Watch BBC iPlayer For FREE, Live Broadcast in Philippines

Sally Polly July 24, 2021 | 08:35

Check out our detailed guide of how to watch BBC iPlayer for free in Philippines using VPN and Smart DNS service.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in Philippines.

Want to watch iPlayer in Philippines?BBC iPlayeris one of the biggest streaming services in the UK and is free for those inside the UK with a TV licence.

But iPlayer is currently blocked when you’re in Philippines. Discover how to stream BBC iPlayer content when you’re in Philippines.

If you’re on holiday outside the UK you’ll run into trouble accessing the BBC’s online streaming service, but here we show you how to watch BBC iPlayer in Philippines.

BBC iPlayer is one of the biggest streaming services in the UK, offering a range of high-quality television and radio shows, plus movies, direct from the BBC, entirely free from advertising.

The shame is that BBC iPlayer is limited to UK viewers, and — in principle — you can only watch it from inside the UK.

But what about holidaymakers and those with homes in two countries? If you’ve paid for it, then you should be able to watch BBC iPlayer when overseas.

Why is BBC iPlayer not working in Philippines?

BBC iPlayer homepage. Photo: Screenshot

iPlayer just like many other British online streaming and TV broadcasting services is restricting its access in Philippines and across the globe due to copyright licensing issues. Programs that iPlayer is offering is not licensed outside of United Kingdom. Therefore, British tourists and residents in Philippines can’t open BBC iPlayer in Philippines.

BBC iPlayer checks your IP address and sees that you aren’t in United Kingdom therefore it blocks your access to iPlayer. However, if you are using either VPN, Smart DNS or Browser Extension, you can hide your Filipinas IP by connecting to Philippines proxy server. It provides you with a new British IP and therefore gives an impression to BBC iPlayer that you are in United Kingdom. Thus, you can unblock iPlayer in Philippines and any other location.

How to watch BBC iPlayer for FREE in Philippines

Without question, the easiest way to watch UK TV in the Philippines is to do so on the online streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub (formally ITV Player).

However, if you've already tried to visit these websites while in the Philippines then you'll know that you're blocked from viewing.

Avoiding this block is easy. All you'll need to do that is an app called a VPN. A VPN is an app that allows you to alter your online location so to any websites you visit, it looks like you're somewhere else. Such as in another country.

VPN apps are available for all devices such as Android and Apple phones and tablets and more regular laptops and computers running Windows and Mac OS.

A VPN will set you back about £3 – £4 per month and they're cheaper the longer you sign up for. If you're retired in the Philippines or planning to be there a while then it's well worth considering a 12-month subscription because it can be 50% cheaper than paying monthly.

There are loads to choose from. My personal favourite is ExpressVPN, but you can check out NordVPN and CyberGhost too.

Steps to watch BBC iPlayer in the Philippines

To watch BBC iPlayer in the Philippines you'll need to get a VPN app. I'm using ExpressVPN in this example, but you're free to choose another.

Visit the VPN provider ExpressVPN and sign up to their service. There's a massive 30-day money back guarantee giving you plenty of time to test it risk free.
Download the correct app for your device from their VPN Apps area.
Install the app and run it. Login with the account details you created when signing up.
From the country list, select United Kingdom.
If it doesn't automatically connect then click the Connect button.

Watch British TV in the Philippines. Photo: VPNcompare

Best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer for FREE in Philippines

1. ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Philippines

With ExpressVPN, speed really is the name of the game. It’s easily one of the fastest VPNs around, with ultra-fast servers spread across 160 locations in 94 different countries, including the Philippines.

You’re free to pick a specific server at will, to stream the likes of Netflix US or BBC iPlayer, or you can simply use the Speed Test feature and allow ExpressVPN to automatically select the fastest server for you at that time. There are also no limits on either the speed or bandwidth of your usage, so you can continue to stream or download as much content as you like.

