How to Watch Channel 4 on Demand Outside UK: Get Channel 4 Anywhere
This post will explain everything you need to stream Channel 4 to the USA from the All 4 website. If you’re just looking for a VPN that works with All4 (and the BBC iPlayer) then we can definitely recommend NordVPN – it works well with all the UK TV stations and is one of the cheapest options for a reliable VPN service. Their latest discounts are here.
What is Channel 4?
Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded British television broadcaster. It was first launched in 1982 and is known for producing and airing a wide range of programming including comedy, drama, documentaries, and news. The channel is available to viewers in the United Kingdom and is known for its alternative and diverse programming.
It was created as a fourth public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom, alongside the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), ITV (Independent Television), and Channel 5.
Why was Channel 4 Created?
The channel was established as a response to the perceived limitations of the existing three channels, which were felt to be too London-centric and not providing a diverse enough range of programming. Channel 4 was intended to provide alternative programming and to give a voice to under-represented groups, such as minorities and those living outside of London.
Channel 4 was initially funded by both advertising revenue and government subsidies. The government’s goal was to create a new public service broadcaster that would encourage innovation and experimentation in television programming. They were also extremely keen to provide an alternative to the commercial programming offered by ITV and the more mainstream programming offered by the BBC.
In 2022 there were plans for the Channel to be sold and to withdraw public funding sources however these have now been withdrawn.
What is All 4?
Of course every large TV channel operates online in 2023 and Channel 4 is no exception. All 4 is the on-demand streaming service from Channel 4, which allows users to watch both live and catch-up TV from all of Channel 4’s channels, as well as a wide range of box sets and exclusive content. It is available online, via a mobile app, and on some smart TVs. The service is free to use and offers a mix of live and on-demand content.
What sort of Shows are on Channel 4.
In it’s early years Channel 4 was sometimes more famous for controversy rather than the quality of it’s programming. This has changed greatly over the last few years and now Channel 4 produces some of the best TV available anywhere,
Some of the most popular shows on Channel 4 include:
- “The Great British Bake Off” (also known as “The Great British Baking Show” in some countries) which is a cooking competition series that has been airing on the channel since 2010.
- “Gogglebox” is a reality show that features different families and groups of friends watching and commenting on the week’s television shows.
- “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a dystopian drama series based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood
- “The IT Crowd” is a British sitcom that originally aired from 2006-2013
- “Black Mirror” is a science fiction anthology series that explores the dark side of technology and its impact on society. It’s best described as a modern reworking of the classic ‘Twilight Zone’ science fiction series.
These are just a few of the most popular shows on the channel but there are many other shows that are also have proven very successful with TV audiences.
Can I Get Channel 4/All 4 Streaming in the USA
This sounds great, a free TV site full of high quality shows yet unfortunately there is a catch! If you’re ever tried to stream anything from All 4 from the US then you’ll already know that it’s likely to get blocked. The problem is that Channel 4 is normally only available in the UK to domestic viewers. It’s the same restrictions that all the other UK broadcasters apply – limiting access to people resident in the United Kingdom.
It’s not some strange xenophobic attitude of British companies, just about every large media company around the world does exactly the same. Certainly in the US it happens too, as all the major TV and entertainment sites block access for people outside the USA.
How are they doing this? How does a simple website know where you are located? Well the technology is actually quite simple but becoming increasingly pervasive !
Geo-blocking – Internet Segregation
The technology is called geo-blocking or geo-targeting and it’s basically everywhere. It started off as a fairly, benign technology used to improve the users experience when they visited a website. It was initially used by the search engines who would look up your location in order to tailor the results to match where you were located. It works great and ensure if you search for something then the results are localized – e.g. search for electricians and you’ll get results listed in your local area.
So how do they do it? Well there’s no special magic, when you connect to a website your IP address is checked. Your IP address is the unique network number which every device needs to access anything online. Each one is registered to a specific country, so it’s very simple to check where each address is located when you connect.
SO armed with your exact geographical location many websites make huge changes to what you can see. We’ve mentioned the search engines, but many large sites will also serve you up localized content, different languages, different products or different prices! Whether it’s for user experience, profit maximization will vary but ultimately the user has little control.
