Here’s how you can stream BBC News from anywhere with a VPN:
The BBC News app and website are free and available on multiple platforms. However, anyone traveling internationally for work or going on international vacations knows that it’s difficult to stream BBC News in countries where it’s restricted or blocked, such as China, Vietnam, or Iran. The good news is that there is a simple way to get safe and private access to BBC News streaming services no matter where you are in the world by using a virtual private network (VPN). You can also use Tor, an internet browser that gives users more privacy and access to the dark web.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Access BBC News?
Some governments order Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict certain websites, including BBC News, from being accessed on the internet. ISPs do this by blocking an IP address in their region from certain sites or streaming platforms. Some governments do this in the name of censorship, others do it to restrict access to “fake news.” Countries including China, Vietnam, and Iran block or restrict access to BBC and many other sites like Gmail and YouTube. There have been other cases in the past where BBC News has been blocked from time to time, including Uzbekistan, China, India, and Pakistan. This usually happens in retaliation by foreign governments owing to a piece published by BBC News, which some governments deem “fake.” In North Korea, for instance, BBC News is also banned. If you’re an international journalist, traveling abroad on holiday or for work, or live somewhere that restricts BBC News sites, it can be annoying to have limited access to one of the most far-reaching news sources in the world. BBC News is available in more than 200 countries. In many places, it can even be watched on live TV, if you have access to that. Even so, you may still need a VPN to access the news platform in certain situations, such as:
When you’re in a country where BBC News is banned. When BBC News is temporarily restricted in your area. When you don’t want your ISP or any malicious actor to spy on your browsing history. When you’re a journalist or someone who wishes to stay anonymous, especially in heavily restricted regions. In this case, we advise using a VPN such as Mullvad to help you stay anonymous through multi-hop connections.
Use a VPN to Access BBC News From Anywhere: A Step-By-Step Guide
A VPN hides your IP address so your identity can’t be linked to your activity online. It’ll be much harder for anyone to see where you are or what sites you click on. So, if you want to access BBC News from a region where it’s actively blocked, a VPN is just what you need. Below, we’ll explain how to choose and install a VPN on your devices so you can start streaming BBC News, no matter where you are in the world.
1. Subscribe to a VPN provider
Choose a VPN provider and subscribe to it. During this process, you’ll be asked to create an account, likely with a username and password. Make sure to remember those, as you’ll need them in step 3. A reliable VPN provider keeps your connection secure and is easy to use. If you’re not sure which VPN to pick, don’t worry. We’ve curated a list of the most reliable VPN providers of this moment. Most of these come with a fee, so they can offer better protection and maintain their infrastructure. Free VPNs are usually unsafe, slow, and clunky. If you’re traveling abroad for a short time and don’t want to pay for a lengthy subscription, a better option is to sign up for a free trial with a premium provider. If you’re new to VPNs, we recommend starting with NordVPN. This provider is great for beginners and works with just a couple of clicks. Even in countries with heavy censorship, such as China, NordVPN manages to help users get around restrictions. You can check out NordVPN’s website by clicking the button below, or read more about this provider and our other suggestions for BBC News VPNs further down.
2. Install the VPN software
Once you’ve subscribed to a VPN provider, you can download that VPN’s software. Make sure to do this directly from the official website, so you don’t accidentally download any malware or fake VPNs. The software should be installed on the device you want to use to access BBC News. You can download the software for your computer, or get the app for your Android smartphone or iPhone. You can even install a VPN on another device like a smart TV. Read our VPN setup topics for more information and step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
3. Log into the VPN software
Next, log into the app with the account you created in step 1. Once you have access to the software, you’ll see a user-friendly interface, often with a world map that shows different locations (although this does depend on your chosen provider). The software lets you tweak different settings and connect to any of the servers in the network.
4. Choose a server and turn on the VPN
Select a server in a country where BBC News is available. A safe bet is to choose a server in the U.K. since BBC is locally broadcast in the country. If you connect to a U.K. server, you can also access BBC iPlayer (which is only available in the U.K.). If you simply want to access the BBC News website, you can also connect to a server from another country, like the USA. Finally, all you have to do is select “Connect” or “Go” to establish the connection.
5. Access BBC News
Now, you can access BBC’s U.K. website or the global variant of BBC News through your browser or the app. Remember that, for the live channel stream, you’ll need to connect to a U.K. server and then use the iPlayer. If you only want to read up on the latest news and videos from the BBC News website, other servers will do as well.
