Today, we will show you the list of geo-restricted streaming services in Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, and more. Also, we will show you how to unblock geo-restrictions.
Sometimes, when you try to access an online streaming service, you receive a message that says such a service is unavailable for your region.
This is simply what geo-restriction entails. The rights owner to the streaming content has made it exclusive to a particular geographical location (country or continent). Anyone outside such geographical location will be unable to access the content.
Aside from streaming services, geo-blocked websites are also available. Whatever content these websites offer – news, articles, etc. – cannot be accessed from outside regions.
Table of Contents
What Is Geo Restricted Content?
Why Streaming Services Impose Geographical Restrictions?
One primary reason for geo-restrictions is copyright laws. The rights owner of these services differ from region to region, and airing contents in a region without the rights would be a legal fault.
Also, the owner of a particular streaming right might offer the same services in different regions under different brands. The content provided may be personalized and made exclusive to each region.
Streaming services that focus on providing services to a specific region might also decide to restrict outsiders from gaining access.
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How Does Geo-blocking Technology Work?
Geo-blocking technology utilized by these streaming services can detect your location by reading your real IP address. As you connect to the internet, you do so with an IP address issued from your network provider’s proxy server.
Not that your IP tells your location literally, the technology can detect where the web request is coming from, and if the region is restricted, access will be denied.
The Big List of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In Africa
Listed below are some geo-restricted streaming services in Africa.
- Netflix: Netflix is a popular platform for streaming TV shows and movies. Whereas the service is available in some African countries, some video contents are geo-restricted. You can only gain access to the full Netflix library if you are in the US.
- Spotify: the Spotify platform, despite its global domination in the music industry, is available in just 5 African countries. These five countries include Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. African lovers outside these countries cannot officially stream music on the platform.
- HBO GO: this video streaming platform is only available in the United States. For every other region, including Africa, it is geo-blocked.
- FXNOW: the FXNOW platform provides video streaming content. It is also a television channel on the Dish Network. The platform is available in just the US, so Africans can’t access it.
- Amazon Prime Video: While Prime Video is available in many African countries, its library differs significantly from the US version, with many popular shows and movies missing.
- Disney+: Currently available in South Africa and soon to launch in other African countries, Disney+ still has limited content accessibility compared to its US library.
- Hulu: Hulu is completely unavailable in Africa, with its vast library of TV shows and movies locked out for African viewers.
- HBO Max: Similar to HBO GO, HBO Max is only available in the US and inaccessible to viewers in Africa.
- CBS All Access: This platform offering shows from the CBS network is geo-restricted in Africa, leaving fans without official access.
- Apple Music: Apple Music offers a smaller library and limited features in some African countries compared to its global availability.
- Tidal: While Tidal has expanded its reach in Africa, it remains unavailable in several countries, depriving music enthusiasts of its high-quality audio and curated content.
- YouTube Music Premium: Like YouTube itself, YouTube Music Premium offers limited content in certain African regions, with some songs and music videos missing.
- Deezer: Deezer’s global library is not fully accessible in all African countries, leaving some users with a restricted selection of music.
READ ALSO: 4 Top Music Streaming Services In The World
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In Europe
Here are some geo-restricted streaming services in Europe.
- Crackle: Crackle is a platform for video streaming Hollywood movies. Several TV shows can also be streamed on the platform. Sony Pictures own it, and as a US-based service, it is unavailable in any European country.
- Pandora: This is an online platform for streaming music and radio listening. It is a subsidiary of Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Pandora is available in about 26 regions, but none of the regions are in Europe.
- Hulu: Hulu has more than 25 million users and is a platform owned by Walt Disney. On Hulu, you can watch Live TV, shows, and movies. However, its streaming content is restricted in Europe.
- HBO GO: When it comes to action series and movies, HBO GO is a go-to streaming platform. The contents served on HBO GO are premium. It was recently launched in a few European countries, but a majority still cannot access it.
- Peacock: This NBCUniversal streaming service featuring original shows and classic sitcoms remains unavailable across Europe.
- Paramount+: The home of CBS and Paramount Pictures content, Paramount+ is currently geo-restricted in most European countries.
- Sling TV: Offering affordable live TV streaming packages, Sling TV remains inaccessible to European viewers.
