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Is there a legal way to watch a BBC show from another country ? (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by Dschubba120@jlai.lu to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Yesterday there was an article about a show called "Gladiators" in the Guardian, i wanted to see what it was and looked for where to watch it. The problem is that i leave in France. The tow only options i found were to :

Torrent it
Use a VPN, create an account on the BBC website, give a random postcode in UK and say that i pay a television license in UK (which i don't because i live in France)

I wondered if i missed something or if there is really no way to legally watch it ?

all 8 comments

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[–] FriendOfDeSoto@startrek.website 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The problem with the VPN solution is that the BBC has gotten smart about that. It's a game of whack a mole. Every time a service has installed a new server with new IPs, iPlayer finds out about it and blocks it. So you don't even get to the part where you could fraudulently claim to be paying for the license.

Where in France are you? In Calais you might still get terrestrial signal (although I don't know if the signal standards differ) or it could be available on cable.

A third option is not perfectly legal but more so than torrenting. There are online services that record the terrestrial signal and allow you to download the recordings after the fact. Google BBC online HDR or DVR and see if one of these services might be for you.

[–] Dschubba120@jlai.lu 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Thank you for the answers

So you don't even get to the part where you could fraudulently claim to be paying for the license.

I did it and for now it's working (using ProtonVPN)

Where in France are you?

I'm not near the north coast but i'm not sure it would be possible

I'll look into the third option

[–] i_am_not_a_robot@feddit.uk 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I think it's the same issue when watching any content from abroad. You need a broadcaster or streamer that operates in your country to pick up the rights.

When we were in the EU there was some discussion about using subscriptions from other EU countries, although I don't remember how much that extended to BBC content. Not that it's relevant now anyway.

PS you could DX it OTA from the North coast.

[–] mark@social.cool110.xyz 5 points 2 months ago

@Dschubba120 Option 3: Check into a UK hotel, then you'll be covered by the hotel's licence.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you can't find a legal rights streamer, and feel bad about it, use the VPN and send the BBC licensing office the £100 😀

[–] Dschubba120@jlai.lu 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, might be one of these times where it's easier to donate and watch however i want