How to Watch BBC iPlayer using a Proxy in 2023

I travel a lot and when away there are two main Internet sites that cheer me up without fail – BBC iPlayer and Pandora. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to both watch BBC iPlayer abroad and getting Pandora outside the US are actually quite tricky because they will only work with a UK or US workstation respectively. Indeed, all the UK TV channels are inaccessible outside the UK, just as the US based ones are from a non-US location.  For those of us who travel whether with work, holiday or otherwise it can get quite infuriating.  Fortunately, there is a simple solution called a proxy or VPN which is easy to implement on any internet device.

What Is a BBC iPlayer Proxy?

The term really refers to any tool which can be used to hide or ‘spoof’ your location. This potentially gives you the opportunity to bypass all the geo-blocking technology that so many of the world’s big media sites use.

When you connect from any internet connection, your IP address potentially gives away your location. It’s simple to detect which country you are in, as all network addresses are registered to specific locations. This is how the BBC blocks access to non-UK connections and sites like Pandora restrict access to US addresses only.

You’ll normally be limited to media sites based in your current location. This though is pretty annoying for people travelling, ex-pats or just those who want to watch from another country. Sites like the BBC for example are particularly popular as the iPlayer live streams 12 channels and has a huge archive of all their already broadcast content.

It’s hardly surprising that tools have been created both for the privacy aspect but also to enable access to the world’s greatest media sites irrespective of your location. They’re easy to use and allow you to both hide your real location and pretend you’re somewhere else instead.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Through a Proxy

The easiest way to demonstrate how to use a proxy for watching BBC iPlayer or indeed any other geo-blocked media site is to see it in action. This short video shows you how simple it is to use a UK proxy server to make it look like you’re in the United Kingdom and make BBC work perfectly wherever you happen to be.

NordVPN Latest Discounts Page

You can proxy TV online from anywhere in the world as long as you connect to the right server. The one demonstrated here called NordVPN and has servers in many countries. It’s main advantage is that it has lots of UK servers and passes my BBC iPlayer speed test (fast connection, no buffering when streaming). Some of the servers occasionally get blocked but you can easily switch to another one. It’s also great because they have apps for most devices including most smartphones too.

If you need something just for a PC or desktop though specifically for UK TV channels online, then try Identity Cloaker below shown instead.

Things to Consider When Buying BBC Proxies

Fortunately, because I always surf through a secure proxy on the Identity Cloaker network, this doesn’t really matter to me as my location is defined by whichever proxy I am surfing through. So I simply select a UK server for watching it’s kind of a BBC iPlayer proxy.

Identity Cloaker is the most sophisticated security software on the internet, it allows you to surf completely protected via a network of private proxies across the planet. These are fast, secure properly run proxy servers not the free slow ones infested with viruses that people normally try to use!! You might have also seen the dedicated VPN, smart DNS solutions and proxy servers promoted for unblocking BBC iPlayer or other online TV stations – they are very often simply a single server set up quickly. Why? Simply because when the BBC legal department threaten them (which they usually do), they can end up disappearing suddenly.

So when I am in Turkey and want to watch – I simply connect via one of the UK proxies and watch BBC iPlayer, if I want to listen to Pandora outside the US I just select one of the US proxies. It doesn’t matter where I am as long as I have a working internet connection, because it’s encrypted I can watch from anywhere. The same goes for a TV channels in lots of other countries as they have Australian, Canadian, German, French, Irish and a host of other proxy servers to watch in addition to the huge number of UK servers.

Anyway I have made this rather bad video to illustrate how I access the BBC iPlayer abroad. I’m afraid I don’t do the ease of this any justice with my video though, the best thing about the Identity Cloaker to access these programs is the huge choice of proxies and their speed. If you’ve ever tried using iPlayer through a slow proxy or VPN then you’ll realize how painful it can be.

