How to Watch SBS on Demand Outside Australia in 2024

Streaming SBS on Demand is one of the Australian users’ most lucrative entertainment options. However, traveling outside Australia often means binge-watchers miss out on their favorite SBS on-demand content, compelling users to look for workarounds to stay in touch with their favorite media.

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), founded in 1978, is one of Australia’s five open TV networks. The network’s digital streaming option is SBS on Demand. It offers Australian users the whole SBS catalog for free to watch at leisure. SBS’s content includes films, sports highlights, news, cooking, drama, comedy series, and documentaries.

So SBS is an attractive entertainment option, but it’s geo-blocked and limited to users connecting from Australia only. So even Australian citizens will find they can’t see this network abroad. Unless, of course, they have a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to unblock this service.

A VPN will hide your IP address from the world and assign you a new IP number from one of its servers. Since the IP address is the information that gives away your physical location to other internet users, the change in your IP makes your traffic look originated from somebody else.

If you use a VPN Australian server, your interactions with the rest of the net will be as if you were in Australia. Hence, SBS will grant you access to its streaming service because, as far as its server is concerned, you are in Australia.

Using a VPN to watch SBS on Demand outside Australia — Quick guide

If you are in a rush or need to know how to get started, here’s a quick guide.

Why doesn’t SBS on Demand work outside Australia?

SBS is an Australian-based streaming service whose broadcasting rights allow it to avail content only in Australia. The company has to abide by the copyright and licensing agreements, which could result in serious lawsuits and fines if violated. To ensure that it operates within the constraints of legal provisions, SBS makes sure that it automatically blocks users outside Australia from accessing its services.

How does SBS block my connection?

When you access the SBS service, it scans your IP address to identify your location. Every internet-enabled device has a unique IP address communicating with the web service. When SBS on Demand blocks your connection, it has detected suspicious activity on your IP address. 

In most cases, this boils down to your physical location. The service instantly blocks your connection if it detects that you’re outside Australia.

How can I get around SBS on Demand’s blocks?

SBS can restrict its content in Australia only by scanning IP addresses to reveal the user’s location. So, if you can trick it into thinking that your IP address is in Australia, you can freely enjoy its services. 

You only need a reliable VPN that has servers in Australia. When you connect to an Australian server, SBS thinks you’re accessing its services from Australia, even if you are on another continent. Choose one of the VPNs we’ve provided and connect to an Australian server to beat geo-restrictions.

Will any VPN work with SBS on Demand?

VPNs are great options for bypassing geo-restrictions on SBS. However, not all VPNs can unblock geo-blocked content, especially free VPNs. 

Unlike premium VPNs, free VPNs lack a wide variety of servers to choose from. This limits one’s ability to connect to an Australian server. Additionally, they lack strong security and privacy features to keep your identity safe. For this reason, some VPNs can unblock SBS content but can’t keep you anonymous for long. As more people connect to the same limited number of servers, they eventually get detected, leading to a connection block. Free services attract many customers, which is no different for VPNs. Therefore, their servers are often overcrowded and lack enough infrastructure to keep up with the demand. It’s important to look for a premium and reputable VPN that can hide your identity when using SBS like ExpressVPN.

The best VPNs to use with SBS – The quick list

No worries if you don’t have enough time to peruse the full article. This section will give you the gist of the best VPNs to unblock your favorite Australian TV network.

Choosing a VPN to watch SBS on Demand

Choosing the best VPN for any given task is an art. There are plenty of elements to consider, and the market is flooded with average options that do not perform at the level you should expect from any paid service. Therefore, we chose the best three VPNs to unblock SBS according to the following standards:

• The VPN has several Australian servers.
• The VPN’s servers offer solid, stable, fast connections supporting an uninterrupted HD video stream for a long session.
• The security features are watertight.
• The customer service is excellent and available through email and live chat.
• The VPN allows several concurrent connections with a single account.