- AT&T TV Now: This live TV streaming service with diverse channels is unavailable in Europe, leaving cord-cutters with limited options.
- Discovery+: Documentaries and reality TV fans in Europe miss out on Discovery+, as the platform is currently geo-restricted in the region.
READ ALSO: How To Unblock New Netflix Shows
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In North America
Listed below are some geo-restricted streaming services in North America;
- EuroSportPlayer: EuroSportPlayer is a European-based streaming platform for live sports, including Football, Tennis, Athletics, etc. As described, it is based in Europe, and people in North America cannot enjoy its streaming content.
- Absolute Radio: One of the best platforms to stream music out there is Absolute Radio. The platform’s motto says “Where Real Music Matters” and “The home of the no-repeat guarantee” so you can understand the quality of music you’ll get. Unfortunately, it is geo-blocked in the United States and other North American countries.
- Sky Go: Sky Go is an online alternative to Sky TV. Movies, series, shows, from various producers, can be enjoyed on Sky Go but, the platform is only available in Europe.
- Channel 5: This is a free-to-air TV owned by ViacomCBS Networks; the platform is top-rated in the UK and Australia. Amazing contents are provided, but all are unavailable in North America.
- BBC iPlayer: This UK-based platform boasts original dramas, comedies, and documentaries, but remains locked out for North American viewers.
- ITV Hub: Featuring popular British shows like Downton Abbey and Line of Duty, ITV Hub is unavailable in North America due to licensing agreements.
- Channel 4 On Demand: Offering a mix of British comedy, drama, and factual programs, Channel 4 On Demand remains geo-restricted in North America.
- Sky Sports: This European sports giant with extensive coverage of Premier League and other leagues is unavailable to North American viewers.
- Eurosport: While EurosportPlayer is restricted, the broader Eurosport platform with international sports coverage is also unavailable in North America.
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In Asia
Here are some geo-restricted streaming services in Asia.
- Epix: The Epix Entertainment LLC owned platform is one for streaming TV shows. It is US-based, and only US residents have access to watch these shows.
- NBC Sports: NBC Sports is a popular sports streaming platform. You can watch live sports games, highlights, and previews but not within the Asian region.
- Max Go: MaxGo provided by Cinemax offers original movies and TV series. Cinemax made the platform only accessible from the United States.
- Hulu: This massive library of TV shows and movies remains geo-blocked throughout Asia, leaving viewers without access to its popular content.
- HBO Max: Similar to HBO GO, the premium content of HBO Max is unavailable in most Asian countries, excluding select markets like Hong Kong and Singapore.
- Peacock: NBCUniversal’s streaming platform with original shows and classic sitcoms remains inaccessible across Asia, offering limited options for fans of its content.
- Sling TV: This affordable live TV streaming service is geo-restricted in Asia, leaving viewers without a convenient cord-cutting option.
- AT&T TV Now: This diverse live TV streaming service is unavailable in most Asian countries, limiting viewers’ access to its extensive channel lineup.
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In South America
- Peacock: NBCUniversal’s platform with original shows and classics is locked out for South American viewers.
- Paramount+: The home of CBS and Paramount Pictures content remains unavailable across most South American countries.
- Sling TV: This affordable live TV streaming service is geo-restricted in South America, limiting cord-cutting options.
- Discovery+: Documentaries and reality TV fans in South America miss out on Discovery+, as the platform is currently unavailable in the region.
- Eurosport Player: The European sports streaming giant with extensive coverage of Premier League and other leagues is unavailable for South American viewers.
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In Australia
- Hulu: This massive library of TV shows and movies remains locked out for Australian viewers.
- HBO Max: The premium content of HBO Max, including original shows and blockbuster movies, is inaccessible in Australia.
- Peacock: NBCUniversal’s streaming platform with original comedies and classic sitcoms is currently unavailable in Australia.
- Sling TV: This affordable live TV streaming service with diverse channels remains geo-restricted in Australia.
- AT&T TV Now: This comprehensive live TV streaming service offering sports, news, and entertainment is absent from the Australian market.
List Of Geo-Restricted Streaming Services In Oceania Countries
- Hulu: This vast library of TV shows and movies remains locked out for Oceania viewers, offering no legal access to its popular content.