Using a BBC iPlayer Proxy with Identity Cloaker

I’ve never used the video software before so apologies for the amateurish video editing. I just wanted to make sure people were able to see how easy it is to use this security software. There are dedicated services for just watching BBC iPlayer that cost well over twice the price of Identity Cloaker, they offer just a single proxy server to do this – Identity Cloaker has proxies all over the planet and dedicated software to control and protect your connection, from an icon in your taskbar.

Identity Cloaker – Trial Payment Page

It takes a minute or so to install and then you just point and click.

It is actually a fundamental point of using a proxy abroad, your IP address defines who you are and what you can see. So, if you surf via a UK proxy this is how any web server you visit will see you also exactly the same as a UK Internet surfer. Because Identity Cloaker has fast proxies in lots of other countries you can use it to access similar restricted broadcasts in Sweden, Germany, France, Canada, US and many others. If you like music, try Pandora for an awesome US only radio station – just select the right countries proxy and you’ll be away.

Of course, you used to be able to sample this method by using a free proxy. Don’t try this out now though as it hasn’t worked from about 2014. You need something that’s hidden from the BBC, even many popular VPNs don’t work anymore. Identity Cloaker is one of the few VPN/proxy services that has consistently been working with the BBC, I personally have been using it since 2008!

So, can you use BBC iPlayer anywhere?

Pretty much, as long as you pick one the UK proxies, it manages your connection in the background and encrypts you connection. You can even run it from a USB stick if you remember to take your login details with you, watch it through firewalls and when countries try to censor what you watch.

If you travel a lot it also means you can access lots of other sites which have country restrictions stopping you watching the BBC iPlayer abroad. For instance I can access UK poker and casino sites from the States who would normally block an American IP address, Turkey often block YouTube and social networking sites but Identity Cloaker users just bypass this.

Anyway I’m off to Turkey in a few weeks and I’ll be keeping up with all the latest BBC programs watching BBC iPlayer outside the UK via Identity Cloaker.

In a few minutes you can be watching your favourite BBC shows through a safe, fast and secure proxy

If you like to watch or listen to any UK TV shows and you spend any amount of time abroad, you’ll find it a fantastic investment. The software is simple to work, and you just pick a proxy to connect to and off you go, remember free proxies are very slow and many are full of viruses. If you do manage to find a safe, fast free proxy server to watch the BBC iPlayer on, chances are it will be gone in a day or so.

The ability to watch media is not advertised on the web site but drop them a line if you want to check, the support staff are very responsive and will check out problems with any channels. Unblocking BBC iPlayer is straight forward as are most of the UK TV stations online. Be very careful of companies who do advertise this TV facility openly, they frequently disappear overnight. Normally after legal threats from the media companies themselves i.e., BBC, Hulu and ITV etc.

What is the best working BBC iPlayer VPN/Proxy ?

The established companies know this and take a very low-key approach to this functionality. You’ll not see much direct reference to watching the BBC abroad on sites like NordVPN or Identity Cloaker for very good reason.

The best solution is one that works reliably every time for watching the BBC. On this measure it’s hard to look past Identity Cloaker, they have many users who have been using them for more than a decade just for watching the BBC abroad.

Why not test it out for yourself here:

 Try 10 days of the BBC Iplayer

This is the Identity Cloaker trial to check it works – it’s the ultimate BBC iPlayer proxy completely guaranteed and for the price of a coffee and sandwich you’ll be impressed I’m sure! 10 days is plenty of time to test it out for a very small outlay, indeed it’s ideal for a short holiday abroad if that’s all you need it for.

If you do need to use on different devices or need a larger range of countries then NordVPN is another great choice. They also have fast servers and as long as you use the BBC enabled ones you should have no issues. BBC enabled servers are – UK# 1840-1847, 1850-1863, 1865, 1869, 1873, 1875-1878, 1880-1881, 1900-1901, 1903-1904, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1919-1920.