Media Sites like Channel 4 – Geo-Block a Lot!
Probably the most extensive use of geo-blocks are the media companies. Their problem is that much of their content – the TV shows, films and videos etc are not actually owned by the broadcasters. Instead, they have licenses to show their content in specific countries – usually the location they’re situated in.
So if All 4 wants to let users in Japan stream films on Film 4, they have to own the rights to broadcast each film in that country. It’s all based on an archaic licensing model which doesn’t really match a globally connected medium like the internet. It’s expensive and complicated to make content available across the world unless you produce it directly yourself and have full global rights.
So Can You Watch All 4 Outside UK?
The website will say no, but fortunately that’s not quite true ! There is a workaround where you can watch Channel 4, BBC iPlayer and even ITVX outside the UK by hiding your IP address using a VPN. This is a simple service which encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address from any websites you visit.
As long as you use a VPN server that is based in the UK then you’ll appear to have a UK IP address too. This means that potentially any UK streaming service will work perfectly whilst you’re connected to the VPN (Virtual Private Network). Most of the larger VPN companies provide a wide network of servers which you simply click to connect with making them ideal for bypassing all this geo-blocking nonsense.
Demonstration – How Can I Watch All 4 Streaming
So you’re a fan of Channel 4 and you’re travelling abroad, or perhaps you just live outside the UK. There is a way that you can watch from anywhere and not worry about missing out on your favourite shows. All you need is a reliable VPN service, you can easily access All 4, the online streaming service of Channel 4, from anywhere in the world.
Here’s how to watch All 4 outside the UK:
- Subscribe to a VPN provider with UK servers. We recommend NordVPN for its reliable unblocking of All 4 and fast streaming speeds.
- Download and install the VPN app for your device.
- Connect to a UK server from the list of servers.
- Access All 4 and start streaming!
Using NordVPN to Stream All 4 from USA
Anyway it can sound a bit complex but it really isn’t. Using the modern day VPN programs it’s little more than point and click after installing the software.
Here’s a quick video of how to use a VPN to stream All 4 from the USA or anywhere outside the UK.
All 4 Premium
Remember that if you want to watch All 4 ad-free, you can switch to All 4+, its premium service available at around £40 for a year. So, now you can enjoy your favourite shows regardless of where you are in the world. You should be careful trying to subscribe from the US though as they may verify where your payment is from – so you’d have to use a UK based bank or credit card.
The adverts are not that bad and much less intrusive than a standard US TV channel so check out the free version first.
Use a VPN For Lot’s More
A VPN is definitely the easiest way to start streaming Channel 4 in the US or any other country, but there’s a lot more it can do as well. As soon as you’ve invested in a VPN you’ll wonder how you’ve lived without one.
Unblock other UK TV stations
As we’ve mentioned, using a VPN is the best way to unblock All 4 from abroad. However don’t forget it doesn’t stop there, a VPN lets you unblock lots more TV stations.
By using a VPN, you can get around geo-restrictions and access virtually any streaming service or website, even if it’s normally blocked in your country. With a VPN, you can watch All 4 and the other UK TV channels like BBC iPlayer and ITVX from anywhere in the world.
There are thousands of media sites all over the world which broadcast online and the vast majority of them restrict access mainly to their domestic markets. Using a VPN you can simply switch your country to match your target and enjoy some great free TV from them. Great English speaking options include channels in Australia, Canada, Ireland to name a few.
If you speak other languages the possibilities are even greater !
Unblock Other Websites
It’s not just media sites that operate these restrictions, many other sites do to. Using a VPN means you can blast passed these restrictions whenever you encounter them.
The options are virtually endless but here’s a few examples of sites which you can access outside their home countries.
- Bank sites – often restricted outside home country – a real difficulty if you want need access when travelling.
- Gambling/Betting sites – often restricted by domestic market or blocked in the country you are visiting. You can’t access most of the UK online betting sites outside the UK.
- Airline/Car Hire etc – although these sites are rarely blocked you may well find that you get worse rates than domestic customers. Check out the different airline reservation prices you get when using a VPN to switch country.
