Why streaming services are region-locked

Streaming rights are sold country by country. A service that holds a show's rights in the UK may have no right to show it in Canada, so it blocks viewers based on their location.

Some laws help travellers. EU rules on portability let residents of EU countries use their home subscriptions while temporarily travelling within the EU.

Many services check location by IP address and, for live TV bundles in the US, by your registered home area, which can limit local channels while you travel.

Using a VPN to get around these restrictions usually breaks the service's terms, and many providers actively block VPN traffic.

Our reviews note which countries each service officially operates in, so you know what to expect before subscribing.