You Can Watch BBC iPlayer in France!
As my loyal reader already knows, I frequently use various security software programs to bypass restrictions based on my IP address. So, for instance if you happen to be in Paris, liked F1 or Match of the Day. Or wanted to watch the Singapore Grand Prix on ITV (when they had the rights!) – most people wouldn’t be able to. However if you read on you’ll discover how easy it is to unlock all the UK channels from France without problems. Indeed once you see how easy it is, I’m sure you ‘ll enjoy watching the BBC in France via the iPlayer – for many, many years to come.
Of course, at first it looks like a problem and it is for most people. You see there are all sorts of restrictions for most online media stations. They don’t seem to have got the concept of the internet being global, so you get blocked depending on where you are. It doesn’t matter that I am a UK BBC licence payer, the fact I happen to be in Paris means I’m out of luck – BBC iPlayer France, I’m afraid not monsieur.
Actually France is quite an interesting example though of how the technology that is used is rather backward. Most web sites that restrict access to their content based on IP address do little more than look up a database and see where that IP address is assigned to. Of course, these are not always correct, and many are out of date. These anomalies can either work for or against you, trying to watch the BBC iPlayer when across the English Channel is actually one of those situations.
What is the BBC iPlayer ?
Well anyone who uses the internet a lot probably already knows – but just in case.
The BBC iPlayer is an online streaming service run by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It allows users to watch live and on-demand TV and radio programmes, including catch up content from the past seven days. The service is available on a range of devices, including Smart TVs, games consoles, streaming sticks and set-top boxes.
So, you can Watch BBC iPlayer in France in 2023
Only if you’re really lucky, you see there are little pockets of IP addresses in France, and Germany I think which seem to be assigned incorrectly in some of these databases. I have had two experiences in France (both in Paris) where my IP address seemed to be assigned incorrectly and I was able to access iPlayer without any restrictions. All that happened was my IP address was incorrectly registered as being in the UK. It sometimes happens when the addresses are transferred to new users
What Normally Happens – Watching the BBC in Europe
Now this is from a few years ago, when the BBC had the rights to the Formula One Series, but it’s still a good example
When I tries to access the BBC directly from my computer (using it’s French IP address) this is what happens.
The warning that the video stream is restricted to UK users and surprise, surprise try and continue to the coverage directly and I have the excitement of the Formula 1 text commentary to look forward to.
The BBC detects that my IP address is not registered in the UK and offers me the ‘International coverage’ instead.
Just not really as exciting, is it. It’s not entirely the BBC’s fault, in this case anyway. They only had the broadcasting rights to the UK so were forced to block access to the rest of the world. Presumably the rights to broadcast to France and the rest of Europe would have cost an awful lot more. In any case, the BBC is designed for UK citizens anyway so the exact same thing happens with any live or recorded TV.
No IP Address Mistakes !
Funnily enough my IP address in this example was blocked from exactly the same hotel as I’d previously been able to access BBC iPlayer from without any problems. I presume they must have changed ISP or something.
Anyway, fortunately there is a solution that can work for anyone. Although you can’t change you IP address directly, as this is assigned by wherever you get internet access from. You can however change your perceived IP address by using an intermediary server called a proxy or VPN service. Now for over 14 years I’ve been using a little known program called Identity Cloaker to facilitate this. It still works perfectly to this day and is ultra reliable for people using a computer or laptop.
However there are cheaper options in 2023 which also support other devices like smart phones and tablets. SO I’ve updated the information on this page to include a better value VPN service called NordVPN.
Can You Get British TV in France – Absolutely !
So int he following video, you’ll see how I was able to change my location and stream everything through a UK proxy server with a click of the button. Just select one of NordVPN many UK proxies and I was sorted. I actually spoke to the people who support all these proxies and apparently the F1 qualifying in Singapore was actually watched from over 70 countries including France!!!
As you can see, it’s simple a matter of connecting to a UK server before you visit the BBC iPlayer site or use the application. While you’re connected, you will appear to have a British IP address and every UK-only website should work perfectly. When you disconnect your IP address will return to your normal connection and everything will return to a French focus (or wherever you happen to be).
Connecting to a UK Server for the BBC
Here’s the connection screen where you select your server, I’ve just shown some of the UK ones because I normally just use it to access BBC iPlayer, but there are also servers in many other countries all included (e.g., Canada, USA, Germany, France, Netherlands and a few more)
There’s plenty of servers available all over the world and all are included in the basic subscription. You have to use a UK one to watch British TV stations but there’s lots of other countries and TV stations to explore.
If you speak another language there’s even more choice. My friend used to watch live Premiership football for free by connecting to a Scandinavian server and watching a TV station Sweden which covered the football.
