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The British Broadcasting Corporation has brought the world hit films and series such as Doctor Who, Killing Eve, Bluey, Sherlock and the original Office starring Ricky Gervais. Some of the BBC‘s popular shows are available to watch at Disney+, Peacock and Hulu, but not all of the U.K. network’s movies and TV shows are available to stream online in the States.
Below, find out how to access the BBC channel online and stream in the U.S.
Are BBC and BBC America the Same Network?
No, BBC and BBC America are not the same channel. While BBC America is available on linear cable and live TV streaming services (such as DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, to name a few), it does not offer the same content as the BBC.
BBC is strictly available within the United Kingdom. The network also operates BBC iPlayer, a free streaming video-on-demand platform only accessible in the U.K. that includes live BBC channels and the broadcaster’s past and current TV series and films.
How to Watch BBC on Cable in the U.S.A.
Due to licensing rights, the BBC is not available to stream in the U.S. on any linear cable or live TV streaming service. The only way to watch BBC in the U.S.A. is through a virtual private network.
How to Stream BBC and BBC iPlayer in the U.S. with a VPN
Those who want to stream the series in the U.S. won’t be able to access the BBC network or the BBC iPlayer due to licensing rights. However, a virtual private network (VPN) such as ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, or NordVPN will allow you to connect to servers in the U.K. and stream BBC while in the U.S. Both services allow you to securely access your content while traveling and protect your connection with anti-malware tools, including dark web monitors and phishing blockers.
VPNs also allow you to access your streaming subscriptions when you’re traveling outside of the U.S., such as Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Netflix and other services. (Not all countries offer access to certain content due to licensing rights.) Keep reading for more details on how to watch the BBC in the U.S. using a VPN service.
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Can You Watch BBC iPlayer on Amazon’s Prime Video?
Although Prime Video does offer the BBC Select channel and select BBC series, the Amazon-owned video-on-demand streaming service does not include access to BBC iPlayer.