American TV in France: US Channels and the VPNs That Unblock Them

Our tests ran from Europe, so the results match what a connection in France sees. Without a VPN, NBC, ABC, and CBS showed region messages. On a New York server, NordVPN unblocked each of them, including CBS News 24/7. NBC, ABC, PBS, and Peacock unblocked on Proton VPN and ExpressVPN too, but CBS detected both on their New York servers.

Steps to Stream US Channels From France

Open the VPN app, connect to New York, and reload the US site with its cookies deleted. New York is the nearest large US city to France, and ping measured 113 to 118 ms there on the three VPNs. The site then treats the connection as American and replaces its US-only block with the live player. PBS, NBC, and the free news streams from CBS and ABC played with no account.

ABC’s full live channel requires a login from a US TV provider, and Fox worked during its three-day trial. When a network detects the VPN, a server in a different US city usually fixes it. CBS played with Proton VPN and ExpressVPN on their Seattle servers. Paid services work with an account created in the US. The sign-up pages for YouTube TV, Hulu, and Peacock appeared on the three VPNs, and each requested a US payment card.

US Services With French Versions

Several US platforms operate separate French services, so a VPN is only required for the ones that don’t.

• Netflix: one subscription works in both countries, but France has its own catalog. A US server switches the same account to the American library, the way viewers change their Netflix region elsewhere.
• Paramount+: available in France since December 2022, with a French catalog.
• HBO Max: launched in France in 2024, so HBO series stream locally.
• Disney+: the French service has its own library, and some US titles differ.
• US-only: Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and the network websites have no French version and require a US IP address.

New York Server Results

Figures from a Windows 11 computer in Europe during our October round, against a 190.36 Mbps baseline. Every VPN unblocked NBC, ABC, PBS, Peacock, and Netflix US, so the table shows only the differences.

Top VPNs for American TV in France

1. NordVPN: Best for CBS and Hulu from France, with no detection from CBS in New York.
2. Proton VPN: Best for state-by-state US Servers, covering 18 states and Washington, DC.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for quickest connections, at one to two seconds on Windows.

1. NordVPN: Best for CBS and Hulu From France

In New York, NordVPN delivered 179.88 Mbps, and it was the only VPN CBS News 24/7 accepted there. Hulu and Peacock unblocked on it, while Pluto TV and Prime Video detected it occasionally. NordVPN offers 55 US cities, among them a New York server group suited to East Coast channels.

On Windows, NordVPN occasionally failed to connect when another VPN app was installed on the same PC, even unused. A diagnostics check and a new login fixed it each time. The two-year Basic plan comes to less than $3.50 a month, and a year after renewal costs roughly $139.

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2. Proton VPN: Best for State-by-State US Servers

Proton VPN measured 145.61 Mbps in New York, and its server there unblocked Netflix US, HBO Max, and Peacock. Hulu, Disney+, and Pluto TV blocked it, so viewers who rely on those services are better served by NordVPN. Its app groups US servers by state, which makes a switch from New York to Seattle quick when a site detects the connection.

On a two-year billing, the VPN Plus plan averages below $3 a month, and renewals cost about $84 a year. Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, and Securitum has audited its no-logs policy each year since 2022.

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3. ExpressVPN: Best for Quickest Connections

ExpressVPN connected in one to two seconds, the shortest wait we timed, and its New York server recorded 163.66 Mbps. It unblocked Hulu and Pluto TV, and Disney+ worked through location spoofing in the browser extension. The app offers 63 US locations to try when one is detected.

Customization is limited, and there’s still no multi-hop mode. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan averages under $3 a month across 28 months, then renews at close to $100 a year. Our page of ExpressVPN discounts lists current offers.

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Conclusion

France already has local versions of Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+. The VPN is for Hulu, Peacock, live US TV services, and the network sites. NordVPN covered that list best in our tests, including CBS in New York and Hulu. Proton VPN works for US Netflix, HBO Max, and Peacock, and its renewal price is lower than NordVPN’s and ExpressVPN’s.

ExpressVPN is the quickest to connect and offers the most US locations to switch between. Other countries are covered in our US TV abroad guide, and our streaming VPN rankings compare more options.

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