Whatever you choose to use this VPN for, there are plenty of features to keep your connection secure and private. In addition to AES 256-bit encryption, you also get access to split tunnelling, a Network Lock kill switch, and TrustedServer technology, and ExpressVPN uses its own private DNS on all servers. Your privacy is further ensured by a no-log policy, and you can even pay using an anonymous method like bitcoin.

2. CyberGhost – Best for Ease of Use

CyberGhost might be the most user-friendly VPN around right now, making it perfect for the less technologically experienced among you, or those who just want to secure their connection as quickly and simply as possible. The desktop apps are extremely straightforward, and can be ready to use within 4 minutes. The apps for mobile devices are equally intuitive, and possess nearly all the same features as the desktop versions.

CyberGhost might be beginner-friendly, but it still certainly has enough security features to keep your connection anonymous and secure in the Philippines. Military-grade encryption can be used at all times, you get DNS and IP leak protection, and there are guards against malware and trackers. Split tunnelling is also included, as are several security protocols and a kill switch.

CyberGhost is generally adept at helping you access geoblocked content, although it couldn’t unlock every major streaming service during our testing. You can use the likes of Netflix US though, and P2P-optimised servers are in place for torrenting. Finally, it’s worth noting that CyberGhost has 28 servers in Manila, if you need to access online Filipino services while you’re out of the country.

3. Private Internet Access – Best for Server Coverage

Private Internet Access has one of the widest server selections of any VPN. There are over 35,550 servers to choose from, which blows every other VPN on this list away. This means users have a far greater chance of finding a less popular server, which should deliver faster download and streaming speeds. Filipino users can also benefit from 24 different servers which are actually located within the country.

As this VPN’s name suggests, anonymity is a major focus here. The company maintains a strict no-logs policy, and is famed for its commitment to user privacy. You can further secure your online anonymity in a few different ways, including the use of WireGuard, split tunnelling, a SOCKS5 proxy, and tools to block trackers and malware. You can also choose between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, with the latter being more secure but slightly slower.

The only real downside to PIA is its variable download speeds, with some servers being noticeably faster than others. You should still be able to access Netflix US and BBC iPlayer reliably enough though, and 24/7 customer support is available if you do encounter any problems.

How to watch BBC iPlayer for FREE in Philippines using Smart DNS service

Here’s a quick rundown of the steps you’ll need to take to get BBC iPlayer on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows or even smart TV if you’re outside of the UK.

Just as Netflix dominates US traffic, BBC iPlayer dominates in the UK, with up to 6 per cent of all our internet traffic going the BBC.

So you lot apparently love it. But you can’t watch the BBC while you’re overseas.

Smart DNS Service is sophisticated technology which allows Internet users all over the world to unblock Geo-Blocked websites like BBC and many more popular websites which contain regional-restricted content.

Some of the main advantages of using a Smart DNS service to unblock BBC iPlayer include:

Minimal loss of speed.

Smart DNS service only needs to re-route specific information relating to your geographical location — unlike a VPN which needs to re-route ALL of your internet data in order for you to visit just one site.

Very easy to use and install on ALL of your devices. Aeroshield has been specifically designed for easy installation.

So you can unblock BBC iPlayer in Philippines from any device including your PC, Laptop, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, Gaming Console, Smart Phone, Android device and most other Internet capable devices.

Smart DNS service works by simply changing the DNS of your device when trying to access regional blocked content from websites such as BBC.

Your data is quickly re-routed through a dedicated proxy server which is conveniently located in the UK.

This means that you will appear to be located within the country or region where viewing has been permitted when trying to watch Geo-blocked content from your home country.

Here are some of the best Smart DNS services for BBC iPlayer, in our experience:

Aeroshied. This service is top of the pile; it offers a complete service with the best security and privacy settings we have seen. 3 days FREE trial! It costs from as little as 3.1 GBP per month. Sign up here.

VPN Privacy. Another of our favourite Smart DNS services with top security and privacy features and simple-to-use apps. It’s available for around 4.1 USD per month.