This is obviously a problem if you’re abroad or on holiday. However, there is a workaround to watching CBeebies from outside of the UK – we also used this method for watching EastEnders abroad and The Great British Bake Off in the US. Read on for full steps:
Watch CBeebies abroad using a VPN
The best way to watch CBeebies abroad is to use BBC iPlayer. This website is the licensed online catch-up service for all BBC terrestrial content. Like the channels, its only available in the UK – but it can be accessed through using a VPN.
VPNs (virtual private networks) allow you to browse the internet as if you’re from another country, whilst protecting your privacy at the same time. This is done by rerouting your IP address. To watch CBeebies, you would connect to a UK server.
There are lots of VPN providers to choose from, but for the best speeds, performance and choice of servers we recommended either NordVPN or ExpressVPN. You can use a VPN on both desktop and mobile devices, depending on how you want to watch.
You can also check out our list of free VPNs, but these likely won’t have enough servers to be able to stream successfully.
Here are the steps for streaming CBeebies abroad:
Sign into your VPN and connect to a UK server
Head to the BBC iPlayer website
Register for a free BBC account – you’ll need to give your date of birth, gender, and email address, along with a valid UK postcode
Hover over the ‘channels’ tab and select ‘CBeebies’
Choose which episode/show you’d like to watch – or alternatively look up the title directly in the search bar
According to the BBC, the reasoning being creating accounts isn’t to pursue iPlayer users who haven’t paid for a TV Licence, but the company will cross-reference details to see if the user has paid for a Licence fee or not in the past.
If you’re a British resident based overseas with a paid-for Licence Fee and an iPlayer account, you can simply sign into your existing BBC account by using your VPN. If you don’t have an online account, you’ll need to create a new one.
If you don’t have a Licence because you’re based internationally or just haven’t paid for one, and are hoping to access iPlayer anyway, you’ll still need to give a valid UK postcode and your details to get access. But be warned – this is against the BBC’s terms of service.
For more detailed steps and information, take a look at our guide on watching BBC iPlayer abroad.
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She’s also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.
