How to Watch Geo-Blocked Streaming Services in Australia
On-demand streaming services just happen to have timely catalyzed the whole ‘cord-cutting’ process. If you’re dangling in between the two options – this article is for you. We’ll uncover some of the best streaming services for Australians to enjoy without giving up your prime time binge. Also we will provide best solutions to access Geo-blocked streaming services in Australia.
If we talk about availability of streaming services in Australia, lots of options are already available here such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Foxtel Go, Binge, iWonder, 7 Plus, Stan, Kayo and more. But the concern is – there are still many VOD (Video On Demand) services not available because of content licensing policies.
Even VOD services like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime do not have the same content library compared to USA.
Because of all these reasons, here we will help you how to watch best geo-blocked streaming services in Australia with the use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Even also help you in streaming all your favourite Australian streaming services when you are travelling abroad. So without any delay let’s dive in:
Best Streaming Services in Australia
Whether you’re looking forward to streaming your usual primetime shows or try something new out – here’s our breakdown of the best streaming platforms on the Internet that you can watch in Australia:
Netflix
Netflix can easily be titled ‘the talk of the decade’ when it comes to streaming services. Although much of its content is Geo-blocked to specific regions, it’s still the number one choice for most cord-cutters. Why is that? Not only is it cheap in its packages, the quality gradually increases in packages as well.
What helps Netflix stand out is its multi-screen support; divide the fee amongst your friends, and you’re good to go for the month. Lastly, Netflix’s US content library is the largest there is – spanning more than 5,000+ titles. It includes everything from rom coms to hit originals like The Witcher. However, you’ll have to use a VPN if you’d like to access Netflix US from anywhere outside of the US.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon’s been hard at work to make Amazon Prime Video a successful competitor to streaming services like Netflix – and it really shows. Prime Video is an excellent entertainment option with premium movies, TV shows, exclusive series, and so much more – all in 4K! You can chose between two plans offered by Amazon.
The first package only features movies and shows available on the streaming platform. Both prime Monthly and Annual also offer exclusives to subscribers in the shape of:
- Video content (like the basic package)
- Free music streaming
- Photo storage
- Access to the Kindle library
- Same-day and two-day deliveries are free
These add-ons are what make Prime Video a likable option for Amazon shoppers. The ‘Annual’ package can help you save bucks over the year on your video subscription – while still reaping benefits from shopping on Amazon itself. If we talk about Amazon’s content, it features some of the best movies and shows ever released, including:
- The Shawshank Redemption
- The Sopranos
- The Grand Tour
- Psych
- The Boys
Lastly, there’s a treat for you cord-cutters as well. Amazon Prime Video also features hundreds of TV channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.), which you stream as an ‘add-on’ with your prime subscription. Although all these additional American channels are available on Amazon for the US subscribers. But if you already have an Amazon prime account, just like Netflix, you can also access Amazon’s US library with the help of a VPN.
Hulu
Hulu’s yet another option for all TV lovers to confide in. It features a great selection of TV shows with release dates matching those of live TV. If you’ve been unhappy with your streaming services and how they deliver content late – Hulu won’t disappoint you.
Though there’s one catch – Hulu isn’t commercial-free on its Basic plan.
This brings us to our next part – Hulu’s packages. Luckily, they aren’t too expensive, and you can easily finance a decent package for USD$12 with two screens.
Unfortunately, Hulu isn’t directly accessible in Australia yet because of geo-restrictions. If you’re determined to start streaming today, you might want to consider subscribing to a VPN service with a small cost to watch Hulu in Australia. But that should be it for you to get going and enjoy the weekends soon!
Disney+
Walt Disney didn’t wait long to jump on the streaming service bandwagon – but it’s been great so far. Disney+, their premium streaming service, is one of the most affordable services with some of the greatest shows and movies for their viewers. What’s best is that Disney+ sums up content from all Disney subsidiaries, so whether you’re a Pixar fan or love to binge Marvel movies – there’s everything for you!
The Mandalorian was the most critically acclaimed show on Disney+ this year.
Disney has two subscriptions ready to roll in Australia. For the add-on packages, you might be needing a VPN service to start watching Hulu or ESPN, which are geo-blocked to the US. It’s why we’ve left the pricing to USD so you can adjust to your preference.
A few more things that you should know of before heading with a Disney+ subscription:
- Unlimited downloads with every package
- Ad-free streaming of your favorite content
- Up to 4 simultaneous streams are supported (7 profiles in total)
In comparison to other streaming services, Disney+ packs a punch when it comes to their pricing and content. But here is the catch! Similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the Disney+ content library differs from country to country.
It means this might be possible that a show which is available on US Disney+ is not available in Australia. But don’t worry because you can access all the countries Disney+ library from Australia with the help of a premium VPN service.
