Every US channel we tried from Europe showed a region message, and every paid US service accepted only a US payment card. On New York servers, NordVPN unblocked CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, Fox, Telemundo, and ViX. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN unblocked the same channels except CBS, which detected them on every server we tried.
American Channels From Spain: 2026 Steps
- Subscribe to NordVPN on its website, then install the app.
- Connect to New York. East Coast servers are the closest US servers to Spain.
- Open CBS, ABC, NBC, or Telemundo in a browser or the network’s app.
- Pay for subscriptions with a US card. Spanish cards don’t complete the sign-up.
Streaming American Channels on a New York Server
Pick a New York server, connect, and then open the network’s site or app. US networks check for a US IP address before playback, and the New York server provides one. Our guide to how a VPN works explains the process.
Some live channels play without an account. Others, such as ABC’s live stream, require a login from a US TV provider, and paid services require their own subscription.
US Channels We Tested From Spain
- CBS: free live channels, including CBS News 24/7 and CBS Sports HQ, with no sign-in. Only NordVPN unblocked them.
- ABC: the three VPNs unblocked the site. Live TV requires a login from a TV provider such as fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV, and full episodes play without signing in a week after they premiere. Our ABC abroad guide covers the network in more detail.
- NBC and PBS: the three VPNs unblocked them.
- Fox: its 3-day trial played on the three VPNs.
- Telemundo and ViX: the Spanish-language services from NBCUniversal and TelevisaUnivision, unblocked on the three VPNs.
- Paid US services: our earlier streaming tests found Peacock, HBO Max, Prime Video, and American Netflix unblocked on the three VPNs, with Hulu blocking Proton VPN.
Comparing VPNs on US Channels From Spain
Speeds measured in October on each VPN’s New York server, from a Windows 11 PC in Europe with a 190.36 Mbps baseline.
| VPN | New York download | CBS live | ABC, NBC, PBS, Fox | Telemundo and ViX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 179.88 Mbps | Unblocked | Unblocked | Unblocked |
| Proton VPN | 145.61 Mbps | Detected | Unblocked | Unblocked |
| ExpressVPN | 163.66 Mbps | Detected | Unblocked | Unblocked |
Best VPNs for US TV in Spain
- NordVPN: Best for CBS live from Spain, with 179.88 Mbps in New York.
- Proton VPN: Best for renewal value, at about $84 a year after the first term.
- ExpressVPN: Best for fast connection times, at one to two seconds on Windows.
1. NordVPN: Best for CBS Live From Spain
Pros
- CBS Live unblocked
- Minimal New York slowdown
- Buffalo, Kansas City servers
Cons
- Big jump at renewal
- Second-year monthly increase
NordVPN unblocked CBS and the other channels we tried, and the New York download came in at 179.88 Mbps, a 5.5% loss from our baseline. Its US performance had no faults in our tests. Renewal is our only complaint. The Basic plan starts under $3.50 a month for 27 months and renews at about $139 a year.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Renewal Value
Pros
- Modest renewal price
- Telemundo and ViX unblocked
- ABC, NBC, PBS unblocked
Cons
- Detected by CBS
- Hulu blocked it
Proton VPN unblocked every channel we tried except CBS, which detected it on every New York server, and that disappointed us. Download speed in New York was 145.61 Mbps, a 23.5% loss. Two-year VPN Plus pricing starts under $3 a month, and renewal costs about $84 a year, compared to about $139 for NordVPN. Other budget VPNs are compared in our cheap VPN rankings.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Fast Connection Times
Pros
- Washington, DC servers
- NBC and PBS unblocked
- Kill switch passed tests
Cons
- CBS blocked on every server
- No MultiHop feature
ExpressVPN recorded 163.66 Mbps in New York, a 14.0% loss, and unblocked every channel except CBS. CBS detected it on each server we tried, a disappointing result for ExpressVPN. Its Windows connections were the quickest we’ve timed, and the app is simple to use. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is priced under $3 a month over 28 months. Later years cost close to $100.
When US Shows Air in Spain
For most of the year, US time zones compare with mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands like this:
- Eastern (New York, Miami): 6 hours behind Madrid
- Central (Chicago, Dallas): 7 hours behind
- Mountain (Denver): 8 hours behind
- Pacific (Los Angeles): 9 hours behind
- Canary Islands: one hour behind Madrid
US prime time, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, falls between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. in Madrid. The US moves its clocks forward two to three weeks before Europe in March and back one week after Europe in the fall, so the difference is an hour shorter during those weeks.
US Shows Available in Spain Without a VPN
Many US series already stream in Spain. SkyShowtime offers Paramount and Universal films and series, although its owners, Comcast and Paramount, opened a strategic review in September 2026 that doesn’t rule out closing it. HBO Max, Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix operate in Spain with their own catalogs. Live US networks, US news, and US-only catalogs still require a US IP address.
When a US Channel Blocks the VPN
- CBS detects the VPN: switching servers didn’t help on Proton VPN or ExpressVPN, so use NordVPN for CBS.
- A region message still appears: reconnect to New York, delete the site’s cookies, and refresh the page.
- ABC requires a TV provider: the same login applies to viewers in the US, and no VPN setting removes it.
- A paid sign-up fails: the service requires a US payment card, and a Spanish card won’t pass.
Free Accounts With US Servers
Windscribe and PrivadoVPN offer US locations without a subscription, and in our streaming tests they unblocked Peacock. Windscribe’s free account unblocked Netflix US as well. Data is capped at 10 GB a month on each, so HD viewing uses up the allowance in about three hours. See our free VPN rankings for their server lists.
Conclusion
NordVPN was the only VPN CBS didn’t detect, and nothing went wrong on its US servers, so it’s our pick despite the renewal increase. Proton VPN costs less over time, and ExpressVPN connects quickly, but neither passed the CBS test, which disappointed us. For other countries, see our guide to US TV abroad, and for the reverse direction, our Spanish TV in the USA guide. Our main best VPN rankings compare the three for everyday use.
US TV in Spain FAQs
Can you watch American TV in Spain?
Yes, American channels play in Spain once a VPN provides a US IP address. NordVPN unblocks CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, and Fox, and Proton VPN unblocks every major network except CBS.
Is CBS available in Spain?
No, CBS streams only to US IP addresses and detects many VPN servers. NordVPN's New York servers unblock its free news and sports streams, which require no account.
Can you pay for US streaming services with a Spanish card?
No, paid US streaming services accept only US payment cards. A VPN changes the IP address, but the billing check still requires a card issued in the US.
What time is US prime time in Spain?
Prime time on US East Coast networks starts at 2 a.m. in mainland Spain and ends at 5 a.m. In the Canary Islands, it's an hour earlier for most of the year.
Can you watch Telemundo in Spain?
Yes, Telemundo plays in Spain on a US server from a VPN such as NordVPN or Proton VPN. It blocks Spanish IP addresses, and so does ViX.
Is it legal to watch US TV with a VPN in Spain?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Spain. Streaming services restrict viewing by location in their terms, and the usual result of detection is a blocked stream.