How to Watch German TV in the UK - Geo-Unblocking Guide

German TV is home to many entertaining programs, news, sports, and documentaries. Popular movies and shows in this country include Station of the Cross, Dark, and The Wave.

They’re broadcasted on channels such as ARD, ZDF, Proseiben, and RTL. However, these channels are exclusively available in Germany and therefore geo-blocked in the UK. But don’t panic. 

💡Luckily you can use a VPN and mask your UK IP location to get unrestricted access to stream German TV.

How to watch German TV in the UK?

Although German TV channels are not available in the UK, with the help of a reputable VPN such as CyberGhost, you can bypass these restrictions and stream them without any inconvenience.

Here’s how it works:

→ When you connect to a server in Germany, your IP address is concealed. Once the IP changes to a German IP, it tricks the TV channel into believing you’re currently in the country.

To bypass this restriction, do this:

Use CyberGhost

Here’s how to watch German TV in the UK:

1. Subscribe to a fast and reliable VPN service. CyberGhost does the job because its servers are super-fast and it has a reputation for making it around geo-blocks.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
3. Open the app and sign in using your credentials.
4. Connect to a server in Germany.
5. Sign in to any German TV channel and enjoy streaming. I tried it out with the ZDF channel and it worked out just fine.

Why do you need a VPN to watch German TV abroad?

You need a VPN to watch German TV abroad because it will change your virtual location, hence bypassing geo-blocks on local TV channels.

If you try to open ZDF (one of the German TV channels) outside Germany for example, this error message will be displayed on your screen:

This is due to licensing agreements and copyright laws that prevent German TV from streaming outside their designated viewing regions.

Some VPNs go as far as granting users the chance to connect multiple devices to one account. Others have dedicated apps for all devices and operating systems.

All of these make streaming easy.

Best VPNs for German TV 📺

While there is a vast number of VPNs available in the market, bear in mind that not all VPNs work well with German TV. Also, some VPNs are great for streaming while others perform poorly.

So it is important to look out for features such as ⚡speeds, consistent German servers, 🔓powerful unblocking capabilities, and 🛡️security of your personal data.

Below is a list of some of the most trusted and high-performing VPNs to enable you to stream German TV based on my experience.

1. CyberGhost – the largest number of German servers

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN for unlimited bandwidth. With CyberGhost you can stream German TV channels for hours without issues.

It has the advantage of offering more servers in Germany than any other VPN on the list. With 9,500+ servers in over 91 countries 1,623 of them are in Germany including locations in Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt.

This huge number of locations provides various options when looking for a server to unblock German TV.

Then, it provides reliable and high-speed connections to bypass bans easily. 

Furthermore, CyberGhost uses advanced tunneling protocols such as Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2  to ensure a secure and private connection while streaming.

Lastly, CyberGhost offers great customer support and it is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and more. 

✅ Pros:

• 7 simultaneous connections
• 45-day money-back guarantee 
• Blazing fast speeds
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Intuitive user interface

❌ Cons:

• Limited payment options
• Expensive

CyberGhost

Experience German TV anywhere using CyberGhost’s dependable servers!

Check price Visit website

2. ExpressVPN – fast and reliable speeds for streaming

ExpressVPN is known to be one of the fastest VPNs, with all of its servers running on 10 Gpbs. This, therefore, ensures users can carry out smooth streaming.

Also, it offers 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, including some highly-optimized ones in Frankfurt and Nuremberg.

These multiple servers are ideal for bypassing the geo-restrictions on German TV because you can switch to another region easily if one is not working.

Furthermore, this VPN service provides unlimited bandwidth for streaming which allows you to watch videos in ultra HD-4k quality without any lags or buffering.

Then it has a built-in Lightway protocol which gives your streaming experience a better speed and more security for your online data.

Lastly, you can connect up to five devices simultaneously on one account. This is suitable to use on a home network with several users. It also has dedicated apps for Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS.

✅ Pros:

• No-logs policy
• Easy-to-use app
• AES 256-bit encryption
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 24/7 live chat support

❌ Cons:

• Expensive

ExpressVPN

Catch your favorite German TV shows and films from abroad with ExpressVPN!

Check price Visit website

3. NordVPN – streaming-optimized servers

NordVPN provides one of the largest region networks to watch German TV  from the UK. It boasts about 5,600 servers across 60 countries,  240 of which are in Germany.

