If you’re traveling outside of Germany, you’ll notice that some of your home country’s websites are region-locked. This is especially prevalent with regard to television platforms and streaming services. To watch German television from the United States, the United Kingdom, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll need to get a German IP address. This may be accomplished by connecting to a VPN.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, secures your internet traffic via the use of encryption. This information is subsequently sent to a VPN server in the region of your choice. Additionally, when you connect to a server, you will be assigned a new IP address. This creates the illusion that you are surfing from a different location, enabling you to access geo-restricted websites and services (such as those for watching German TV).
How to watch German television from abroad using a VPN
Are you unsure where to begin? You may be shocked to find that VPNs are basic and straightforward to use. To unblock and watch German television online from abroad, just follow the procedures below:
- Start by registering with the VPN mentioned below. We suggest NordVPN in particular.
- Following that, download and install the VPN client software. Ascertain that you are downloading the correct application for your operating system.
- Connect to a server in Germany through the VPN software (or browser extension) to get a German IP address.
- Before refreshing your browser, clear the cache and cookies. This prevents your prior IP address (and location) from being remembered.
- Navigate to a geo-restricted German website. Access to the content should now be restored. If not, it may be worthwhile to try another server. Alternatively, you may contact the customer service of your VPN provider for help.
How to choose the best VPN to unblock German television stations
We are all aware that a high-quality VPN service provides several benefits, including speed, security, and a powerful unblocking capability. The issue is that there is no scarcity of VPNs with German servers. The following are the primary factors that guided our selection of the best VPN for viewing German TV from abroad:
- Servers in Germany that are consistently fast and reliable.
- Removes restrictions on popular streaming services.
- Secure your data with advanced encryption.
- Does not keep track of personally identifiable information.
- Desktop and mobile applications that are easy to use.
- Customer service is available through live chat and email.
The best VPN for German television
NordVPN
NordVPN is our number one pick for watching German television. It is well-known for its amazing server network, which includes thousands of high-speed servers, with around 200+ of them situated in Germany. Some of these servers specialize in peer-to-peer file sharing, while others are obfuscated, allowing you to circumvent stringent internet restrictions. A significant feature of NordVPN is that it provides limitless bandwidth, which means you can watch DMAX and Now TV (both of which it unblocks) without throttling.
When you use NordVPN, you may encrypt multiple devices simultaneously. Additionally, there is 24/7 live chat and email support available if you run into any issues. Since this VPN is based in Panama, it is not subject to any statutory data retention rules. In any case, it adheres to a stringent “no-logs” policy. Additionally, it includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak prevention.
Connect to a server in Germany using one of NordVPN’s applications for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, or Android TV. Additionally, browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are offered. Manual configuration of routers is possible.
FAQs about streaming German television
Is it possible to watch German television from abroad using a free VPN?
While free VPNs allow you to access certain German television channels, they are just not as successful at unblocking geo-restricted websites and services. This is especially true for those that use anti-VPN tactics, such as Netflix. Additionally, you’ll notice that latency and buffering regularly disrupt your streaming experience. This is because free VPNs often have a limited number of servers. As a result of having so many users on each server, performance degrades.
As if terrible streaming performance weren’t awful enough, free VPNs also don’t provide much protection. Some may not encrypt your data at all, while others may lack measures that protect against data leakage. Consider how free VPNs earn their money as well. This might be accomplished via the use of advertising. However, your online actions may be traced and your data collected and sold to other parties.
Which German television channels can I watch for free online?
While some streaming services require a paid membership, the majority are free to access. By connecting to a VPN server in Germany, you will have access to the following:
- 7TV
- Zattoo
- ProSieben
- DMAX
- ARD
- ZDF
- TV Now
Which German content am I able to view using a VPN?
By connecting to a server in Germany, you’ll be able to access geo-restricted platforms and watch German television programs on platforms like 7TV and Zattoo. Several instances of what you may see online from abroad are as follows:
- Deutschland sucht den Superstar
- Tannbach
- Alarm für Cobra
- Die Geissens
- Tatort
- Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten
- Ein Starkes Team
- Germany’s Next Topmodel
- Die Sendung mit der Maus
- Planet Wissen
Are VPNs legal in Germany?
VPNs are entirely legal in Germany, as well as the majority of the rest of the globe. As such, as long as you are not utilizing these services for illegal reasons, there is no reason why you would run afoul of the law.
Is it possible to watch German television on a Firestick?
If you live in Germany, the Amazon app store should already have a large selection of streaming applications. However, one of the amazing features of Amazon Firesticks and Fire TVs is their ability to be sideloaded with anything you want.
As such, you should be able to install German television applications from any location, providing you can locate a safe .APK file. However, before trying this, we suggest properly screening it for viruses. Additionally, because the majority of German streaming applications are geo-restricted, you’ll need to install a VPN on your Firestick. While some providers already include a Firestick app, if yours does not, here’s a quick approach to manually installing a VPN.