HBO Max
Home Box Office (HBO) isn’t a new name to anyone from the cable TV world. HBO has been the production house for some of the best content to have aired on TV. Luckily, HBO Max is their newly launched online streaming service – it’s for you!
Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, Sopranos, Silicon Valley, Joker, Chernobyl – the library is huge and continuously being updated.
Plus this year, for the very first time in history, you can watch all the Warner Bros upcoming movies on HBO Max on the same day of theatre release, including Godzilla vs. Kong, Justice League Snyder’s Cut, Suicide Squad, and the list goes on. And best of all you don’t have to pay any additional charges to watch all these new releases.
Currently, HBO Max is available for streamers at $14.99 per month. That’s a bit much – especially if you consider how Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu are charging for a month. Though Max has been taking flight since its launch, and won’t be going down if Warner Bros and HBO keep surprising viewers with great content.
One quick disclaimer – HBO is only available in the United States. If you’re outside the US right now, HBO won’t be accessible to you. At least not directly. You will have to make use of a VPN service to stream content from HBO Max in Australia. We recommend going to the following VPN services:
- ExpressVPN (Recommended)
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- PrivateVPN
Get your subscription, choose a US-based server on the VPN app, and that’s all. Head over to HBO Max, and your subscription should let you through the nasty geo-restrictions.
Our next section is going to feature some of the best streaming services, which are perfect for watching live TV. It’s great for all you who don’t wish to give up on your usual shows without crazy contracts or prices to make you think twice.
Peacock TV
Peacock TV is another recently launched US VOD service owned by NBC Universal or NBCU that offers both free and paid plans for its viewers. With Peacock TV you can watch live news, sports, and one of the top trending TV shows like Two and a Half Men, The Capture, 30 Rock, etc.
But again because of content licensing copyrights and policies, this amazing service is only available to streamers who are residing in the USA. And unfortunately, according to the company’s official statement, there is no plan of launching their streaming service in Australia anytime soon.
However, with the use of a VPN, you can access Peacock TV in Australia just like other geo-locked services in this list.
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is an iconic English streaming service that offers loads of content from TV series, movies to news and reality TV shows.
TV shows that you can watch on BBC iPlayer include Dracula, Fleabag, Killing Eve, I May Destroy You, Doctor Foster, Line of Duty, The Responder, and much more. And best of all you can watch all the content without paying a single penny because it’s free.
But with all that amazing content, this service is only available in the UK because of content distribution policies.
So is there any way to access the BBC in Australia? The answer is Yes! By using a VPN you can trick BBC iPlayer that you are in the UK without going there and watch all your favorite BBC content in Australia.
Sling TV
Sling TV is your easiest way out of pricey subscriptions with your cable provider. The packages are great in terms of live TV content, and the pricing is perfect. Not to mention, you’re bidding your farewell to those contracts which hold you back for ages before you can make a move. Don’t like a plan? Cancel and change things up!
Currently, Sling TV has two plans for streamers – Orange and Blue. Both plans are priced the same at $30. Well, why is it the same pricing for different plans? Both plans feature a different line-up of channels, and you might be biased towards one. Orange features AMC, CNN, ESPN, and others. Blue features USA, FX, Viceland, etc.
Can’t decide between one, or maybe your favorite channels are in separate plans? Go for the combination of these two, which is priced at $45.
If you still aren’t sure if Sling is the right choice for you, go for their free plan or the three-day trial. It should give you a rough idea as to what you’re signing up for. For freebies, enjoy the 5,000+ content library at Sling – you’re going to love it. There’s much more in Sling offerings – add-ons, local channels, over-the-air streaming – and much more that you’ll explore with your own subscription.
Sling TV is also geo-restricted to US citizens only. If you’re not a resident, you have to subscribe to a paid VPN service to watch your favorite content on Sling TV in Australia.
YouTube TV
YouTube doesn’t fail to amaze us yet again, as it enters the online streaming arena. This video service currently offers over 85 channels with reasonable pricing of $64.99 per month. Channel line-up by YouTube TV is great for viewers of all genres – sports, news, entertainment and others. Some of the channels included in YouTube TV are:
- PBS
- Comedy Central
- MTV
- Nickelodeon
- NBA and MLB networks
The web interface for YouTube TV is much similar to its web streaming platform. It’s intuitive for you to use, which is a plus if you’re shifting from cable TV and don’t prefer technical streaming services. Pair all this with the unlimited DVR space and three streams for one account – it’s a worthwhile option for new cord-cutters.
YouTube TV also supports additional subscriptions along with your usual plan. These can include HBO Max, Acorn TV, AMC Premier, Starz, and more at a reasonable price for each add-on. Sadly, it isn’t available outside the USA yet, but with VPN you can access YouTube TV in Australia.