Therefore, users can easily connect to any of these locations and have a smooth streaming experience. They run at lightning speed, making loading movies on German TV fast.

Then it makes use of optimized obfuscated servers which allow you to bypass blocks even in heavily restricted environments.

They disguise your VPN-encrypted activity to regular HTTP activity, thereby allowing you to stream German TV channels undetected.

Additionally, NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption to scramble your traffic. This further secures your connection and gives you a private and anonymous streaming experience.

Lastly, NordVPN gives users a dedicated IP address for an additional fee. No other user would share this IP with you hence ensuring faster streaming speeds

✅ Pros:

• Very fast speeds
• Strict no-logs policy
• 6 simultaneous connections
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Easy-to-use app 

❌ Cons:

• No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App Store

NordVPN

Watch German TV abroad easily using NordVPN!

Check price Visit website

4. PIA – dedicated IPs for streaming

With PIA’s unlimited bandwidth, you can stream German TV channels without buffering or lagging.

PIA also offers dedicated IPs for users who wish to stay completely anonymous. Unlike the shared IP address, the dedicated address will be used by only you.

This, therefore, enables you to bypass blocks easily and reduces the chances of the German TV suspecting you use a VPN.

Although PIA may not be as fast as other VPNs, its speed is good enough to allow you to stream for a long time buffer-free.

Furthermore, PIA takes users’ privacy seriously with an independently tested no-logs policy. This means that it doesn’t store data of your online activity, therefore ensuring you complete anonymity while streaming.

Then, it offers the split tunneling feature which lets you select which website you want to route through the VPN while the rest of your traffic connects to the internet normally.

With this, if you don’t have a VPN connection to affect your digital workspaces while at work or school, you can use it only on the German TV channel.

✅ Pros:

• DNS leak protection
• 35,000 servers including servers in Berlin and Frankfurt
• 10 simultaneous connections
• Kill switch feature
• 30-day money-back guarantee 
• Easy-to-use app

❌ Cons:

• Not all servers perform the same

Private Internet Access

Binge German TV in UK with no limitations using PIA VPN!

Check price Visit website

5. Surfshark – infinite simultaneous connections

Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including two locations in Germany. It can unblock German TV channels such as ProSeiben, RLT, ZDF, and Das Erste easily.

Furthermore, it offers unlimited bandwidth and limitless simultaneous connections with which you can stream German TV in HD quality.

Additionally, Surfshark is one of the most budget-friendly VPNs in the market, yet it does not compromise on its qualities. 

One of the streaming-friendly features it offers is the kill switch. This feature immediately disconnects your internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. 

Hence stopping sensitive information like your location from leaking which ensures that German TV does not restrict you.

Surfshark is compatible with Android, Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, and more. There are also Chrome and Firefox browser extensions.

✅ Pros:

• Fast servers
• Zero logs policy 
• AES 256-bit encryption 
• 30-day money-back guarantee 
• 24/7 live support 
• DNS leak protection 

❌ Cons:

• Kill switch leaks on iOS

Surfshark

Unlock German TV globally in a split second with Surfshark!

Check price Visit website

Which German channels can I watch online?

By using a VPN, you can access some of the most popular German TV channels and enjoy streaming from the UK.

The channels and shows on German TV you can watch online include:

• ZDF (Die Anstalt, Shades of Guilt, Heute-show, Die Rosenheim-Cops, Löwenzahn)
• Das Erste (Babylon Berlin, Sherlock, Columbo)
• RTL (Unter Uns, Let’s Dance, Der Clown)
• Sat.1 (NCIS, Criminal Minds, Friends)
• Vox (Full Swing, Explained, Death to 2020)
• ProSeiben (Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, Switch Reloaded)
• Kabel Eins (Shameless, Castle, Lost)
• ZDFneo (The Rookie, Seinfeld, Fargo)
• NDR Fernsehen (Sherlock, Columbo, A Fistful of Dollars)

Is it legal to watch German TV in the UK with a VPN?

It is legal to watch German TV channels in the UK with a VPN. There is no law presently against the use of VPNs in Germany.

Summary

You can get past the geo-restrictions on German TV channels by connecting to a trustworthy VPN with servers in Germany, fast speeds, and top-notch security.

Therefore, you will be able to access popular German TV channels like ZDF, Das Erste, NDR Fernsehen, ProSeiben, and Vox.

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