Last Updated on December 15, 2023
How to Watch CBeebies Online Abroad – BBC iPlayer
For any parent of young children in the UK, there’s one channel that’s probably watched more than any other- it’s called CBeebies. It’s the channel which the BBC designed specifically for pre-schoolers and broadcasts most of the day. The channel is well respected and has won many broadcasting awards for it’s wonderful children’s entertainment. It’s probably no exaggeration to state that it’s probably saved a few relationships over the years too!
It’s packed with not only entertaining but educational content for young children. What’s better is it has no advertising at all, so you don’t spend hours fending off requests for overpriced toys every few minutes either. It’s a wonderful resource and hopefully something that will endure all the talk of reducing the scope of the BBC. There are few enough non-commercial resources for young children, and it would be a tragedy to lose one of the best.
My children are too old for it now, but it is a fantastic resource for any parent of young children. They even structure the programmes towards evening and finish with a Time for bed song – worked a treat for both mine. Although if you’re watching the CBeebies live stream then the UK the timings might be a little wrong if you watch it live. It’s so good that we would worry when away from home, as it was so important to my little one’s bed time routines (bad parenting alert).
Watch CBeebies in the USA
Unfortunately for anyone outside the UK, including parents on holiday – all the BBC site is blocked as soon as you leave the United Kingdom. There would have been some access across the European Union if Britain has stayed in the EU through their digital marketplace initiatives but that obviously didn’t happen now. Our realization came with two small children in a holiday apartment called Bahama Bay in Florida. I plugged in my faithful Roku, a small portable media streamer, and attempted to login to my BBC iPlayer account in order to watch CBeebies in USA.
It didn’t work, instead of something like this – I got a message informing me that BBC iPlayer was not available outside the United Kingdom.
CBeebies Bedtime Hour
This came as a huge shock, it never occurred to us that something online wouldn’t be accessible because of our location. After all the internet is a global communication network, why are their blocks and barriers? There are actually loads of them, it’s a common practice among many of the biggest websites and is known as geo-targeting or geo-blocking. Basically, whenever you visit a website, your location is determined by checking your IP address. Some sites just use this information for marketing and research but many control what you can or can’t see based on your location.
Almost all large media sites operate this technology partly due to licensing restrictions (but mostly to maximise profits). All the British TV sites like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and so on are only available in the United Kingdom. All the major US media sites are only accessible from the USA and so on. It happens pretty much everywhere; your physical location determines whether you can access and stream most of these media sites. It happens on other sites too, but the media companies definitely lead the way.
Fortunately, there is a solution which actually works in the vast majority of these situations. It’s something that millions of people have been using every day to gain access to their favorite TV shows online. I’ve been using it for many years too ever since that holiday in Florida when we got locked out of CBeebies.
So, what’s the option, what is the method, the workaround to get access to the BBC when abroad?
How to Watch CBeebies Abroad
To watch CBeebies you need to get access to BBC iPlayer. This is site where all the live TV channels and archives including CBeebies and CBBC (for older children) are hosted. To get access you need two things a BBC user account and to connect from a UK IP address.
It’s much easier to see it on screen, so here’s a video demonstrating that all is not lost. There’s a very simple way to watch CBeebies from anywhere in the world – just watch this video – How to Watch CBeebies Outside UK.
So, the simplest way to watch CBeebies abroad is to change your IP address to a British one. You can do this through a variety of methods but the easiest is to use a proxy or VPN server.
If you’re interested in subscribing to the solution demonstrated in the video – this page goes to their special offer section where you can pick up the latest discounts. These do change so check in and grab a deal that suits you. I literally use my NordVPN subscription every day!
FAQ – Watching CBeebies Online
Here’s a few questions I’ve had on this site, I’ve posted the answers here in case anyone else is interested.
Can We watch CBeebies Live?
If you use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, you can stream the CBeebies channel live as well as watching favourite shows on demand. Remember the channel is designed around a GMT timeline so bedtime hour might not match up with your location!
Can You Watch CBeebies in the USA?
Yes, simply find a compatible VPN and connect to a UK server before connecting. The VPN will hide your location and make it look like you’re in the UK. You’ll need to create a BBC account (free) and you can use all the site including CBeebies.
What’s the Best VPN for CBeebies?
Only certain VPNs work with BBC iPlayer in 2023 as many have been blocked. It’s important to check that your chosen VPN allows access to BBC before you subscribe for any period of time. We’ve been using NordVPN for many years to access and there are a few more that work perfectly.
What are the most Popular CBeebies TV Shows?
Every child will have their favorites, but these are some of the most popular CBeebies shows ever broadcast.
- Teletubbies
- In The Night Garden
- Something Special
- Mr. Tumble
- Postman Pat
- Thomas and Friends
- Bob the Builder
- Peppa Pig
- Bing
- The Octonauts
- Hey Duggee
- Sarah & Duck
- Go Jetters
- Topsy and Tim
- Charlie and Lola
- Pocoyo
- The Twirlywoos
- Bluey
- Peter Rabbit
- The Furchester Hotel.
Some are broadcast live at the moment but the majority will be available to stream from the CBeebies archive.
Do I Need a BBC iPlayer Account?
Yes, like most streaming platforms you need an account on BBC iPlayer before you can stream anything. Don’t worry though the account is free just ensure you have a UK connection before creating your account. You’ll need a UK postcode (anyone will do) and you must say you have a UK tv license (there’s no check).
Do I need a UK TV license?
When you use the BBC iPlayer site you’ll be asked if you have a UK TV license. These are only available in the UK, however there’s no check – just say yes and everything will work. There are no plans to implement any validation outside the UK. You must have on in the UK though or you risk a large fine.
What are Geo-Blocks?
This is the technology that stops you enjoying CBeebies USA or from anywhere outside the UK. Basically, the websites determine your location from your IP address. If it’s in the wrong location, then you’re blocked automatically from using the site. These are geographical blocks implemented by so many of the largest websites.