ABC (American Broadcasting Company)
American TV or American Broadcasting Service (ABC) is another great streaming service that offers free content to watch. This US VOD platform is one of the hottest streaming services that offer shows like Goldbergs, Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, and much more to watch it for free.
But unlike Australian TV (ABC), American ABC is not available in Aussie land because of copyrights. However, with the use of a VPN that is capable of bypassing content geo-restrictions, you can access American TV in Australia.
Channel 4
If you love to stream English TV series like The West Wing, Married at First Sight or love to watch culinary series like British Bake Off for free, then Channel 4 (All 4) could be the best choice for you.
But there is a bummer! Like other English streaming services, Channel 4 is geo-blocked in Australia. But if you are reading this guide, you know what to do.
By connecting to UK server with the help of a VPN, you can unblock Channel 4 in Australia.
TV Player
TV Player is an UK streaming service where you can watch live, on-demand, and catch up TV content for free. However, if you try to access it content through its website or app in Australia, it won’t play the content because of content copyrights policies.
But with the use of a VPN service like ExpressVPN, you can unblock TV Player and watch content from over 61 channels including BBC, Channel 5, Discovery, Heart TV, Eurosport, Cartoon Network and more.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is top of the line sports streaming service where you can watch live football action, UFC, MLB, live sports and popular sports league matches from all the world at very reasonable monthly fee.
The issue? ESPN+ can’t be stream in Australia because of broadcasting copyrights issues. But with VPN you can bypass geo-restrictions and stream your favourite sports on ESPN+ in Australia.
AT&T TV Now
AT&T TV Now is another option if you’d like to stream live TV channels with your streaming subscription. Although the platform features a total of 125+ live channels, the pricing for each plan is quite high. The basic plan starts off with 45 channels with a pricing of $65 and grows in value with an increase in channel count.
A reason you might want to prefer AT&T is the inclusion of HBO Max. You won’t have to pay for an additional subscription. Think of live TV along with an online streaming service – that does sound like a lucrative deal. You also get over 500 hours of Cloud DVR and support for three streaming devices to go with it.
AT&T’s plans are definitely on the high-end, but you can test them out with their free trial. See if you like the packages, the content, and which plan works out for you. Though you’ve also seen other streaming services – they are definitely priced much lesser with a few exclusions in channels, that’s all.
Although AT&T has DirectTV services in Australia, their online streaming service is yet to show up. You’re free to choose a VPN service if your preferred live TV medium is AT&T.
Are Streaming Devices Necessary to Watch Content?
In short – no. But we’ve got reasons why preferring a device made for streaming out of the box can be a wise option.
Television sets have gone from ‘completely dumb’ to ‘extremely interactive’ assets. While older TVs could only use a cable or antenna as a source, Smart TVs can connect to the Internet as well. If you own one such TV, entertainment won’t be a stranger to you – support for streaming services is shipped out of the box.
Conversely, your old TV might not support the latest streaming services by default. This is where ‘streaming devices’ come in. These small, set-top boxes are capable of full-time streaming, without depending on the type of your TV – HDTV, Smart TV, LCDs, 4K TVs.
We’ve shortlisted some of the best streaming devices you can use to watch your favorite content:
Amazon Fire TV Cube
Amazon has done a tremendous job with its second generation of the Fire TV Cube. What makes this option particularly stand out is the ability to stream 4K HD content while also featuring a voice-controlled Alexa. All that from a small cube? Truly amazing technology. Though it can be a bit pricey – you can opt for the Fire TV Stick, which cuts off a few features, but content quality still stays intact at 4K.
Roku Streaming Stick+
Roku’s Streaming Sticks are just as handy when it comes to streaming 4K content over television. The Stick+ features a mighty processor along with HDR, Dolby Atmos surround-sound, and Wi-Fi! You’re also signing up for the “Roku Channel” which practically has support for thousands of free and paid streaming services – what else do you require? It’s the complete package with a small cut in pricing!
Chromecast Ultra
Chromecast is a bit different – you have to ‘cast’ your content from a phone or tablet to view it on your TV. Nonetheless, it doesn’t compromise on quality and supports 4K resolution, HDR, Dolby Atmos, etc. If you’d like to save some bucks, HD Chromecast is an excellent alternate – especially since you won’t leave 4K or HDR behind.
Other than these, here’s a list of some other options which you can consider:
- Apple TV 4K
- Roku Premiere+
- NVIDIA Shield TV
- Roku Express
- Roku Ultra
Mind you – these streaming devices aren’t going to offer services a full-fledged smart TV would offer. Instead, they’ll deliver thousands of channels and applications on your older HDTV or a newer 4K TV.