The best VPNs to unblock SBS on Demand outside Australia

Our fully detailed list features the best VPNs to unblock SBS on Demand when you’re away from Australia.

1. ExpressVPN

This industry leading VPN provider offers multiple fast-speed Australian servers to unblock SBS and other geo-restricted site globally.

Visit ExpressVPN

Over 3000 servers in 90+ countries

AES-256 encryption

TrustedServer technology (RAM-based servers)

P2P traffic support on most servers

Network Lock (kill switch)

Boasts a dependable split tunneling feature

Zero-logs policy

5 concurrent devices support

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Blazing-fast speed on all servers
• Ensures top-notch privacy
• Supports stealth browsing

Cons

• Costly pricing plans

ExpressVPN is the biggest name in the VPN world. We consistently find it the best option for almost every task needing a VPN. So we were not surprised when it turned out to be the best way to unblock SBS on Demand when you’re outside Australia.

It’s an excellent option as its speeds and reliability can support an HD video stream without interruptions or heavy buffering. 

The server network includes more than 3,000 nodes in 94 countries, with plenty in Australia, so you can have enough choices to unblock SBS on Demand.

ExpressVPN has delivered the best speeds in the market for a long time already. Currently, it keeps leading the market by adopting the WireGuard VPN protocol, the fastest and more efficient one, and turning it into a proprietary one. Unlimited bandwidth gives users the advantage of video streams without lags or buffering. It also works on other popular video streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, and many more.

ExpressVPN is an excellent service with user-friendly software. Therefore, you’re very unlikely to have any problems as a user. However, if you ever need help, customer service is always there for you in the live chat option or through the email ticket system.

The security is solid with ExpressVPN. The encryption is AES-256. It’s safe against every kind of IP leak (DNS, IPv6, WebRTC), has a kill switch, and many other extra features that will enhance your digital experience, not only watching the SBS on Demand content.

It supports macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. This vendor also provides dedicated apps for more exotic hardware that most VPNs don’t support, like the Amazon Firestick. And you can also install it on many routers. 

ExpressVPN has browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. These extensions are unique in the market because they don’t function as a web-browsing VPN exclusively, as the rest do. Instead, they give you a web interface that allows you to oversee your VPN’s status, but the VPN connection still covers all of your traffic, not just web traffic.

2. Surfshark

A budget-friendly VPN service supporting binge-watchers to stream their favorite content anywhere. Also unblocks SBS on demand and other geo-restricted platforms outside Australia.

Visit Surfshark

3200+ servers spread in 65 countries worldwide

RAM-based servers (good for privacy)

Strict no-logs policy

AES-256 (military-grade) encryption

Supports P2P

Smart kill switch

Split tunneling

Unlimited simultaneous devices support

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Offers malware protection
• Evades content restrictions effortlessly
• Budget-friendly pricing plans

Cons

• Distant servers may exhibit slow speeds

Surfshark is a relative newcomer to the VPN scene. However, in a short period, it’s managed to disrupt the market and achieve an excellent reputation by offering a top-notch service with the best value for money. This VPN can fit into all budgets without sacrificing the highest quality possible.

The server network has nodes in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney in Australia alone. However, the complete network has more than 3,200 nodes in 65 territories, and it’s still growing. Every server is suitable for streaming because the speeds and connections are reliable. This VPN can unblock SBS on Demand comfortably and many other video streaming platforms, including Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix. 

The software features a simple and intuitive interface, almost minimalistic, that even the most inexperienced user can easily understand. Some servers are optimized for BitTorrent traffic or MultiHop (Double VPN). Your security matters to this vendor. The customer service is outstanding.

The encryption is AES-256, so it follows the industry’s golden standard, and the service sticks to a strict no-log policy to protect user privacy. 

Other exciting features include complete protection against all types of IP leaks, a kill switch, and a malware and ad blocker called “CleanWeb.”

The apps and clients support Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and even Amazon Fire TV. Router installation is also possible, but it needs manual configuration.

