How to Watch SBS Live Outside of Australia (original) (raw)

How To Watch Sbs Live Outside Of Australia

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Like most Australian channels, you can’t watch SBS overseas. That’s a pity because we’re talking about a fairly popular free TV channel. A diverse one at that. SBS offers a wealth of entertainment in the form of shows, movies, news, and sports.

However, once the plane’s engines start to roar and you leave Australia, SBS becomes inaccessible. To watch it, you’ll simply need to go back to your home and call it a day. Or is there another, more effective option to watch SBS live and on-demand outside Australia? Sure! The easiest option is to obtain an Australian IP address with the help of a VPN and unblock the channel.

We’ll explain how to do that and which VPNs to use in the following lines. In the meantime, you can also find out how to unblock 9Now in another tutorial.

Why You Can’t Watch SBS Outside Australia?

The thing with region-locked channels is their licensing agreements. When discussing local channels such as SBS, TenPlay, Channel 9, and others, they’re usually allowed to broadcast only in Australia. This isn’t the case with, let’s say Netflix.

However, Netflix offers different libraries based on your location, so it’s not the same everywhere. SBS’ content is provided by numerous copyright holders from Australia that forbid the channel from showing their content abroad.

Sbs Geo Block Error© SBS

We can’t precisely tell you how these practices go but we know that geo-blocking is usually rooted in publishing rights, licensing agreements, and so forth. This explains why you can’t watch SBS outside Australia. The platform has a complex algorithm that detects incoming IP addresses.

If you’re accessing it from the USA, it’ll pick up your IP address, discover its US location, and prevent you from watching anything. On the flip side, having an Australian IP will yield different results. This is the “eligible” IP address allowed to fully use the website.

How to Watch SBS Live Outside Australia?

Now that we mentioned it, let’s immediately see how to switch your IP address to Australia. You can do it only by using a VPN if we exclude the option to travel to this country. The former makes more sense, especially since VPNs are much cheaper in comparison.

SBS can and will detect VPN services, so not every one will work. Providers like NordVPN with around 200 Australian servers can help. According to many people online, the provider is reliable for streaming and unblocks a myriad of streaming services and TV channels.

Visit NordVPN Website

The goal is to trick SBS into “believing” you’re in Australia and get access to it. However, bear in mind this is against the website’s terms of service.

We’ll explain how to watch SBS live outside Australia but it’s your decision whether to perform it or not.

1. Subscribe to a VPN

The first step is the VPN subscription. You can use NordVPN as the most dependable option but other picks we mentioned below are viable too – ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. The steps are identical – you need a subscription.

NordVPN offers a discount for its 2-year plan, bundling it up with a 30-day refund policy. If you want, you can select it, provide your email address, and pay using the preferred payment vendor. The next step is to download and install the VPN app.

Nordvpn App

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After opening the app and signing in, you’ll be greeted by a dashboard that looks like this. It’s the same on iOS and Android devices, making the process that much simpler.

2. Get an Australian IP Address

So, how to get an Australian IP address and watch SBS live outside Australia? NordVPN’s intuitive app lets you do that in 5 seconds.

Open the server list and find this country almost at the top of the list. Click once on it or tap if you’re on a phone and this will happen:

Nordvpn Australian Ip

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The connection will be established, which can be seen by the Connected message up top.

3. Sign Up for SBS and Watch It

The final step is to go to SBS, register, and start watching. If you already have an account, sign in and you’re all set. An optional step would be to get a refund from NordVPN or any other provider you’ve used from our list. They all offer a 30-day refund policy.

If you get back home to Australia and don’t need a VPN anymore, a refund is always an option. Contact the VPN’s support team, request it, and it’ll be issued to you the same day. Think of it as a free trial for the VPN service.

Best VPNs That Work With SBS in 2024 – Detailed List

A VPN’s primary purpose is to let you surf the internet anonymously. However, not every provider is optimized for streaming, and therefore, not suitable for watching SBS (live and on-demand) outside Australia. The following 3 providers tick all the boxes.

6300 servers

111 covered countries

30 days money-back guarantee

10 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

9.4 /10

SEE MORE

1

3000 servers

105 covered countries

30 days money-back guarantee

8 simultaneous connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux Router

9.1 /10

SEE MORE

2

27000 servers

91 covered countries

30 days money-back guarantee

Unlimited connections

Mac Windows Android iOS Linux

9 /10

SEE MORE

3

1. NordVPN

Nordvpn Apps

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Pros

Cons

Visit NordVPN Website

NordVPN takes the first spot as the most dependable option. It sports 6,300+ servers in 110+ countries, making it the best option to watch SBS abroad. According to our tests with NordVPN, it is the fastest VPN in 2024, which is made possible by the NordLynx protocol. Based on WireGuard, NordLynx’s speed optimization is impeccable on all servers.

Another handy feature is SmartPlay, which improves your streaming experience on all devices. Since we mentioned devices, let us tell you that NordVPN works on all of them.

In particular, its Android TV VPN app is amazing, which is even better considering the 10 simultaneous connections you’ll get. NordVPN doesn’t cap your traffic and watching SBS abroad is limitless. Security-wise, the VPN blisters with features.

We’re looking at Double VPN servers, Threat Protection, and a state-of-the-art kill switch. NordVPN encrypts your traffic using 256-bit AES encryption and lets you customize the connection with split tunneling and bespoke DNS settings that you can apply.

It’s also among the safest providers thanks to a no-logging policy. The VPN’s technical prowess extends further with RAM servers, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and Meshnet, which allows you to remotely control and access up to 60 devices. All of this sounds opulent.

