CBS sports a world of entertainment you won’t be able to access abroad. Many Americans overseas struggle to watch CBS outside the USA because of annoying but justified geo-restrictions. It’s all about licensing rights, agreements, and other sort of “legal” stuff.
The good news is that such things don’t have to hold you back. You can freely watch CBS abroad and enjoy Survivor, CBS Mornings, Tracker, Big Brother, and tons of other shows and series. Interested in finding out how? Refer to our detailed guide below.
Unblocking CBS Outside the US: A Quick Guide
Accessing this American channel outside this country boils down to using a VPN.
People online have discovered that NordVPN works specifically well thanks to nearly 2,000 servers and unrestricted bandwidth for streaming. It’s also free for 30 days thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. Here’s how to make everything work:
- Subscribe to NordVPN and choose any of its 2-year deals to save over 70%.
- Download and install NordVPN on your device.
- Open NordVPN and connect to any US VPN server.
- Visit CBS, log in or register, and kickstart your entertainment!
Can’t Watch CBS Abroad? Here’s Why
It’s usually hard to explain precisely why some websites are unavailable outside specific regions. Geo-restrictions are there for a reason, which usually lies in certain content-related licenses. In other words, some content is allowed only in one or more countries.
CBS is an American TV channel and we know you can access US TV channels abroad with a VPN.
However, it’s region-locked by default because it’s allowed to broadcast only in America, likely according to numerous streaming rights signed with the copyright holders.
CBS doesn’t own all of its content. The majority belongs to third-party companies. They dictate how the content will be handled and their word is absolute. Violating these rights would yield million-dollar fines, which would jeopardize CBS and ruin its reputation.
We can say the same about all other services – you name them. Hulu, Netflix, HBO, Hotstar, and many more – they all operate under the same conditions.
How are these geo-blocks enforced? For the start, each website picks up your IP address and reads its origin.
Is your IP address within the 51 states? Good – you can enter the site. Is the IP from somewhere else? Congrats on your bad luck – you can’t watch CBS abroad. As implied a few seconds ago, accessing region-locked TV channels can be done with a VPN service.
How to Unblock CBS Outside the USA With a VPN
A VPN can trick the websites into seeing you as if you’re somewhere else. As said, everything revolves around your IP address and changing it.
Using a VPN, you can connect to an American server, obtain a US IP address, and access CBS abroad, no matter the location.
People who’ve done this reported they had the most luck with NordVPN. Looking at its server park, it’s easy to see why. For one, it has around 2,000 servers in this country. Two, it offers no bandwidth caps, which allows them to watch CBS abroad endlessly.
Three, the VPN is risk-free because of a 30-day money-back guarantee. Some users have reported that ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access also worked well! However, we’ll stick with NordVPN in this guide and explain how to access CBS outside the USA.
Rest assured, the same principle applies to any other VPN – be it ExpressVPN, PIA, or an entirely different one.
1. Installing a VPN
Regardless of the provider you pick, a subscription is a must. NordVPN is easy to get at a discounted price, dropped by 70% and more for its 2-year plan.
Simply go to its website, select the plan, and pay for it using a preferred payment vendor. Easy stuff.
From there, download the VPN to your device. You can use any device, as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA cover Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. Once the VPN is installed (like any other app), open, and sign in with your email and password.
2. Obtaining a US IP Address
It’s smooth sailing from here. In the case of NordVPN, you need to click “More Connection Options“, scroll down the server list, and locate the United States. Click on it once and you’ll be connected in no time. This is how to get an IP address from the US.
3. Watching CBS Outside America
Once your VPN is set up, accessing CBS is straightforward. If you already have an account, simply sign in and start watching immediately. If you don’t, creating a new account is quick and easy: just provide your email, a secure password, and a few basic details.
Keep in mind that CBS requires a U.S. postal code to complete registration. This is not a problem, there are plenty of online generators that can provide a valid US ZIP code. Simply copy one into the required field. You won’t even need to verify the account via email. Once your account is set up, you can enjoy CBS from anywhere in the world without any restrictions.
Why CBS Live TV Isn’t Working Abroad?
The situation is a bit different when it comes to Live TV. CBS offers plenty of on-demand content, which is accessible with a US IP address. The same goes for Live TV. However, some Live TV channels won’t work unless you sign in via your TV provider. This is a big issue.
If you’re from the USA, you can easily sign in to your TV provider and enjoy. Some of the supported ones include Xfinity, Hulu, YouTube TV, and DirecTV stream.
But what if you’re from the UK? In that case, it’s impossible to sign up for American TV providers.
Besides, all of them require a US payment method, which, if you don’t have one, you can kiss some of the CBS content goodbye. The solution relies on subscribing to Paramount Plus abroad, which can also be used as a TV provider that provides access to CBS.