3. NordVPN

The most robust VPN service with top-notch privacy features. It seamlessly bypasses resilient content blocking, allowing users to access geo-blocked services like SBS.

Visit NordVPN

5000+servers across 60 countries worldwide

AES 256-bit (equivalent to military-used) encryption

Tor compatible with Tor Over VPN feature

RAM-based servers

No-logs policy

Boasts a customizable kill switch

Customizable split tunneling

Supports 6 concurrent connections

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Lots of options for geek users
• Fast-speed connections
• Offers obfuscated servers

Cons

• Desktop app may be overwheling for new users

NordVPN’s extensive server network (5000+ servers in 60 countries) includes almost 200 servers in Australia alone, distributed along five of the country’s main cities. In addition, this powerful VPN can unblock HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and other streaming platforms.

Customer service is beneficial and available at all times. In addition, the apps are friendly and make it easy for you to tweak your VPN experience easily.

The vendor has a strict no-logs policy, AES-256 encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, Double VPN servers, Onion over VPN servers, and a few more groups of specialized servers (like static IP or P2p).

There are VPN apps and clients for Linux, Android, macOS, iOS, and Windows.

4. Private Internet Access (PIA)

An overall complete VPN vendor that operates servers around the world. It has robust unblocking features that help you access SBS on Demand from anywhere.

Visit PIA

A large network of over 23,000 VPN servers present in 82+ countries

Peer to Peer connections allowed on most servers servers

Secure connection with reliable encryption; AES 128-bits and 256-bits

Robust protection against malware and adware with in-built MACE

Enforces a policy of zero logs

Runs on RAM-only VPN servers (benefits privacy)

The split tunneling feature works as expected

Boasts a feature-rich kill switch

Each account allows connection to ten simultaneous devices

30 days no-questions-asked money-back guarantee

Pros

• The best value for money with multi-device protection
• Has multiple servers in USA
• Has built-in ad-blocking and malware protection

Cons

• Apps still lacking mainstream features

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the best-performing VPNs with affordable subscription packages. It offers a variety of excellent features, such as a strict no-logs policy to ensure that your private information is not accessible to third parties. You can also choose from its wide variety of servers, amounting to 23,000+ in over 84 countries worldwide. 

With the split tunneling feature, you can choose to route some of your network traffic through a secure tunnel while leaving the rest on the local network. This feature is quite helpful when performing sensitive tasks such as online banking while still wanting to remain secure. 

The automatic kill switch is another great feature. If the VPN detects a lost connection, the feature automatically disconnects you from the internet to ensure your identity is not revealed. 

Furthermore, AES 256-bit encryption is quite powerful. It is the same encryption standard government authorities and military groups use to ensure maximum data protection. Therefore, when you add a no-logs policy to the list of features, you’re sure that no one can access your identifiable data. The fact that PIA is open source shows its reliability and trustworthiness. This is because it avails the code to the public for scrutiny. Also, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the services risk-free.

How we picked the best VPNs for unblocking SBS on Demand

The VPN market is flooded with options, and each vendor is different. Unfortunately, many of them (in fact, most of them) will not be up to the task of streaming SBS on Demand outside Australia. So we did our homework to find only the best VPNs for watching SBS on Demand from abroad. We considered the following factors:

• Australian servers. Even the most potent VPN will be useless to see SBS on Demand if it can’t provide you with an Australian IP address. And a single server is never enough. So we considered only vendors whose server network had plenty of servers in Australia.
• Speed. Video streams need high speeds, so we chose only those VPNs whose speeds are high enough to support an HD video stream without lagging or buffering, even when the servers in question are physically far away.
• Versatility. While the SBS content is broad and abundant, you’ll probably want to see something different sooner or later. So, we picked VPNs that can also deal with the geo-restrictions of other video streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and more. The three VPNs suggested above are the best to unblock numerous video streaming services, including SBS.
• Security. Security is at the heart of a VPN’s purpose, so we only considered the options with the best encryption, a kill switch, and watertight networks that do not leak IP addresses in any way.
• Ease of use. VPNs are not technical luxuries anymore. They are a digital necessity; as such, every type of user should be able to use one intuitively.

