How to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia [Updated Dec 2024]

How-to-Watch-SBS-On-Demand-outside-Australia

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is a popular Australian network offering free and unlimited access to the best TV shows, movies, and sports, live and on demand.

On SBS, you can enjoy popular Aussie TV shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Bridge, and Mystery Road, along with movies like Lion, The Dressmaker, and The Sapphires.

But, SBS On Demand is not accessible outside of Australia due to licensing issues. Even if you try unblocking its website, you end up being stunted with a geo-restriction error that says:

“Content may be unavailable in your location. Most of our content is only available to stream within Australia due to publishing rights.”

But which VPN to get?

Well, I recommend ExpressVPN! With over 3000 servers in 94+ countries, it can help you unblock SBS On Demand among other Australian channels like Stan, 7Plus, ABC iView, 10 Play, and 9Now in seconds.

And with ExpressVPN’s lightning-fast connection speeds of up to 89.54 Mbps (on a 100 Mbps connection), buffering will be a thing of the past. Best of all, it costs just $6.67/month (49% off – 1 year + 3 months free). Plus, it offers 5 simultaneous connections and a comprehensive 30-day money-back guarantee.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of unblocking SBS On Demand outside Australia, no matter where you are. So, let’s get started, shall we?

5 Quick Steps to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Follow the 5 easy steps below to watch SBS On Demand outside Australia:

expressvpn-australian-server

  1. Get a reliable VPN subscription like ExpressVPN for just $6.67/mo (49% off).
  2. Download and install the VPN on your device.
  3. Connect to a server in Australia, preferably Melbourne.
  4. Sign in to your SBS On Demand account.
  5. Enjoy online streaming of SBS On Demand outside Australia!

Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia with ExpressVPN

Why VPN Is Needed to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia?

SBS On Demand is a popular Australian streaming service that offers a variety of shows and movies. However, the service is only available within Australia due to licensing restrictions.

If you try to access SBS On Demand from outside Australia, you’ll receive an error message indicating that the content is not available in your region:

sbs-on-demand-geo-restriction-error

That’s where a VPN comes in handy. Using a VPN, you can connect to a server in Australia, making it appear as if you’re accessing the content from within the country. This will allow you to watch all the shows and movies available on SBS On Demand as if you were physically located in Australia.

ExpressVPN is my top recommendation for unblocking SBS On Demand outside Australia, as it offers multiple servers in Australian cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Best of all, it costs just $6.67/month (49% off – 1 year + 3 months free).

Quick Overview of the Best VPNs to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Best Overall VPN
$ 6.67
  • 80+ Mbps /100 Mbps
  • 3000+ servers (90+ countries)
  • 5.0/5.0 stars
  • 8 multi-logins
  • 49% Discount
  • 3 Months Free
Get ExpressVPN
Most Affordable VPN
$ 2.29
  • 75+ Mbps /100 Mbps
  • 3200+ servers (100+ countries)
  • 4.8/5.0 stars
  • Unlimited multi-logins
  • 85% Discount
  • 2 Months Free
Get Surfshark
Massive VPN Servers
$ 3.09
  • 70+ Mbps /100 Mbps
  • 5,600+ servers (59+ countries)
  • 4.0/5.0 stars
  • 6 multi-logins
  • 58% Discount
  • 3 Months Free
Get NordVPN

Best VPNs to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

1. ExpressVPN: Overall Best and Fastest VPN to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

ExpressVPN-howtowatchchannel

To kick off my list, I present to you – ExpressVPN. As per my testing, I found it to be the best option for watching SBS On Demand outside Australia.

This VPN doesn’t just offer top-notch unblocking abilities, but you also get blazing-fast speeds and one-click connectivity using it.

ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries. From these, numerous servers are present in 7 Australian locations.

I connected to its server in Perth for testing and could unblock SBS on Demand in just a few seconds. After that, I could stream a recently-added movie named ‘The Ideal Palace’ in High Definition.

While using the VPN, the speeds turned out to be super fast. And so, I conducted a speed test and got a fast output of 89.54 Mbps / 100 Mbps.

That’s only an 11% speed drop!

That’s not all. I was able to enjoy the SBS live streaming online using ExpressVPN on multiple platforms at the same time.

How?

Well, thanks to its 5 simultaneous connections, I could use ExpressVPN on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, FireStick, Roku, Kodi, and more.

All in all, if you want access to SBS, then ExpressVPN is undoubtedly your best bet. It costs only $6.67/month (49% off – 1 year + 3 months free) and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch SBS On Demand outside Australia with ExpressVPN

2. Surfshark: Affordable VPN to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Surfshark-howtowatchchannel

Next up is Surfshark, a super-affordable VPN to watch SBS On Demand outside Australia. Apart from its cost of only $2.29/mo (85% discount – 2 years), it offers you excellent service with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 100 countries worldwide. From these, 20+ servers are available in 5 Australian locations.

I connected to its Melbourne server to catch up on the SBS live streaming online in High Definition. I clicked on the SBS World Movies channel and streamed its content for 2 hours straight

Then, I tested the VPN for speed. On my Australian server, I got a fast download speed of 77.82 Mbps / 100 Mbps.

The cool thing about Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections, enabling you to watch SBS on Demand outside Australia on as many devices as you like.

I was able to get the SBS On Demand app using Surfshark on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, PS4, Kodi, Smart TVs, and more.

All in all, if you want to enjoy SBS streaming, then Surfshark is a great light-on-the-pocket option for you.

Watch SBS On Demand outside Australia with Surfshark

3. NordVPN: Reliable VPN With a Massive Server Network to Stream SBS On Demand Outside Australia

NordVPN-howtowatchchannel
Hold onto your hats, because the last VPN on my list is a true contender! Say hello to NordVPN! This VPN boasts an overall consistent service and an impressive network of thousands of servers.