FAQs about BBC iPlayer Proxy

Why Can’t I Access BBC iPlayer Outside of the UK?

Because the BBC doesn’t allow access to anyone outside the United Kingdom. They identify your location from your IP address and will restrict access if it’s not based in the United Kingdom. They say it’s because of broadcasting rights, which is probably only partly true.

Does BBC iPlayer Allow the Use of Proxies or VPNs?

No, in fact they actively try and block the use of these services. This is because when you use a proxy/VPN service they can’t determine your real location. It’s unfortunate as many of us use VPNs simply to protect our data and personal details.

What is the BBC iPlayer proxy error?

Many VPNs and proxies no longer work with BBC iPlayer and many of the UK streaming services. This is because the BBC has started to try and detect and block them automatically. There’s a few methods they use but the main method is to look for too many connections on the same IP address. This means that it’s highly likely that the address is registered to a proxy or VPN server.

This is why so many services no longer work with the BBC. The secret is to rotate the IP addresses and ensure that too many people don’t use the same address at the same time for watching BBC. Some companies do this, most unfortunately don’t.

Why Must I Use Proxies from the UK?

If you’re in the UK then you don’t need to use proxies as your location will not be blocked. However if you want to access media sites in other countries then you will need to connect to a proxy in that particular country – e.g. to enjoy the US version of Hulu or Netflix then you’ll need to connect to a US server before you connect.

Most decent VPN services will include servers in all sorts of countries as part of their normal subscription. If they don’t find another one to use, you shouldn’t need to pay per country!

Can a VPN like NordVPN protect my privacy too?

Yes, it certainly can any VPN should provide you with some protection online. It provides privacy and encrypts your data protecting your usernames, passwords and workstation when using unfamiliar networks and wifi connections. It’s perfect for ex-pats who travel across the world.

What are the most important factors in choosing a VPN for the BBC?

• UK Based Servers – essential for giving you a UK IP address when connecting to the BBC via proxy server.
• Not Blocked by BBC – unfortunately many VPN services have had their IP addresses blocked by the BBC and no longer work. Make sure the VPN you choose still works with the BBC iPlayer like NordVPN and Identity Cloaker.
• Speed – streaming is no fun if it’s slow. VPN servers must be fast to ensure no buffering or stalling when watching online.
• Customer Support – if something goes wrong you’ll need support. Ensure there’s someone to answer your questions and assist if you’re having difficulties.

Can I Use a Free VPN or Proxy to Watch the BBC abroad?

Unfortunately no, these no longer work. All the free proxies have been blocked automatically by the BBC iPlayer and all the other main UK TV sites.

Is there an ITV Player Proxy that works?

Mostly any VPN that works with the BBC iPlayer will work with ITVX (new version of ITV Hub) and all the other UK TV channels. Any proxy server BBC iPlayer will allow will definitely work with all the others too.

Will a VPN Work with the BBC iPlayer Plugin

Yes, as long as the VPN or proxy isn’t blocked by the BBC then it should work fine with both the website, app or plugin. If you use on mobile devices you’ll need to use NordVPN which supports these devices.

Do I need a Proxy or VPN What’s the difference?

Either will work as both can make it look like you’ve got a UK IP address as long as the server is based in the UK. generally though most people use a VPN as they provide additional security benefits and are slightly harder to detect than proxies.

Can I Use TOR to Watch the BBC iPlayer instead of a proxy?

In theory if you use TOR and connect to a UK based exit node then it should work. You will have a UK IP address and it’s unlikely to be blocked as most are residential users. The main issue with TOR is speed, the connection is unlikely to be fast enough to stream at even the lowest quality on BBC iPlayer.

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All the above has been checked and updated in August 2023, although the article was originally written in 2014. Yes we have been using both these VPN services for that long. Both of our recommended services work with all the other UK TV services too – so you’ve automatically got an ITV Player proxy and one for Channel 4 too!

With Thanks From http://www.iplayerabroad.com/