It wouldn’t be difficult to make the case that the United States is the television capital of the world, or at least the birthplace of modern television culture.
From Walter Cronkite to Fox and friends, I love Lucy has The Simpsons, The Twilight Zone has The Sopranos; whether it’s news, current affairs, comedy or drama, American television has produced some of the most iconic and enduring shows attached to the format.
And that’s before you even start playing sports. What would the sports calendar look like without Super Bowl Sunday, the Fall Classic, the Indy 500 and WrestleMania? Or, more recently, the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States.
American shows and sports are collectively the most popular in the world, which means you can still watch them on local channels when you’re abroad. But that’s not always the case: College basketball, for example, has limited appeal outside the United States. And if you look at your usual websites, apps and streaming platforms in another region, they are unlikely to work due to rights restrictions.
Fortunately, there is a very easy way to work around these failures. Using one of the best VPNs, you can watch as much American TV as you want when traveling outside its borders. Keep reading to find out how.
Why can’t I watch American TV abroad?
As we say, the international proliferation of American television and sports means 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 you’re used to (and, more often than not, paying for).
Try to watch Love Island United States on Peacock, Welcome to Wrexham on Hulu, or a numbered UFC event on Paramount Plus, for example, and you’ll get an error message telling you you can’t stream them. The same goes for OTT cable alternatives like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling TV – all are limited to the United States.
This can even happen with certain content like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. They have slightly different libraries depending on what territory you are in. So you can forget to watch The Great British Pastry Show on Netflix if you’re not in the United States.
And even if you find the show or sporting event on a local station, you may need to subscribe to streaming. That hardly seems fair if you’ve already paid extra at home to watch the exact same thing.
How can I watch American TV from abroad?
This is where having a good Netflix VPN or Peacock VPN can pay off.
The smart engineers at these VPN companies are constantly working to make their tools compatible with the world’s biggest streaming platforms, allowing you to watch them from anywhere in the world.
The technology effectively spoofs your IP address so that your laptop, smartphone, tablet or streaming device appears to be in a completely different location.
Specifically, in this case, a location in the United States.
Then, when you load your app for Disney+, Apple TV, DirecTV, or anything else, it will think you’re back home and therefore won’t give you that annoying error message.
At least in theory. Only the best streaming VPNs are capable of unblocking a wide range of these platforms. That’s why it’s worth making sure you buy one that will come to your rescue when you’re abroad on business or on vacation…
What is the best VPN for watching US TV abroad?
Step-by-Step Guide to Using a VPN to Watch US TV Abroad
Using a VPN to watch American TV abroad is a real hassle…
- Sign up and install a VPN on your device (NordVPN is our top pick)
- Connect to one of its servers in the United States
- Go to the website or app of the US streaming service you want to use
- Press play and enjoy!
We have learned that it is best to first connect to your US VPN server before loading the streaming app or website you are trying to unblock. We’ve found that if you go the other way (i.e. head to the streaming platform first), you can, in fact, “warn” the streamer, making it less likely that the VPN will work properly.
And another tip we have is to use a private browsing window you stream in a web browser. Again, it’s just helpful to make sure none of your cookies or usage history trigger the streaming platform to know that you’re currently abroad.
What sports can I watch on US TV from abroad?
As a sports-loving nation, American television broadcasts just about every event you can imagine, both domestically and abroad.
The NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB all broadcast across a complex variety of networks and 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 offers exclusive action from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Apple TV has upped its game in recent years to win the rights to broadcast MLS soccer and every race of the Formula 1 season.
Extensive coverage of the last Summer and Winter Olympics was provided by NBC’s Peacock platform, as was cycling in the Tour de France.
When it comes to soccer abroad, Peacock broadcasts English Premier League matches, ESPN broadcasts the Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga, and CBS broadcasts the UEFA Champions League.
And what about sports that are traditionally less popular in the United States? Dedicated platforms like RugbyPass and Willow TV showcase global rugby union and cricket action respectively.
What news, dramas and comedies can I watch on US TV from abroad?
While some news streaming will work wherever you are (e.g. Fox News, MS Now), others will not (e.g. NewsNation) without the use of a VPN.
Current and prestigious dramas can be streamed on a wide range of streaming platforms. The stories of George RR Martin are a good example – Game of Thrones And Dragon House can be watched with an HBO Max subscription. Peacock originals include Ponies And The five-star weekendwhile Disney+ offers many Doctor Who.
Fortunately, most exclusive shows on Netflix and Apple TV can be watched cross-region. So people like Squid game, Stranger Things And Breakup can be streamed just about anywhere.
It’s a very similar situation in terms of comedies. Friends settles on HBO Max, while Seinfeld can be found on Netflix and all seasons of Cheers are on Hulu. For something more contemporary, you would need Paramount Plus for Colin AccountsPrime Video for Bait and Apple TV for Ted Lasso.
Remember, if you have trouble watching any of these shows when you’re out of the country, you’ll need to invest in a good VPN. They are more affordable than you imagine.