Let’s talk numbers. NordVPN offers 5600+ servers in 59 countries, with 190+ servers scattered across 5 Australian locations.

I took NordVPN for a spin and connected to its Sydney server to unblock SBS. Within a few minutes, I had the SBS On Demand app installed and was enjoying SBS Sport live stream with zero lag.

So, it’s clear that NordVPN is a fantastic choice for streaming SBS On Demand. And the fun doesn’t stop there! When I tested it for speeds, NordVPN clocked in at 68.73 Mbps / 100 Mbps.

Now that’s what I call fast!

But wait, there’s more! NordVPN allows you to connect up to 6 devices simultaneously. During my tests, I had it running on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Roku, Kodi, FireStick, and more without any hiccups.

All in all, NordVPN is a must-have. It costs only $3.09/month (58% off), and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch SBS On Demand outside Australia with NordVPN

How to Sign Up for SBS On Demand outside Australia?

Follow the steps below to get an SBS subscription outside Australia:

  • First, subscribe to ExpressVPN and sign in using your account credentials.
  • Connect to an Australian server.
  • Once connected, visit the SBS On Demand website.
  • From there, click ‘Create Account.’
click-create-account-on-sbs-on-demand

  • Choose the language you prefer and enter your name, email ID, password, birth year, and gender. Then, click ‘Create Account.’

choose-language-and-enter-details-on-sbs-on-demand

  • You’ll be sent a verification email instantly. Visit your inbox and click on the link provided in the email.

verify-your-sbs-account-through-email

  • Once you verify your account, click ‘Sign In’ on the verification page. Or, visit SBS On Demand’s website again and click ‘Sign In.’

log-in-to-your-sbs-on-demand-account

  • That’s it! You can now enjoy SBS streaming from outside Australia!

watch-sbs-on-demand-outside-Australia

Worth Watching Content on SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Don’t know what to watch on SBS On Demand outside Australia? 

Well, don’t worry. I’ve rounded up some of the best shows and movies just for you. 

New Releases to Watch on SBS On Demand Outside Australia

4th April

  • Fallen
  • In the Name of Love

7th April

  • A Cotswold Farmshop

11th April

  • Juice

15th April

  • Faithless

23rd April

  • Travel Man – Season 12

24th April

  • Swift Street

25th April

  • Sophie Grigson: Slice of Italy – Season 1 & 2

Best Movies to Watch on SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Best Shows to Watch on SBS On Demand Outside Australia

How Can I Get SBS On Demand App on Android Outside Australia?

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN on your Android device.
  2. Head to the VPN server’s list and choose an Australian server to connect to.
  3. On your Android device, open the Google Play app.
  4. Tap on the profile icon.
  5. Tap on Settings > General > Account and device preferences > Country and Profiles.
  6. Tap on Australia from the list.
  7. Follow the instructions you see on your screen to add a payment method for that country.
  8. Once your account region is changed, search for the SBS On Demand app in the search bar and install it on your Android device.
  9. Sign in to your SBS On Demand account and watch any show outside Australia.

How Can I Get SBS On Demand App on iOS Outside Australia?

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN on your iOS device.
  2. Head to the VPN server’s list and choose an Australian server to connect to.
  3. Open the Settings app on your iOS device. 
  4. Tap on your name, then tap on Media & Purchases.
  5. Next, tap on View Account. At this point, you may be asked to sign in to your account.
  6. Next, tap on the Country/Region.
  7. Tap on the Change Country or Region option.
  8. Select Australia as your new country or region and agree to the terms and conditions.
  9. Tap on Agree option located in the top right-hand corner and then tap on Agree again to confirm.
  10. Finally, select a payment method and enter your new payment information and billing address. After that, tap Next.
  11. Once your region changes, visit the Apple App Store and search for the SBS On Demand app.
  12. Download and install the SBS On Demand app on your iOS device and start watching it outside Australia.

FAQs - SBS On Demand Outside Australia

Does SBS On Demand work overseas?

SBS On Demand is only available in Australia due to content licensing agreements. Even if you’re a citizen of Australia but are living overseas, you’ll be unable to access the service.

This is why you’ll need a premium VPN service. I highly recommend using ExpressVPN.

How much does SBS On Demand cost?

You can enjoy 11,000+ hours of content from worldwide with SBS On Demand for absolutely free. With a complete list of comedies, dramas, documentaries, sports, news, and much more, you can enjoy the platform at any time.

Is SBS On Demand free?

Yes, SBS On Demand is free. However, since it’s geo-restricted outside Australia, you’ll need a VPN to access it. I highly recommend using ExpressVPN with SBS On Demand.

Channels Other Than SBS On Demand to Unblock In/Outside Australia

Wrapping Up!

That’s a wrap, folks! I hope this guide on how to watch SBS On Demand outside Australia has helped you satisfy your craving for Aussie content.

By following this simple step-by-step guide, you can access all the shows and movies even while residing outside of Australia. Just remember to use a reputable VPN like ExpressVPN, and you’re good to go. It costs just $6.67/month (49% off – 1 year + 3 months free).

So, whether you’re feeling homesick, want to brush up on your Aussie slang, or just love the diverse content SBS has to offer, you can now enjoy it all from the comfort of your couch from outside Australia!

Ethan Tyson
Ethan Tyson

Ethan Tyson is a movie critic and an avid streamer. There's hardly any time when he's not writing something or keenly deconstructing the plot of hit movies or TV shows. Ethan writes useful guides on HowToWatchChannels.com to help readers access channels from around the world anywhere, anytime.