How to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa [Updated Dec 2024]

Launched in 1997, Channel 5 is one of the biggest British entertainment channels featuring international programs for its viewers in the UK.

However, if you are traveling to South Africa or any other country for work or on vacation, you won’t be able to access Ch 5 on demand.

You see, geo-restrictions block Ch 5 content from being accessed in South Africa. Consequently, you will receive the following error message while accessing the service in South Africa:

“A VIDEO PLAYBACK ERROR We’re sorry but you must be located in the British Isles to view this content.

Error: CA-3000 | Version: 1.8.7-186 If the error keeps happening, please visit the My5 Help Centre for advice on what this error means and how to solve it”.

Lucky for you, there is a solution. With the help of a VPN, it is possible to unblock Channel 5 in South Africa effortlessly.

But which VPN to get?

Well, ExpressVPN costs only $6.67/month (49% off) – 1 year + 3 months free and offers 3000+ servers in 94+ countries. It can also easily unblock geo-blocked services like Netflix US and Hulu with ease.

Tested to offer speeds of up to 82.75 Mbps (100 Mbps standard connection). Supports 8 simultaneous connections and also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read along to learn how to use a VPN to watch Channel 5 while in South Africa.

6 Quick Steps to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa With a VPN

Following these simple steps, you can easily watch Channel 5 in South Africa.

1. Purchase a reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN which costs only $6.67/month (49% off) – 1 year + 3 months free.
2. Set up the VPN app.
3. Log in using your credentials.
4. Connect to a UK server.
5. Go to the Channel 5 website or app.
6. Sign up for your account and start streaming your favorite shows on Ch 5 in South Africa.

Stream Channel 5 in South Africa with ExpressVPN

Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch Channel 5 Live in the US?

If you want to watch your favorite shows on Channel 5 live in the US, you’ll encounter an error message on the screen:

The error doesn’t mean your account is blocked. It’s simply because Channel 5 content is blocked in your current location.

Ch 5 determines your current location by identifying your IP address. If you aren’t located in the UK, you will get blocked.

The good news is that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your actual IP address by assigning you a temporary IP address to bypass the geo-restrictions imposed by Channel 5.

It means you can enjoy Channel 5 TV shows and movies easily from South Africa. Not only that, but a VPN encrypts your online traffic, thus protecting your online identity from hackers and other cybercriminals.

Access Channel 5 in South Africa with ExpressVPN

Quick Overview of the Best VPNs to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa

Best VPNs to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa

1. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa

Featuring more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations spread across 94 countries, ExpressVPN is an advanced VPN service capable of offering super-fast speeds.

It allows you to easily unblock renowned streaming services such as Channel 5, BBC iPlayer, TV3 Player, and more.

ExpressVPN even offers amazing apps. You can use it on Android, Windows, Fire Stick, Linux, macOS, iOS, and more.

As for speed, it managed to output speeds of 82.75 Mbps / 100 Mbps during the speed test. With such fast speeds, you will be able to enjoy your desired shows and movies in HD picture quality with zero lag. 

ExpressVPN offers its services at a bit higher cost than others at $6.67/month (49% off) – 1 year + 3 months freescount). 

But, all of its services and benefits are worth the cost. Besides, ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and allows you to use a single subscription on 8 devices simultaneously.

Watch Channel 5 in South Africa with ExpressVPN

2. Surfshark: Most Affordable VPN to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa

Featuring more than 3,000 servers, Surfsharf offers unlimited bandwidth to stream high-definition video content. Moreover, this VPN service offers end-to end-encryption to ensure complete anonymity of your browsing activity.

All of its servers are super fast too. I tested it extensively and found it offers speeds of up to 83.24 Mbps (100 Mbps standard connection). I managed to stream a lot of content like “Lie With Me”, without encountering any buffering issues.

Other security features of Surfshark that I forgot to mention earlier include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling. The kill switch automatically disconnects a VPN connection if your internet connectivity fluctuates.

Another impressive thing about Surfshark is that it allows you to use a single subscription on unlimited devices. So, you can stream Channel 5 on a laptop, smart TV, smartphone, firestick, set-top box, and even on a gaming console.