- HBO Max: The premium content and original shows of HBO Max are unavailable in most of Oceania, with only limited exceptions like New Zealand.
- Sling TV: This affordable live TV streaming service remains inaccessible in Oceania, leaving viewers without an alternative to traditional cable packages.
- AT&T TV Now: This diverse live TV streaming service is unavailable throughout Oceania, limiting viewers’ options for cord-cutting.
- Peacock: NBCUniversal’s streaming platform with original shows and classic sitcoms is completely geo-restricted in Oceania,
How To Unblock Geo-Restricted Streaming Services
No matter the region or country you reside in, you can unblock any geo-restricted streaming services using any of the following:
VPN Service
A VPN service is about your best bet if you want to unblock geo-restricted streaming services. VPNs can mask your real IP address, and as a result, your actual geographical location is hidden.
With this, you get to browse with a different IP address provided by the VPN server. The VPN Servers are located in various countries, so all you need to do is to connect with one in the country where the streaming contents are not geo-blocked.
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Rotating Proxy Server
When you browse the internet, a proxy server intermediate on your behalf, the requests you send are first received by a proxy server before being sent to the webserver.
Typically, a proxy server would send your requests as it is, but with a rotary proxy server, you use random IP addresses for each web request. Rotating proxy service provides do offer different Geo proxies, so you can use a proxy server in various countries which will switch your location.
Smart DNS Services
Just like IP addresses, DNS (Domain Name Server) can give out your exact location to websites online. With SmartDNS services, your original IP address is not hidden or changed; your request is simply re-routed.
Hence, your request does not go directly from your region but is passed through a different region before getting to the webserver. The web server receives the request with your original IP address but will read a different location based on the route it followed.
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The Ultimate List Of Geo-restricted Streaming Services: Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Geo-Restricted Streaming Services?
Geo-restricted streaming services are platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video that limit access to specific content based on the user’s geographic location due to licensing or regional policies.
Why Do Streaming Services Impose Geo-Restrictions?
These restrictions are primarily due to licensing agreements with content creators, regional copyright laws, and market-specific distribution deals that dictate what content can be shown in different countries.
How Can I Access Geo-Restricted Content?
Users often rely on VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to mask their location, proxy servers, or Smart DNS services to bypass these restrictions by routing their internet connection through an allowed region.
Is It Legal to Bypass Geo-Restrictions?
While using tools like VPNs to access geo-blocked content is generally not illegal, it may violate the terms of service of streaming platforms, potentially leading to account suspension.
What Are Some Popular Geo-Restricted Streaming Services?
Services like HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, Peacock, and regional versions of Netflix are common examples of platforms with content variations or availability restrictions based on location.
What Should I Consider Before Using a VPN for Streaming?
Check for a VPN that offers fast speeds, servers in the desired regions, compatibility with the streaming platform, and a no-logs policy to ensure privacy and smooth streaming experiences.
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What is geo-restricted content?
Geo-restricted content refers to online media or services accessible only in certain regions due to licensing agreements, copyright laws, or regional policies. For example, a TV show available on Netflix in the US might not be accessible in other countries.
Which VPN is best for geo-restricted content?
Popular VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are often considered the best for bypassing geo-restrictions. These services offer fast servers in multiple countries, strong encryption, and the ability to unblock platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.
Does Netflix geoblock?
Yes, Netflix geo-blocks its content based on the user’s location. The available shows and movies vary by country due to licensing deals, so users in different regions can access different libraries.
How do I view geo-blocked content?
To view geo-blocked content, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location. A VPN reroutes your internet traffic through a server in the desired country, allowing you to access restricted content.
How do I unblock geo-restricted content?
You can unblock geo-restricted content by using a VPN, proxy service, or Smart DNS. These tools mask your actual location, tricking websites into thinking you’re accessing them from an allowed region.
Is PayPal geo-restricted?
Yes, PayPal has geo-restrictions for certain services and features. For example, some countries may not support PayPal transactions, or specific features like withdrawing to a bank account may be limited based on location.
Conclusion
Geo-restrictions and copyright laws should not stop you from enjoying your favorite TV shows, movies, and songs. No matter what region you reside in, you can unblock geo-restriction by using various methods, as listed above.
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