The 3 Best VPNs to Access BBC News
Choosing a reliable VPN is important. Free VPNs or VPN apps downloaded from unofficial sites may lead to malware or slow and insecure connections. It’s better to stick with a tried and true VPN provider if you want to access BBC News. Our three favorite VPNs for BBC World News are NordVPN, Surfshark, and Mullvad.
1. NordVPN: Online freedom in heavily restricted countries
NordVPN is one of the highest-rated VPNs in the world. They have a fantastic server network spread all around the globe, so accessing BBC News won’t be difficult through NordVPN. They also have a fantastic money-back guarantee, so you can always get your money back in case you’re not satisfied. Because it has servers all over the globe, you can easily connect to a U.K. server (or any other) and access BBC News without any issues. They have plenty of servers in the U.K. itself, thus making it easy to establish a fast connection.
2. Surfshark: An affordable way to access BBC News
A more affordable VPN option is Surfshark. This cheap but qualitative provider also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can essentially try it for free for a month. We like Surfshark because it offers high speeds and a stable connection at a very reasonable price. If you don’t want to pay a considerable amount of money for a VPN to access BBC News, Surfshark is as good an option as any. The NoBorders mode in Surfshark is especially useful for accessing BBC News in heavily restricted areas such as China. If Surfshark detects any kind of restrictions on the network, the NoBorders mode automatically activates so you can surf the web with more freedom — without extra effort. If you want, you can also turn it on manually from Settings. Check out this article to learn how to access BBC News from highly censored nations like North Korea.
3. Mullvad: The most private access to BBC News
If privacy is your priority, then Mullvad is a great VPN option. To register, you don’t need an email address. They’ll give you a unique code that allows you to log in and get access to a paid subscription. When you access BBC News with Mullvad, it’ll create multi-hop connections, routing your data through two servers instead of one. This is especially handy when you’re a journalist working on a sensitive piece and don’t want to reveal your identity. Mullvad’s multihop connections can help you stay anonymous, without revealing your identity or IP address. Mullvad also works in heavily censored countries like China. If you’re facing trouble, activate Shadowsocks, an open-source proxy project designed to circumvent internet censorship. In short: freely and anonymously accessing BBC News is easy with a provider like Mullvad VPN.
Access BBC News on the Dark Web With the Tor Browser
Using a VPN isn’t the only way to watch BBC News from anywhere in the world. You can also use the Tor browser to visit BBC News on the dark web, which is legal and safe, as long as you take the right precautions (like using a VPN). In 2019, BBC News announced its “dark web” mirror site on The Onion Router (Tor). Tor is a browser that allows users to get on the dark web and conceals a user’s location and personal details. This browser is widely used by journalists and military personnel, who need to conduct their work without prying eyes. Unfortunately, criminals also use the platform to stay anonymous, which is where Tor and the dark web get their bad names from. In an official statement, BBC said launching a Tor site is in line with the BBC World Service mission to bring trusted news to audiences around the world. With a Tor site (which appears with a “.onion” domain) users can access BBC News anonymously and safely. It’s also possible to visit BBC’s regular site on the Tor browser, but using its dark web mirror will give users even more privacy. If this sounds like something that would be beneficial for you as you travel to different countries, we recommend always using a VPN when you’re browsing through Tor.
Use a VPN to access BBC News on Tor
If you want to access BBC News on Tor, we recommend you use a VPN. This keeps your data thoroughly encrypted and hides your IP address across all of your internet activity, not just within the Tor network. It’s another layer of safety and that’s never a bad thing, especially while on the dark web. Here’s how you can set up Tor to visit the dark web mirror of BBC News: For more detailed instructions on how to download, install, and use Tor, read our full guide on the Tor browser.
Stream BBC News From Anywhere
BBC News is committed to giving anyone who wants trusted news access to its services. That’s why they are available almost anywhere in the world and created a mirror site on Tor. We believe in this mission, too. Whether you are traveling for work or play, using a VPN or working with Tor will make sure you have access to most of your streaming services and news sources like BBC World News anywhere on the globe. Most countries don’t restrict BBC News. However, if you’re in a country that has restrictions on sites like BBC News, or you want to watch BBC iPlayer outside of the U.K., you’ll need a VPN to stream it.
