How to Live Stream RTE Abroad (Outside of Ireland) in 2022
However, there's an easy solution — using a VPN. A VPN is a simple app that can change your virtual location to make you appear to be in Ireland, so you can watch RTÉ from anywhere.
My team and I tested 30 VPNs, and I recommend ExpressVPN for watching RTÉ. It has servers in Ireland that unblock all of its content and has speeds that offer bufferless streaming. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free yourself. If you find you're not entirely happy, it's extremely easy to get your money back.
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Why You Need a VPN to Watch RTÉ
RTÉ is only available in Ireland. Due to licensing restrictions, RTÉ uses geo-blocking to prevent people outside of Ireland from watching its content. If it sees you are outside of Ireland, you won’t be able to access anything. To bypass this, you need to appear to be in Ireland.
RTÉ reads your IP address to determine your location, but you can change it with a VPN. A VPN is a simple app that replaces your IP address with one from a different location. To do that, you just need to connect to an Irish server. Once you do, you appear to be in Ireland, so you can watch RTÉ from anywhere in the world.
Not all VPNs can unblock RTÉ, and researching to find the right ones is frustrating. To reduce your time searching, I have compiled a list of the best VPNs that can.
Based on my tests, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching RTÉ because it can easily unblock all its content. You can choose from a vast library of box sets, including Irish originals alongside imports like Killing Eve and The West Wing. Alternatively, you can stream all 4 of RTÉ’s live channels to keep up with GAA Football and First Dates Ireland. I had no issues accessing any content during testing.
You can access all of RTÉ’s content by connecting to ExpressVPN’s server in Ireland |
As well as bypassing geo-restrictions, ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds I tested. I streamed Home and Away live on my smart TV and classic Frasier on my laptop. Both streamed in bufferless HD (1080p HD is the highest quality available on the RTÉ Player). I got just a 9.8% reduction on my base speed of 104.3 Mbps.
The app’s interface is user-friendly and straightforward. Simply click the 3 dots on the server location button, select Ireland from the list, and hit on the power button to connect. That’s it! You’re ready to stream Irish TV. Use the live chat feature on ExpressVPN’s website if you run into any problems. I tested it myself, and it’s fast and friendly.
ExpressVPN is my #1 choice, but sometimes the best costs a little more than the rest. A long-term plan costs $6.67/month. However, I was able to save 49% when subscribing. Also, there are often discounts available on the website.
All of its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free with RTÉ. I checked out this claim for myself after I’d finished testing the VPN. I contacted its live chat asking for a refund, and after answering a few quick questions, they agreed with no quibbles. I got a full refund into my account within 3 days.