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How can we get BBC?!

25 replies

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:14

We're in Vienna , in an AirBnB, and although we have Wi-Fi and an apparently a smart tv, we don’t have BBC. I really want to watch the election results on Thursday - does anyone have any ideas how we can do this? IPlayer doesn’t worK when you’re abroad. I have an iPhone, an iPad and DH has a Google phone. If that makes any difference!

OP posts:
NowyouhaveDunnett · 02/07/2024 21:16

Is there not a bbc news channel you can watch abroad?

CatherinedeBourgh · 02/07/2024 21:18

You'd need to use a VPN

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:19

Not on this tv, no. The best I can do is to access it via YouTube

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MiddleClassProblem · 02/07/2024 21:21

Use a vpn app on the telly or on the phone. If you are just checking in you can use a free 500mb but if you want to watch a lot then you’ll probably need to pay. We use nord when on holiday to watch sport etc on iPads/phones/tv via a fire stick but also used tunnel bear in the past.

ALittleDropOfRain · 02/07/2024 21:21

Look on the net for something called a VPN for UK. This makes it appear as though your device (e.g. iPad) is in the UK.

Otherwise live ticker on BBC website.

VWT5 · 02/07/2024 21:25

It irritates me no end OP, that we are all paying the licence fee at home, but can’t access what we are paying for whilst we happen to be travelling.

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:31

Don’t we need cables for vpn? <Shows ignorance>

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newrubylane · 02/07/2024 21:35

Can you get any of the other channels - ITV, C4, Sky News? BBC aren't the only ones showing election coverage.

CuriousGeorge80 · 02/07/2024 21:37

Just get a VPN. You just download an app once you e subscribed, it’s super easy. NordVPN is pretty decent I think.

ThisOldThang · 02/07/2024 21:42

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:14

We're in Vienna , in an AirBnB, and although we have Wi-Fi and an apparently a smart tv, we don’t have BBC. I really want to watch the election results on Thursday - does anyone have any ideas how we can do this? IPlayer doesn’t worK when you’re abroad. I have an iPhone, an iPad and DH has a Google phone. If that makes any difference!

You've failed to plan ahead...

My home router is a raspberry pi 4 running openwrt. That router runs the wireguard vpn protocol and my mobile devices are configured as clients.

I can connect to my router using the vpn and then access the internet as it I was at home. It allows me to access UK TV when abroad.

Do you have a laptop available? You could create a live USB of Linux Mint and then run the Hypnotix application to access UK TV streams. It's very good, but I've not tried using it abroad so it might not work.

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:47

No laptop. And we thought we would have good tv! Just goes to show …

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MiddleClassProblem · 02/07/2024 21:48

You can just use an app. No cables needed. You might be able to download the app on the smart tv but if not, you can use it on phones and tablets and watch on there.

ALittleDropOfRain · 02/07/2024 22:11

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:31

Don’t we need cables for vpn? <Shows ignorance>

No, it‘s software that goes straight on your device. It stands for Virtual Private Network. Also available as an app. It‘ll cost something (usually a monthly fee), and you‘ll need to make sure it covers UK. Look in the App Store for VPN.

Edit: Another option: might there be a YouTube live stream for the results?

seecrispseat · 02/07/2024 22:14

You can get sky news on YouTube if nothing else.

sofasofa42 · 02/07/2024 22:25

Download Nord vpn ( it's the best one) I think 20 dollars a year. You get several licenses with it. Install that on the smart tv then install the iPlayer app.
IPlayer is tricksy with the vpn's - so you need to re- set every so often - if you get a not available notification- this just means switching to another in UK ( turning it on and off)

When you leave take it all off their smart tv, and change your vpn password.

On a side note and I have this with bitter experience of the World Cup- iPlayer crashes with the football- a lot! Every Brit in Vienna will be doing this.

It's on at 6pm your time- find a friendly bar!!

I live abroad and stream everything so I know your pain. I now go to the local place with a tv and just hope that some of the friendly locals are in the mood to support England. I have got used to commentary not being English and even the locals translate it for me and say it's nonsense and bbc is better!!

mitogoshi · 02/07/2024 22:27

In the past you have been able to watch via the bbc news webpage overseas

BIWI · 03/07/2024 08:08

Thanks everyone for trying to help. We’ve emailed the owner of the Airbnb to see if they can help too. Otherwise I think it will just be using the website or YouTube. It’s more for the election than the football, so we won’t be in a bar for that!

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RobinHood19 · 03/07/2024 08:17

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:47

No laptop. And we thought we would have good tv! Just goes to show …

You probably do have good TV - the local and national channels! Whenever I’ve travelled for work to the UK (after moving somewhere else), I’ve never encountered the Austrian national channels or any other country‘s to be honest, except perhaps CNN and Al Jazeera - and even those are rare.

It‘s not the Airbnb‘s fault that they’re not providing a TV channel from a fairly small foreign country.

VPNs are fairly easy to set up. Download app on phone, choose country you want to “be” in (UK), then load the websites as usual and it should work. I have been watching Wimbledon this week on the BBC website in this way, with NordVPN.

Eyesopenwideawake · 03/07/2024 08:25

You can watch Sky on Youtube from anywhere. Other options are CNN UK and France 24 (which is in English).

Netaporter · 03/07/2024 08:28

I’d vote for expressVPN and connect it to your phone. Set the location country to the UK. You should then have a mirror screen function on the smart tv so you can cast iPlayer from that or your iPad.

Enjoy the holiday!

CelesteCunningham · 03/07/2024 08:33

BIWI · 02/07/2024 21:47

No laptop. And we thought we would have good tv! Just goes to show …

Why would good TV in Vienna include British news channels. 😂

Hope you get sorted. Sky news on YouTube (check today that it's working for you) and the BBC text feed will have you covered.

BIWI · 03/07/2024 11:23

FFS I'm not blaming the Airbnb or local tv! If anything it's me who is at fault. You know - assume 'makes an ass out of u and me'

That said it is unusual not to have even local channels - especially as Austria were playing in the Euros last night. Also unusual not to have CNN or BBC World.

OP posts:
BIWI · 03/07/2024 11:26

On the other hand we're blessed with a million K-Pop channels 😀

OP posts:
MendingTheNets · 03/07/2024 11:32

Just download a VPN if you want UK TV. Nord is good, and does a free trial plus you can use it on multiple devices. Click to connect to a UK server and all the UK apps such as iPlayer ITV, C4 etc will work as if you are at home. If you're watching on your phone and it doesn't work, put your phone into flight mode but keep WiFi on, that should fix it.

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