Another option is Hulu and we picked both because they have gift card support. This means you can use a third-party site to buy a Hulu or Paramount+ gift card and use it to pay for either Hulu or Paramount Plus subscription. This would provide access to Live TV.
When prompted to sign in via a TV provider, you can rely on Hulu or directly access CBS abroad via Paramount+. If you don’t want to go through the hoops, you can still sift through many of CBS’ on-demand content. Live TV is unnecessary, especially if you don’t have a TV provider because it’ll end up costing you a lot more.
Is It Legal to Access CBS Outside the USA?
It is legal. However, it’s good to know that there’s a reason you can’t watch CBS abroad. As stated earlier, it’s related to licensing agreements and streaming rights that the platform can’t breach.
In a way, you’re going against its terms and conditions because you’re unblocking the content you shouldn’t be able to see. On the other hand, CBS doesn’t have an anti-VPN policy, so you won’t get banned even if you’re detected using a VPN.
The worst that can happen is staring at the geo-restriction error and not being able to access the site. In that case, you can switch to NordVPN, try again, and access CBS outside the UK promptly. Of course, the Gizmodo team can’t recommend violating copyrights. If you’re going to do this, do it at your own responsibility and discretion.
Can I Watch CBS Outside America for Free?
Yes, you can because CBS is free. Registering for an account is straightforward and you can get into it right away. The problem of geo-restriction can be rectified with a VPN for streaming, such as NordVPN, that will provide you with an American IP address.
If you want to watch Live TV on CBS – at least the majority of the content – you’ll have to pay. As said, some Live TV content requires a sign-in via a TV provider from the US. None of them are free. But what about free VPNs? Can they unblock CBS outside the USA?
We’d say yes and no. Providers with US servers can sometimes get a “pass” and unblock the platform. In particular, PrivadoVPN seems to work well but offers only 10 GB of monthly bandwidth, which will be spent quickly if you often stream. What about others?
Watch CBS Abroad for Free With NordVPN
Hide.me is another provider with US servers. It has a free plan with unlimited bandwidth, alas, pretty slow speed. Proton VPN also offers US servers but doesn’t let you choose them in the app. Some of our team members are in Europe, and whenever they connect to a VPN, they’re assigned a Dutch IP address.
Other free providers aren’t recommended for privacy concerns. Hola VPN, Urban VPN, Betternet, and others are logging tons of data and care very little about your privacy. Worst of all, they’re not guaranteed to work either, so you’ll hand out your data in vain.
CBS Not Working With a VPN? Here Are Some Fixes
Unblocking CBS is generally easier than Netflix, Prime Video, or ESPN+. However, if you still see a geo-block message, it’s time to troubleshoot. Here’s what you can do to regain access:
- Use your VPN’s browser extension: Extensions like NordVPN’s provide reliable location spoofing and WebRTC leak prevention. Enable both features, connect to a U.S. server, and visit CBS. You should be able to stream without interruptions.
- Clear your browser data: Delete cookies and cache, restart your browser, and revisit CBS. Residual browser data can reveal your true location, so clearing it often resolves access issues.
- Try a different US server: Sometimes certain servers are flagged. Experiment with multiple American servers to find one that works. This tip is useful if you’re trying to watch CBS from the UK as well.
- Switch VPN protocols: Modern, secure protocols like NordLynx, Lightway, or WireGuard are optimized for streaming and speed, ensuring a smooth experience.
- Change your browser: If one browser doesn’t work, try another (Edge instead of Chrome), or Brave instead of Firefox. Simple browser changes often solve stubborn access issues.
- Contact VPN support: If all else fails, reach out to your VPN provider. Their support team can troubleshoot and guide you to a working configuration, often faster than trial-and-error.
By following these steps, you’ll maximize your chances of streaming CBS smoothly from anywhere in the world.
Conclusion
Stepping outside the American borders doesn’t have to result in the inability to watch CBS abroad. You’ve learned that a simple IP change to the US yields excellent results and unblocks the streaming platform in an instant. However, you will need a VPN.
The most popular option is NordVPN, but ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are interesting choices too. You get the deal. This base principle lets you unblock restricted content and stream it with no red lines, no matter where you are.
Unblock CBS Anywhere With NordVPN
FAQs
Do I need a CBS account to watch content abroad?
Yes. While some clips may play without logging in, most CBS content requires an account. Creating one is straightforward: just provide your email, password, and a US ZIP code. Verification is usually minimal.
Do free VPNs work for CBS?
Free VPNs are often unreliable. They tend to have slower speeds, limited servers, and are frequently blocked by CBS. For consistent streaming, a reputable paid VPN (like NordVPN) is recommended.
Can I watch CBS on my mobile or Smart TV?
Yes, most VPNs support mobile apps and routers, allowing you to access CBS on smartphones, tablets, or Smart TVs. Simply connect the VPN to an American server before opening the CBS app or website.