Why can't I ever watch what I want to watch?!

[rifling]

This is obviously a total first world problem but it is annoying me that we have Netflix, Amazon prime, and Now TV (not always at the same time). We live in Italy. I want to watch Motherland, Call the Midwife and old films! I can never find anything that I actually want to watch. Why won't the BBC actually set up a payable service for overseas viewers? Is there a platform for old films that I haven't discovered yet? There seems to be so much choice these days but actually all of these platforms seem to be selling more or less the same thing and it's not what I want to watch. No wonder people use VPNs!

Not that we've ever found. We use VPNs.

Old films are out there but on things like Disney Plus etc. I must admit for how much 'choice' there is nowadays, it is the same old shite on every service.

Use a VPN!

Use a VPN!

I feel too guilty! I want to pay and watch in peace!

Can you get Britbox? Might be worth doing a free trial if you can

Why would you feel guilty? It’s perfectly legal

Why would you feel guilty? It’s perfectly legal
Don't you need a tv licence?

Can you get Britbox?
No, unfortunately not. Although I guess I could with a VPN?

Britbox?

Sorry ignore that. Can you get it on a fire stick?

YANBU OP. I am abroad and would actually pay the licence fee if it meant that I could watch iPlayer.

Is there BBC first in Italy? That has Call the midwife and Motherland in the Netherlands.

Used to live abroad and had similar frustrations. The problem is that the BBC does not have a license to broadcast abroad and so is not allowed to. Some expat colleagues used a Freesat box which was bought in UK then set up to receive British free to air satellite channels (works in Western Europe. VPN's needed for streaming TV. Yes, illegal and will probably be blocked at some point. With the global economy and people living/working abroad it would help if the various countries could agree to allow each other's TV.

Firestick?

I wonder if the BBC realise that they could charge people outside the UK for access to services? If there is demand it could be a good source of income.

It does grate on me that so many BBC services are already available abroad but I am paying for it and will be taken to court if I don't!!

I totally agree @sluj

I don't live in the UK but would love to be able to access iPlayer (and the other catch-up services) that are available in the UK.

I have absolutely no issue with paying the licence fee - I would even be prepared to pay extra to be able to access everything abroad.

We have a smart TV and can access the majority of the Freeview channels (including BBC) via satellite with no problem and without having to pay.

The BBC have massively missed a trick here.

You could pay for a VPN to ease your guilt? I personally would just use the vpn

The BBC is missing a trick. I am paying 3.75 euros extra a month for BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, BBC Entertainment and BBC First. BBC1 and BBC2 are included by default. The value of this all to me is at least 10-15 euro.

I'm in Italy and just pay for a VPN now. In fact I'm about to continue with Line Of Duty.
Netflix Italia used to have Call the Midwife though. Don't know if it's removed it.

@Geamhradh Could you tell me which VPNs work? I have heard that a lot of them have been blocked now. I did watch the first few series of Call the Midwife but they haven't had the last four (ish) seasons though.

The BBC is missing a trick. I am paying 3.75 euros extra a month for BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, BBC Entertainment and BBC First. BBC1 and BBC2 are included by default.
What do you mean extra? Which service is this?

Express.
I was amazed, I used a few years ago that were dreadful, but this is brilliant. Just need more hours in the day to binge now!

Is there BBC first in Italy?
No. There used to be a BBC channel but they seem to have abandoned Italy now.

@Geamradh - thanks!

Netflix here had Motherland. And Prime often has Channel 4 shows so lots of British programmes make their way round to somewhere else eventually.
What sort of films do you mean, maybe someone can advise where they are online? To me old films mean black and white type things but to someone else it may mean early 2000's romcoms.

It does really annoy me that foreigners like you (you have now left the UK) are watching for free whilst we have to pay a TV license.

I do hope they abolish the TV license soon and set up a subscription service so you can pay for yourselves.