BBC Tries to Block VPN servers
For many years, the BBC never tired very hard to block this workaround. They seemed quite happy to ‘officially block’ access but allow people to work around this very easily indeed. In fact, up until about 2017 you could even use free proxies based in the UK to circumvent the blocks. Something changed though and they started to actively detect and block VPN and proxy access. In fact, in my experience around 80% of VPN service no longer work with BBC iPlayer, slightly more with ITV and Channels 4 and 5.
In response to this it’s worth mentioning that NordVPN has allocated a few servers specifically for watching the BBC with. This is because the BBC become more effective at blocking VPNs and proxies, so they need careful configuration and management to make sure they continue to work.
If you choose NordVPN to watch the BBC in France then make sure you use these servers – UK# 1840-1847, 1850-1863, 1865, 1869, 1873, 1875-1878, 1880-1881, 1900-1901, 1903-1904, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1919-1920. Don’t select from the map, just search for one of these servers from the search menu to the right. If it works well, you can add to your favorites to select with a single click in future.
Can I Watch BBC in France with a VPN in 2023 ?
The answer is YES, as long as you choose the right one. As we’ve mentioned a lot are blocked now and none of the free VPNs work at all. There are a few that still work fine though and as long as you check first and ensure that the company will guarantee access you will be fine. There are literally millions of people across the world using VPN for this exact purpose as you read this.
We like NordVPN after using Identity Cloaker for many years mainly because it works better on tablets and smartphones. It’s very simple to use, and it even allows you to connect via VPN which you need for many media sites now such as ITV, Channel 4, ABC and Hulu for instance (see my Hulu post above for details on how to use that option.
Anyway, I can heartily recommend NordVPN for watching all sorts of media across the world. Be careful with some companies who openly market these TV proxies though as they can easily get blocked by the media companies and suddenly, they won’t work.
You won’t find any mention of the facility to watch things like the BBC News or iPlayer in France but fear not it works stunningly well and is supported. I have yet to find a service that doesn’t work yet either in the proxy or VPN mode which are both included, why not try for yourself and enjoy Media Streaming from Across the world
Additional Questions – FAQ
This post is pretty old and although it’s updated regularly it get lots of questions and comments. So here we’ll answer a few which will hopefully help other visitors.
Do You Need a BBC iPlayer Subscription or Account?
Yes, the BBC now requires everyone to have a valid BBC iPlayer account. It’s completely free and is primarily used to make the service work better – by keeping track of what you’ve watched, suggesting new shows etc. You will need to give your age, a username, an email address and a valid UK postcode(see next question) to register.
BBC asked for a UK Postcode ! I Don’t Live in the UK !
Lots of people actually give up at this point when they’re asked for a UK postcode but it’s really not a problem. There’s no check if you live at this postcode – it just has to be real and valid. Just select any valid postcode online – from a business, hotel address or anywhere. As longs as it exists you’ll be fine.
Can I Watch ITVX in France too?
Yes it works in exactly the same way, simply connect your VPN to a UK server. It’s best to use the BBC optimized servers if you’re using NordVPN as well. ITVX is the new version of ITV Hub which was released in 2023, you’ll need an account like the BBC but it’s free. There are adverts but they’re not too bad to be honest. The Premium version will remove these but you will need a UK based payment card to pay for the subscription.
Are There Any Free BBC Shows?
Well the BBC iPlayer is actually free for anyone in the UK with a UK TV license. So if you get access abroad using a VPN then everything is potentially free (obviously you have to pay for the VPN). The BBC does sometimes post a few programmes for free on it’s YouTube channel and you can watch News reports too – https://www.youtube.com/@BBCNews.
Do I Need a UK TV License?
If you live in the UK and watch any live TV from any source, then you do need a UK TV license. However you can’t buy one outside the UK so it’s not possible for a non-resident. If you access the BBC from France or anywhere with a VPN then you will be asked if you have a TV license, you must answer YES to continue. There’s no check or verification on whether you have one or not though!
Can I Download or Watch BBC 2 with a VPN?
Yes, all the BBC channels are available on BBC iPlayer if you connect with a UK VPN. You can watch live or on demand from the archive too. Once you get passed the geo restrictions you can watch or download without any issues from anywhere in the world.
Can I Use a VPN on my Gaming Console to watch the BBC iPlayer from Paris?
Yes but you can’t normally install a VPN directly on a gaming console. Instead you need to use an add-on service called Smart DNS which you can enable on a games console by changing your DNS servers. Some of the bigger VPNs like NordVPN have this facility but check before subscribing,
Do the VPN companies have a money-back guarantee?
Yes, most of the bigger VPN companies offer a money back guarantee. Don’t subscribe to one that doesn’t as you should check access to BBC iPlayer.
Does BBC iPlayer have Subtitles on it’s Programmes?
It depends on the platform, if you’re watching on a computer or laptop then there should be a speech bubble icon somewhere on the screen, Click on this for the subtitle options and settings. The option is scheduled for phones and tablets some time in 2023.
