It wouldn’t be a difficult argument to make that the USA is the television capital of the world, or at least the birthplace of modern TV culture.
From Walter Cronkite to Fox & Friends, I Love Lucy to The Simpsons, The Twilight Zone to The Sopranos; whether it’s news, current affairs, comedy or drama, US television has produced some of the most iconic, enduring shows committed to the format.
And that’s before you even get to sports. What would the sporting calendar look like without Super Bowl Sunday, the Fall Classic, Indy 500 and WrestleMania? Or, most recently, the 2026 World Cup that the USA is co-hosting.
America’s shows and sports are collectively the most popular in the world, which means you can continue to watch them on local channels when you’re overseas. But it isn’t always the case – college basketball, for example, has limited appeal outside the States. And if you go to watch your usual streaming websites, apps and platforms in a different region, they’re unlikely to work due to rights restrictions.
Thankfully, there’s a very simple way to get around these blackouts. By using one of the best VPNs, you can watch as much US TV as you wish when traveling outside of its borders. Keep reading to discover how.
Why can’t I watch US TV overseas?
As we say, the international proliferation of US television and sports means that there’s a good chance you’ll be able to see the content you want in many other parts of the world.
However, due to licensing and rights agreements, you won’t necessarily be able to watch them on the platform to which you’ve become accustomed (and, more commonly than not, pay for).
Try to watch Love Island USA on Peacock, Welcome to Wrexham on Hulu, or a numbered UFC event on Paramount Plus, for example, and you’ll be met with an error message telling you that you can’t stream them. The same goes for OTT cable alternatives like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Sling TV – all are region-restricted to the US.
It can even happen with certain content on the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. They have slightly different libraries depending on which territory you’re in. So you can forget watching The Great British Baking Show on Netflix if you’re not Stateside.
And even if you find the show or sporting event on a local station, you may end up having to subscribe to stream. That hardly seems fair if you’ve already paid a premium back home to watch that exact same thing.
How can I watch US TV from overseas?
This is where having a good Netflix VPN or Peacock VPN can pay dividends.
The clever engineers at these VPN companies work constantly to make their tools compatible with the world’s biggest streaming platforms, thereby letting you watch them regardless of where in the world you are.
The technology effectively spoofs your IP address so that your laptop, smartphone, tablet or streaming device looks like it’s in an altogether different location.
Specifically, in this case, a location back within the USA.
Then, when you load up your app for Disney+, Apple TV, DirecTV or anything else, it will think you’re back at home and so won’t hit you with that annoying error message.
That’s in theory, at least. Only the best streaming VPNs are able to unblock a wide range of these platforms. That’s why it’s worth making sure you get one that will come to your rescue when you’re overseas on business or vacation…
Which is the best VPN for watching US TV when overseas?
Step-by-step guide on using a VPN to watch US TV overseas
Using a VPN to watch US TV when overseas is a doozy…
- Sign up and install a VPN on your device (NordVPN is our top pick)
- Connect to one of its United States servers
- Head to the website or app of the US streaming service you wish to use
- Hit play and enjoy!
We’ve learnt that it’s best to connect to your US VPN server first before loading up the streaming app or website that you’re attempting to unblock. We’ve found that if you do it the other way around (i.e. heading to the streaming platform first) you can, in effect, ‘tip off’ the streamer, which makes it less likely that the VPN will work its magic properly.
And another tip we have is to use an Incognito window you’re streaming within a web browser. Again, it just helps to make sure that none of your cookies or usage history triggers the streaming platform to know that you’re currently overseas.
What sports can I watch on US TV from overseas?
As a sports-mad nation, US TV hosts just about every event you can imagine from both home and abroad.
The NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB all go out on an intricate variation of networks and their associated streaming platforms. Anything that would normally be available on cable can also be watched on an OTT cord-cutting service.
Paramount Plus and Netflix are the respective homes of UFC and WWE, while Fox is the existing Nascar provider and has exclusive action from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Apple TV has upped its game in recent years to win the rights to show MLS soccer and every race of the Formula 1 season.
Extensive coverage of the most recent Summer and Winter Olympic Games was carried by NBC’s Peacock platform, as is Tour de France cycling.
In terms of overseas soccer, Peacock shows English Premier League matches, ESPN has La Liga from Spain and Bundesliga from Germany, and CBS carries the UEFA Champions League.
And what about sports that are traditionally less popular in the States? Dedicated platforms like RugbyPass and Willow TV respectively feature global rugby union and cricket action.
What news, dramas and comedy can I watch on US TV from overseas?
While some 24/7 rolling news casts will work wherever you are (e.g. Fox News, MS Now), others will not (e.g. NewsNation) without the use of a VPN.
Both current and prestige dramas can be streamed on an array of streaming platforms. George R. R. Martin’s stories are an apposite example of this – Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon can be watched with a subscription to HBO Max. Peacock Originals include Ponies and The Five-Star Weekend, while Disney+ has plenty of Doctor Who.
Thankfully, most of the proprietary shows to land on Netflix and Apple TV can be watched from region to region. So the likes of Squid Game, Stranger Things and Severance can be streamed from pretty much anywhere.
It’s a very similar situation in terms of comedies. Friends makes its home on HBO Max, while Seinfeld sits on Netflix and all seasons of Cheers are on Hulu. For something more contemporary, you’d need Paramount Plus for Colin from Accounts, Prime Video for Bait and Apple TV for Ted Lasso.
Just remember, if you’re struggling to watch any of these when away from the country, you’ll need to invest in a good VPN. They’re more affordable than you might imagine.
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