re going to love watching the iPlayer – you’re all set to go!
Best BBC iPlayer Movies & Shows
Alright, so you’ve got a subscription, and now you’re at the much-hyped iPlayer site, too. Before we move to the last section, here’s a list of 10 awesome BBC iPlayer shows you must watch:
- Staged
- Killing Eve
- Blue Planet 2
- Doctor Foster
- Selma
- Dracula
- Line of Duty
- Planet Earth II
- The Nest
- Taboo
Now that’s some freaky stuff right there. Whenever you watch BBC iPlayer in Australia, don’t forget this billion-dollar content!
Note: Before 2016, the iPlayer didn’t require registration and login, but the policies have since then changed. Now, you’ve to register and log in before streaming. But hey, that’s nothing to worry about – it’s totally FREE!
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s end with three quick and frequently asked questions about watching BBC iPlayer from Australia in 2022.
Why can’t I watch BBC iPlayer in Australia?
You can’t directly watch BBC iPlayer from Australia due to rights agreements. It’s exclusively for the UK public to enjoy, but thanks to VPN, you can convince BBC that you’re from the UK too. By buying a VPN subscription and connecting to a UK-based server, you can easily access the iPlayer in Australia.
Is the BBC iPlayer Free?
BBC iPlayer is free, and that’s what makes it stand out. However, it’s free for the UK public only as the BBC itself is a public company.
You might find it surprising that when you access iPlayer using a VPN, you’re not asked to pay either. This is because your VPN has masked your IP address and converted you to the UK web traffic.
How do I improve the BBC iPlayer quality?
Once up and running, you’ll notice video quality changes as you watch through. The reason is the default adaptive bitrate (ABR) settings that aim to avoid buffering by lowering the video quality if the internet signals fall.
You can change this from the Video Quality in the Settings tab.
Conclusion
By now, it’s more than clear that you can watch BBC iPlayer in Australia. Sure, not directly, but by using a paid VPN that neither frustrates you with pop-up ads nor lets the streaming buffer.
Be sure to look out for the VPN service you’re going for. Trusted brands always perform much better than free and too-good-to-be-true services.
Stay classy, stay Aussie!
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