From Europe with no VPN, every US channel we tried showed a region message. NordVPN‘s New York server unblocked NBC, ABC, PBS, Fox, and CBS News 24/7 at 179.88 Mbps. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN unblocked the same networks except CBS, which detected both in New York. Peacock and Hulu showed their sign-up pages on a US IP address, but subscribing requires a US card.
US TV in the UK: September 2026 Setup
- Subscribe to NordVPN, then download its app for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.
- Connect to a New York server from the United States list.
- Delete the channel site’s cookies and reload NBC, PBS, or the US service you use.
- Sign in and press play. Paid services require an existing US account or a US card.
How to Watch US TV Live in the UK
Connect to a US server, clear the site’s cookies, and refresh. We used New York, the closest large US city to the UK, and ping on the three VPNs measured between 113 and 118 ms. The US version of a site normally replaces the video not available in your country message straight away. No account was required for PBS, CBS News 24/7, ABC News Live, or NBC.
ABC’s main live channel requires a US TV provider login, and Fox played on its three-day free trial. If a site detects the VPN, switch to a server in another US city. CBS detected ExpressVPN and Proton VPN in New York and played on both from Seattle. Our guides to CBS in the UK and ABC in the UK cover each network, and Paramount+ from abroad covers CBS’s paid service.
Hulu, Peacock, and YouTube TV showed their sign-up pages instead of a region block on all three VPNs. Each one required a US card to subscribe, so accounts created before a trip are the easiest to use. The American Netflix catalog in the UK works with an existing account.
How to Watch USA Network in the UK
USA Network has no UK channel, so its live feed requires a US live TV service and a US IP address. Since January 2026, it belongs to Versant, the company NBCUniversal moved its cable networks into. The live channel is on Sling TV‘s Blue package, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo. Its own site, usanetwork.com, accepts a US TV provider login.
Peacock has USA Network shows on demand, and it unblocked on NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN. WWE SmackDown, one of the channel’s biggest shows, streams on Netflix in the UK with Raw and NXT, so UK viewers can watch it without a VPN. Our WWE on Netflix guide lists the other countries where all three stream.
US Channel Results Compared
New York downloads from our September tests on a Windows 11 PC in Europe with a 190.36 Mbps connection. NBC, ABC, PBS, Telemundo, Peacock, and Netflix US unblocked on every VPN; the columns show where the three differed.
| VPN | New York download | CBS News 24/7 in New York | Hulu | Disney+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 179.88 Mbps | Unblocked | Unblocked | Unblocked via extension |
| Proton VPN | 145.61 Mbps | Detected | Blocked | Blocked |
| ExpressVPN | 163.66 Mbps | Detected | Unblocked | Unblocked via extension |
Best VPNs to Watch American TV From the UK
- NordVPN: Best for US Networks and Streaming Apps, the one VPN CBS didn’t detect in New York.
- Proton VPN: Best Value After the First Term, renewing at about $84 a year.
- ExpressVPN: Best for US Server Choice, with 63 US locations.
1. NordVPN: Best for US Networks and Streaming Apps
Pros
- Location spoofing extension
- Dedicated US IP option
- Double VPN servers
- Split tunneling
Cons
- Clashes with idle VPNs
- Steep renewal price
NordVPN measured 179.88 Mbps on its New York server, 5.5% below our baseline, and CBS News 24/7 played there without detection. It unblocked every US network and streaming service we tried, and Disney+ worked once we enabled the browser extension’s location spoofing. The app lists 55 US cities, so another server is close at hand when a site blocks one.
Windows caused the only problem. With a second VPN installed but idle, NordVPN occasionally wouldn’t connect, and fixing it meant a diagnostics check plus a fresh login. NordVPN’s two-year Basic plan is priced below $3.50 a month, and renewal is about $139 a year.
2. Proton VPN: Best Value After the First Term
Pros
- US servers by state
- Secure Core option
- Split tunneling
Cons
- Hulu blocked it
- No Smart DNS
Proton VPN‘s New York server measured 145.61 Mbps, 23.5% below our baseline. It unblocked Peacock, HBO Max, and Netflix US, but Hulu and Disney+ blocked it, so it doesn’t fit Hulu + Live TV subscribers. The app lists US servers by state, 18 of them plus Washington, DC.
On the two-year term, the VPN Plus plan is under $3 a month. It renews at about $84 a year, below ExpressVPN’s roughly $100 and NordVPN’s $139. Proton VPN has no Smart DNS, so a smart TV without VPN app support requires a router setup.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for US Server Choice
Pros
- Wide US location list
- Native Apple TV app
- Quick connections
Cons
- Limited custom settings
- No multi-hop servers
ExpressVPN lists 63 US locations, more than NordVPN’s 55 cities, including Washington, DC, and Tampa. Its New York server measured 163.66 Mbps, and connections took one to two seconds on Windows. It unblocked Hulu outside the US, and Disney+ played only with location spoofing enabled in its browser extension.
ExpressVPN offers little customization, with few protocol and port settings and no multi-hop servers. The first 28 months of ExpressVPN’s Basic plan cost about $84, under $3 a month, and each renewal year costs about $100.
Free VPNs for US TV
The free versions of Windscribe and PrivadoVPN unblocked ABC and CBS on their US servers, enough for a news bulletin or a single episode. Their free versions limit data to 10 GB a month. At the limit, Windscribe cuts off, and PrivadoVPN slows to 1 Mbps, and HD video uses about 3 GB an hour. Proton VPN’s free version assigns its server at random, so a US IP address isn’t guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
A VPN passes the IP address check, but paid US services still require a US card at sign-up. Set up those accounts before leaving the US where possible. Start with NordVPN for US TV in the UK. CBS didn’t detect it in New York, and it unblocked Hulu and Peacock in our streaming tests.
Proton VPN costs less after the first term but blocks Hulu and Disney+. It fits viewers who mainly watch Peacock, HBO Max, and the free networks. ExpressVPN has the longest US server list when a site blocks one city. For other countries, our guide to US TV abroad applies the same setup, and our VPN rankings compare more VPNs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I watch USA Network in the UK?
You can stream USA Network in the UK through a US live TV subscription, such as Sling TV's Blue package, using a US IP address. Peacock offers its shows on demand.
Is it legal to watch American TV in the UK with a VPN?
Yes, using a VPN is legal in the UK. Streaming services can block VPN connections or restrict accounts under their terms of use, but watching US TV through one isn't a criminal offense.
Which American TV channels are free to watch in the UK?
PBS, CBS News 24/7, and ABC News stream live at no cost with a US IP address. The full ABC channel is reserved for TV provider customers, and Fox runs a time-limited trial.
Do US streaming apps work in the UK?
No, US streaming apps detect UK IP addresses and show a region error. A US server removes the location block, though new subscriptions still require a US payment card.