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Once enough time has passed to gather sufficient data (the BBC needs to be careful not to ban valid users), our VPN IP address is getting blacklisted and blocked from using the iPlayer. And it’s something the BBC can easily detect.
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It translates to hundreds of connections from the same source hitting the iPlayer server around the clock (since we all likely live in different time zones around the world).ĭoes that sound like a typical iPlayer usage pattern? Not at all. It’s like we’re all roommates in a single house. Now, what happens if you, I and a several hundred other people access the BBC iPlayer with a VPN server’s IP (servers may have multiple IP addresses, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s assume a single one)? That’s four connections from the same IP address talking to the iPlayer server for several hours each day.įrom the BBC’s point of view, that sounds entirely reasonable and is probably a fairly common usage pattern. Let’s assume a home situation with a family of four where everyone streams content off the BBC iPlayer at the same time. Most of those locations will have a single external IP, regardless of how many devices are connected to the internet. The BBC iPlayer is meant to be used mostly from home and sometimes from a place of business. So how does the BBC know you are streaming the iPlayer through a VPN? It all comes down to your IP address and probability.
#Vyprvpn bbc tv#
The problem is the iPlayer is a service meant to be used only by residents, individuals who pay for the UK’s mandatory TV license. The iPlayer has become an amazing success for the corporation not only in the UK but also around the world. It’s easy to see why the BBC decided to take action and clamp down on VPN use. Why Is the BBC iPlayer Blocking VPN Access But, using a VPN to watch the BBC iPlayer is as doable as ever. Yes, there have been changes, and things have perhaps become a little more inconvenient. So is the game up? Are those of us outside the UK out of luck? In fact, the word on the street is that using a VPN for the iPlayer does not work period. Today, things no longer seem to be that easy.
#Vyprvpn bbc update#
I last connected this afternoon with NordVPN (using UK server #2007) to watch Sportscene and Match of the Day Wales.Īs always, I will continue to update this page at least a few times per week with my latest BBC iPlayer VPN use.Īs recently as a year ago, watching the BBC iPlayer with a VPN was the most reliable way of accessing the service outside the UK.
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JUpdate: Despite the BBC’s best efforts at detecting and blocking VPN use, several providers continue to work well with the iPlayer.
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