Well, it’s not. NordVPN’s famous discount for the 2-year plan is still active. Feel free to grab it and experience NordVPN at its best. Don’t forget about the 30-day refund policy that covers all your purchases, ensuring that testing the VPN is completely risk-free.

2. ExpressVPN

Expressvpn Apps

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Pros

Cons

Visit ExpressVPN Website

ExpressVPN is known as a fast VPN with no specific downsides. Yes, it lacks Double VPN servers and more advanced features of NordVPN. However, it has excellent performance and lets you access SBS abroad thanks to countless Australian servers.

We appreciate its simplicity and ease of access on all platforms. With 8 simultaneous connections, it’s a tad less impressive than NordVPN. However, its app support is top-tier, as the VPN works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and routers.

ExpressVPN offers full support for P2P. Simply connect to any of its servers and enjoy torrenting. We love its Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites. In addition, there’s Parental Control if you want to forbid access to adultery.

This VPN is equipped with 3,000+ servers worldwide, so numbers are its forte. Its servers are based on RAM and the VPN doesn’t keep any logs, as indicated by more than 15 independent audits. ExpressVPN’s security revolves around AES-256 encryption.

Other features include Network Lock (kill switch), easy-to-use split tunneling, and its in-house Lightway protocol. In our numerous tests, ExpressVPN has proven to be incredibly safe and secure, much more than many of its rivals, excluding NordVPN.

The sad part is the price, which is a lot higher than the other two VPNs. However, there’s a nifty 49% discount thanks to 3 free months for the annual plan that somewhat drops the price. Watch SBS live abroad with ExpressVPN if you can afford to pay slightly more.

3. Private Internet Access

Pia Vpn Apps

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Pros

Cons

Visit Private Internet Access Website

If you can’t, you’ll find solace in Private Internet Access, a provider cheaper than both of our previous picks. To clarify, it’s not better but still great for unblocking SBS outside Australia. With 30,000+ servers globally, you’re looking at full Australian coverage.

Connecting to any Australian server will let you access SBS in seconds. Users love PIA’s performance with WireGuard, which, while not the absolute best, is still sublime for watching SBS live abroad in Full HD. PIA is more about security, offering a heap of enticing options.

You’ll find MultiHop servers, which can double your encryption. PIA also comes with the Shadowsocks proxy for added obfuscation. Even SOCKS5 is support for torrenting. This VPN is famous for storing no logs, which has been proven in court a myriad of times.

With an audit from Deloitte, you’ll surely want to use this VPN to stay anonymous online. Apart from that, PIA comes with a handy ad blocker and includes advanced customization regarding protocols, VPN ports, etc. But the best feature has to do with compatibility.

Namely, it supports unlimited concurrent connections, making it the best VPN for SBS in this regard. We mourn the absence of a dedicated Firestick TV app, though. The silver lining is the option to buy an Australian dedicated IP and get a PC-only antivirus for around $1/mo.

Private Internet Access costs a fortune but only if that fortune is around $2/mo. Thanks to a 30-day refund policy, trying it out is without risk of losing money. If needed, you can find more information about Private Internet Access here. It’s an under-appreciated gem worth testing out.

What About Free VPN Services?

Free VPN services often come with a bag of compromises you’ll not tolerate after a while. When it comes to watching SBS live outside Australia, they’re all but enough. Free providers like Proton VPN and Hide.me offer unlimited traffic but they’re not streaming-friendly.

This means unblocking SBS won’t work, let alone watching Netflix or MAX. We’ll also mention their slow speeds due to outdated 1 Gbps servers. In fact, free providers intentionally throttle your speed to force you to buy their premium plans.

The fact that most free providers lack Australian servers is also concerning. However, many of them also limit your bandwidth, which won’t make you happy if you’re using a VPN for streaming. For instance, PrivadoVPN and Windscribe have 10 GB of monthly bandwidth.

These are pretty popular VPNs, mind you! TunnelBear is even worse with 2 GB. Other popular providers like Betternet, Hola VPN, TurboVPN, and others are known for keeping tabs on their users. To avoid euphemisms, we’ll say they store logs.

These logs contain your sensitive data like browsing history and geolocation, later sold to third parties for revenue. Free providers always come with some compromises, be it limited bandwidth, the lack of security, no P2P servers, and so on…

That said, we don’t think you’ll be eager to use them, at least in the long run. As a temporary solution to go online safely, they will be “okay” at best. But if you want to watch SBS live outside Australia for days, weeks, and months, such providers won’t suffice.

The Bottom Line

You’ve learned that circumventing geo-blocks isn’t an impossible task anymore. People can unblock and access SBS abroad with an Australian IP obtained from a reputable VPN service. NordVPN comes to mind as #1 but of course, any other provider from the list will work.

ExpressVPN’s undeniable quality is followed by slightly juicier prices. Private Internet Access is joyful for budget-constrained users who can’t spend much on it. The selection of the VPN for SBS is completely up to you, as our instructions apply to all three providers.

Try NordVPN Today

FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions.

Is SBS free?

Yes, it’s a 100% free on-demand service. Users will need to sign up to watch it but without paying a dollar. The full array of content is available only in Australia, as well as the ability to watch SBS live, all free of charge.

Do I need a VPN for SBS in Australia?

No, you don’t. If you’re in Australia, SBS will work without a hitch. Still, we recommend using a VPN in Australia for other purposes, such as privacy. Australia is a 5 Eyes country known for data collection and ISP monitoring, so a VPN can help by concealing your online footprints.

Australian people also frequently use this service to bypass geo-blocks, download torrents safely, purchase stuff online for cheaper, and play games without ISP throttling.

Can I use a proxy to access SBS abroad?

You can, but there’s a high chance you’ll end up disappointed. Proxies aren’t really effective when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions to watch video content.