Best of all, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can freely test the service without worrying. As for pricing, it costs just $2.29/month.

Get Channel 5 in South Africa with Surfshark

3. NordVPN – Reliable VPN to Watch Channel 5 in South Africa With a Massive Server Network

NordVPN is a featureful VPN service that is fast, reliable, and of course, affordable. It has more than 5200 servers available in 59+ countries including the US. With the availability of a wide range of reliable servers, you can unblock Channel 5, Hotstar, Sky Go, CBC, BBC iPlayer, and many other channels easily.

Like the other two VPNs above, NordVPN passed my speed test and managed to output speeds of 78.5 Mbps / 100 Mbps base speed. When I tested it out, NordVPN allowed me to stream movies and shows in HD quality without any buffering issues. 

Another benefit of using NordVPN is its compatibility with different smart devices, such as Android, iOS, laptops, iPad, and many more.

Well, NordVPN won’t be heavier on your pocket as you can get the service at just $3.09/month along with an impressive discount of 58%. Also for users’ ease, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Access Channel 5 in South Africa with NordVPN

How to Sign Up for Channel 5 in South Africa?

The good news is you can sign up for Channel 5 from anywhere in the world by following these steps:

• First, you need to sign up for any of the VPN services reviewed in this guide. ExpressVPN is recommended – $6.67/month (49% discount).
• Next, connect to a UK server to watch Channel 5 shows and movies.
• After the connection is successful, you need to visit Channel 5 and tap/click on the “Sign In” option.

• In the next step, tap/click on the “Register” option and enter your personal information (You can search for UK Postcode on Google). Now, checkmark the terms and conditions and click “Create account” as the final step.

• Voila! You can start binging any content on Ch 5 in South Africa.

Alternatively, you can download the My5 app on your smartphone and select “Register Now” or sign up using your social media account.

Next, you need to check the terms and conditions and click submit.

Stream Channel 5 in South Africa with ExpressVPN

Worth Watching Content on Channel 5 

In case you are wondering what to watch on Channel 5? Don’t worry as I’ve done all the hard work for you by listing some of the best movies and shows available on Channel 5.

New Releases to Watch on Channel 5 in the USA

• Love Rat
• Coma
• The Cuckoo
• The Wives
• The Funny Side of…
• Animal Care Club
• Michael Barrymore: The Rise & Fall of Mr Saturday Night
• Inside the Tower of London (S6)
• Endurance: Race to the Pole

Best Shows to Watch on Channel 5 in South Africa

• The Yorkshire Vet (IMDB: 8.8)
• All Creatures Great and Small (IMDB: 8.6)
• Lucifer (IMDB: 8.1)
• Criminal Minds (IMDB: 8.1)
• The Blacklist (IMDB: 8.0)
• Killer at the Crime Scene (IMDB: 7.4)
• Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun (IMDB: 7.4)
• Private Eyes (IMDB: 7.3)
• Murder in the First (IMDB: 7.2)
• Suspects (IMDB: 7.1)
• Maxine (IMDB: 7.0)

Best Movies to Watch on Channel 5 in South Africa

• The Warriors (IMDB: 7.5)
• Lad: A Yorkshire Story (IMDB: 7.4)
• We Were Soldiers (IMDB: 7.1)
• Pompeii: Secrets of the Dead (IMDB: 6.7)
• Stephen King Master of Horror (IMDB: 6.5)

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Channels Other Than Channel 5 to Watch in South Africa

• How to get Channel 4 in South Africa
• How to get Sky Go in South Africa
• How to get Starz Play in South Africa
• How to get Crackle in South Africa
• How to get Voot in South Africa
• How to get Hotstar in South Africa
• How to get Canal+ in South Africa

Wrapping Up!

If you don’t want geo-restrictions to hamper your Channel 5 entertainment hub access in South Africa, you should subscribe to a VPN service.

The good news is you can enjoy Channel 5 on different devices, such as Android smart TV, Samsung smart TV, Android TV, iOS, Freesat, and Amazon Fire TV.

Which VPN do I consider the best?

I highly recommend getting ExpressVPN to unblock Channel 5 or any other streaming service.

It is the fastest VPN out there, starting from just $6.67/month (49% off) – 1 year + 3 months free.