Protect your Data
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service or technology that creates a secure connection over a public or private network. It allows users to access the internet and other networks securely, as if they were connected directly to the private network. This can be useful for protecting sensitive data, such as financial information or personal information,
The primary function of a VPN is actually to keep your connection secure. A VPN encrypts all your data and ensures your privacy by hiding your IP address too.
Encrypting your Data
A VPN uses encryption to secure the connection between the user’s device and the VPN server. The process typically works by creating a secure “tunnel” between the two points, which is then used to transmit data.
Encryption is the process of converting plaintext (unencrypted data) into ciphertext (encrypted data) using an encryption algorithm and a key. The encryption algorithm is a mathematical formula that scrambles the data in a way that makes it unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the key. The key is a secret code that is used to encrypt and decrypt the data.
Once the data is encrypted, it is transmitted over the internet to the VPN server. The VPN server then decrypts the data using the key, and sends it on to its final destination. This process ensures that any data intercepted by hackers or other unauthorized parties is unreadable, and it also verifies the authenticity of the data.
VPNs typically use one of two types of encryption protocols:
- PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) which uses 128-bit encryption
- L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol / Internet Protocol Security) which uses 256-bit encryption.
The stronger the encryption, the more secure the connection, so L2TP/IPSec is considered a more secure option than PPTP.
FAQ
What are the advantages of using a VPN to watch All4 Streaming in the US?
There are actually only a few ways to access All 4 from the USA. You can get some programmes individually by downloading from different sites, some broadcasts can be accessed using IPTV or you can use a VPN.
A VPN is the only safe and secure method to stream directly from the All 4 site, you can access everything including all the live channel streams too. It’s a cheap and effective method of accessing all of Channel 4 plus it allows you to access all the other UK TV stations like BBC iPlayer too.
What sort of data connection do I need to watch All4 Streaming in the US?
In general, a stable internet connection speed of at least 5-10 Mbps is required to stream HD content without buffering. This is the minimum recommended speed for streaming HD video, but actual required speeds can vary depending on factors such as the specific streaming service you are using, the quality of your network connection, and the number of devices connected to the network.
However, for streaming 4k content a faster connection is needed, around 25Mbps or more is recommended. If multiple devices are connected to the same network and streaming at the same time, or if other activities such as online gaming or file downloading are happening concurrently, the required speed will be higher.
It’s important to note that these are just general guidelines, and actual required speeds can vary depending on the specific streaming service you are using and the quality of your network connection. A wired connection is also recommended over wireless (Wi-Fi) as wired connections provide a more stable and faster connection.
Additionally, a consistent and stable connection is more important than a high connection speed, so running a speed test and checking your internet connection with a wired connection before streaming is always recommended.
Is it legal to use a VPN to get around geo-restrictions while streaming All4 in the US?
The legality of using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions can vary depending on the country or region you are located in and the specific content or website you are trying to access.
In general, using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions is legal in most countries, as it is a common practice used for privacy, security, and accessing blocked content. However, some countries have implemented laws or regulations that restrict the use of VPNs or limit their use to specific purposes. For example, in China, the use of VPNs is heavily restricted, and only authorized VPNs are allowed. In Russia, VPNs must register with the government and are restricted from providing access to certain blocked sites.
It’s also worth noting that using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions to access copyrighted content without proper authorization can be illegal in some countries, and streaming services such as Netflix have implemented measures to block the use of VPNs.
So while it is generally legal to use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions, you should always check the laws and regulations of your country or region before doing so and be aware of the specific content you are trying to access, and also be aware that some websites and streaming services may actively block VPNs.
Can I use my home router to watch All4 Streaming in the US?
Yes, you can use your home router to watch All4 streaming in the US. All you need to do is connect your device to a quality VPN that supports the platforms such as Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, laptops, PCs, smartphones and tablets, media streaming devices, gaming consoles, etc. Once you are connected to a VPN, you can then access the All 4 website or app, create an account and start streaming. To ensure an uninterrupted streaming experience, make sure to use a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN, which has fast speeds and allows you to bypass geo-restrictions.