Can I watch SBS on Demand with a free VPN?

Free VPNs are problematic in several ways. And using them for video streaming is even trickier when it’s possible at all.

The first problem with free VPNs is that they usually have small server networks. Since an Australian server is essential to unblock SBS on Demand, you’ll probably have difficulty finding a free VPN with a network with a helpful server.

The second problem is that free VPNs attract lots of users. But, at the same time, they have relatively few servers available. This combination is disastrous because the servers they have are overworked.

As a result, connecting to one can be very difficult, and the link is not stable enough to last for more than a few minutes. Many free VPNs try to manage this issue by limiting your bandwidth or data. So even if you can see content from SBS on Demand (which is highly doubtful anyway), you won’t be able to see it for more than a few minutes, suffering from low resolutions and high buffering. That makes them a big no if you wonder where to stream movies or shows, especially on advertisements-supported free streaming sites like SBS.

But free VPNs pose worse problems than poor functionality.

Free VPNs tend to overlook privacy and security issues, and their customer support barely exists. Some of them don’t provide encryption, let alone a kill switch.

The worst problem with most free VPNs is that their business model consists of keeping user logs they can later sell to advertisers and other data miners. So, they are not in business to protect your privacy but to turn it into the commodity they trade.

What can I watch on SBS on Demand in January 2024?

With SBS, you can enjoy a wide variety of movies, TV shows, live sports, and other popular TV channels. Here’s a list of what to watch on SBS in January 2024:

What are the SBS channels?

SBS has a couple of channels where you can enjoy content. They include:

• NITV
• SBS Food
• SBS
• SBS World Movies
• SBS Viceland
• SBS Radios 1, 2, and 3
• SBS PopDesi
• SBS PopAsia
• SBS Chill
• Arabic24

What devices does SBS On Demand work on?

SBS has great compatibility as you can enjoy the streaming service on various devices, including:

• Android Smart TV
• Amazon Firestick
• Chromecast
• Roku
• PS3 and PS4
• Windows and Mac OS using a browser
• Android
• iPhone
• Xbox One and Xbox 360

Why is SBS on Demand not working?

Sometimes, you may experience problems with SBS. Some of the common issues include:

• Loading issue: This is associated with a poor network connection. Check your WiFi or mobile data to ascertain it’s okay.
• Black/ White Screen: You can fix the issue by rebooting our device.
• Login issue: Give it a few minutes before retrying again. 
• Installation error: Confirm that your connection is okay to resolve this problem. 
• Notifications: Your notifications could be disabled. To enable notifications, go to Apps> SBS on Demand> Notifications> Enable

Conclusion

SBS on Demand is very popular and highly demanded by Australian citizens living or traveling abroad. The problem is that your passport won’t grant you access to this video-streaming service. In addition, you need to be in Australia, or the SBS servers will reject your connection on the grounds of copyright agreements.

However, enjoying the SBS on Demand video content is still possible outside Australia. All you need to do is to persuade the SBS platform that you are in Australia. A reliable VPN service will do that for you by giving you an Australian IP address that will open the SBS doors for you, wherever you are.

Unblocking SBS on Demand while away from Australia is an excellent reason to get a top-notch VPN subscription. That is so because we also believe that every internet user in our day and age should always be on a VPN, so every reason that gets you it is good enough as far as we are concerned.

The three VPNs we suggested in this guide are the best in the market for any task you need. So, we encourage you to give VPNs a chance. You’ll see very quickly how they will enhance all your digital activities.

So, a great VPN will get you the SBS on-demand movies and shows you want. But it will also help you achieve any internaut’s essential goal: staying safe.

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