When you live in Thailand, one of the things you will miss the most is watching TV channels, favorite TV shows, or sports from your home country. When you turn on a television, there are no more channels like ABC, BBC, or NBC. Instead, you will find only local channels in Thai.
Of course, it’s still possible to watch online via computer. However, nothing beats the feeling of lying on a comfortable sofa, watching TV on a big screen, while eating at the same time.
In this article, we are going to give you a step-by-step guide on how to watch English TV in Thailand in a non-technical way that everyone can understand. By following the steps in this guide, you can watch any TV programs, shows, and sports no matter where you are in the world.
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Good to Know
It’s important to know that many TV channels and streaming services are geo-restricted. For example, the BBC states on its website that BBC Channels and BBC iPlayer services are only available to those living in the UK.
While there’s a workaround, in many cases, it’s not entirely legal.
VPN
Using a VPN service is undoubtedly one of the most popular methods to watch your favorite TV shows and sports from back home while living in Thailand.
Essentially, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to virtually change your internet IP address to any country in the world while you are physically in Thailand, thereby bypassing geo-restricted content. VPNs work well with any geo-restricted streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC, Amazon Prime, and much more.
How to Use a VPN
There are many ways to use a VPN to watch English TV:
- Computer
- Mobile phone
- Television
All of these have a similar method:
- Subscribe to a paid VPN service (while free VPNs are available, we don’t recommend them due to security, speed, and convenience)
- Install a VPN application
- In the VPN app, choose a server location. For example, if you want to watch USA TV programs, choose a USA server
- Go to a streaming service or TV channel website and start watching right away
How to Use a VPN on a TV
While the process is very straightforward for computers and mobile phones, using a VPN on a television is more complicated, depending on the type of TV you have.
In Thailand, there are four main types of television:
- Android TV
- Smart TV with its own operating system
- Normal TV with an HDMI port
- Normal TV without an HDMI port
Let’s take a look at how to use a VPN on each type.
Android TV
If you have an Android TV, the process is simple. You can download and install a VPN app from the Google Play Store, which works similarly to an Android phone.
After that, choose a server location within the app, and you’re good to go.
A Smart TV with Its Own Operating System
In Thailand, many Smart TVs, such as Hisense, Samsung, LG, TCL, and others, have their own operating systems and may not offer a VPN app in their app stores.
If this is the case, there are two ways to use a VPN on your TV:
- Buy an Amazon Firestick
- Install a VPN on your router
Amazon Fire TV Stick
You can buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick from Lazada or any IT mall. It costs around THB 2,000 to THB 2,500. After you have it, here’s what to do:
- Plug the Fire TV Stick into your TV’s HDMI port
- Change your TV input to the Firestick
- On the Fire TV Stick:
- Connect to your home Wi-Fi
- Install a VPN app from the APP store.
- Select a server location in the VPN app
- Install any streaming service app you want to watch
- Watch directly though the Fire TV Stick
While there are other gadgets that work similarly to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, such as the Mi TV Stick, it’s cheaper and operates in a similar way to the Amazon Fires TV Stick, the overall function may not be as good.
Install a VPN on the Router
This is a more complicated method and is only recommended if you are IT-savvy. Read this section to find out how to do it.
A Normal TV with an HDMI Port
If you have a regular TV with an HDMI port, you’ll need to purchase a TV stick such as an Amazon Firestick or Mi TV Stick. Read this section for more details.
A Normal TV without an HDMI Port
If you have an older TV without an HDMI port, you will need to buy a newer TV, as there are no other options.
How to Install a VPN on the Router
If your TV can connect to WiFi, another option is to install a VPN on your router. With this method, all of your devices, including your computer, mobile phone, TV, and game consoles, will automatically use a VPN every time you connect to WiFi from your router.
This is a convenient way to use a VPN; however, it does require some technical knowledge.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Buy a new router that supports VPN. In Thailand, TP Link is recommended as it’s widely available and supports many VPN apps.
- Connect your existing router to the new router with a LAN cable.
- Go to the router settings page.
- Enable the VPN function and set up a server there.
Each router may have different setup methods. Contact your VPN provider for assistance with setup.
VPN Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick list of pros and cons when using a VPN to watch an English TV program.
Pros
- Works with most apps and channels
- Easy to use
- Can be canceled at any time
Cons
- Requires an additional VPN package
- May need to pay for an additional device
Which VPN to Use?
There are many paid VPN services available. Here are six factors you should consider:
- App Availability: Ensure they have an app on multiple app stores
- Price: The more affordable, the better
- Speed: The faster, the better
- Server List: Confirm it has a server in the country you want to watch TV from
- Convenience: The app should be easy to use
- Support: A good support team that can assist with VPN installation
With these factors in mind, we recommend NordVPN. While it’s slightly more expensive than other providers, it’s well worth the price. Their app is very easy to use, and they have an excellent support page that shows you how to install their apps on various devices.
Find out more: The Complete Guide To Picking The Best VPN For Thailand
Local TV Package
Subscribing to a TV package from a local provider is a legal way to watch English TV programs.
TV Package Providers
In Thailand, there are two major providers with TV packages:
- True: Recommended for sports, including football (soccer), American football, NBA, and more
- AIS: Recommended for Amazon Prime and Disney+ HotStar
Both are also internet providers and offer an all-in-one package that includes home internet, mobile internet, and TV programs within the same package. When using the package, they will provide you with a TV box after installing an internet connection at your home.
A TV package typically starts at THB 300 per month, which covers basic packages. If you want to watch sports, expect to pay over THB 1,000 a month.
Local TV Package Pros and Cons
Here’s a list of pros and cons:
Pros
- A legal way to watch English TV channels
- Convenient since you can watch directly from a TV box supplied by your provider
Cons
- English channels are very limited as they mainly focus on Thai markets
- Cannot watch geo-restricted content
- Channels are subject to change every year
- Requires at least a 12-month contract
- Canceling the program can be a challenge
IPTV Service
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is another way to watch English TV.
Here’s how it usually works:
- You subscribe to their service on their website
- Watch TV online from your computer
While there are many IPTV services offering thousands of channels worldwide for less than US$20 a month, most, if not all, are illegal. This means they can suddenly cancel the service without notice.
How to Watch Country-Specific Channels
Here’s how you can watch specific English channels while in Thailand. In most cases, these channels are geo-restricted, so you’ll need a VPN to access them.
The steps are the same for all:
- Install a VPN, either directly on your TV or via Amazon Firestick or router
- Select a VPN server in the country of the channel you want to watch
- Go to the channel’s app or website to watch
United States
- NBC
- CBS
- ABC
- HBO
- ESPN
How to Watch: Use streaming services like Hulu, Sling TV, or FuboTV with a VPN set to a US server.
United Kingdom
- BBC One/BBC Two
- ITV
- Channel 4
- Sky Atlantic
- BT Sport
How to Watch: Access via BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, or NOW TV with a VPN set to a UK server.
Canada
- CTV
- CBC
- Global TV
- Sportsnet
- Crave
- Citytv
How to Watch: Use streaming platforms like CTV, CBC Gem, Global TV, and Crave with a VPN set to a Canadian server.
Australia
- ABC Australia
- Channel 7 (Seven Network)
- Channel 9 (Nine Network)
- SBS
- Foxtel
- 10 Play
How to Watch: Access via ABC iView, 7plus, 9Now, SBS On Demand, Foxtel Now, or 10 Play using a VPN with an Australian server.
How to Deal with Billing Address
Many streaming apps and channels require a subscription that must be registered with a billing address from the corresponding country.
If that’s the case, here are three options:
- Use a relative’s address as the billing address.
- Subscribe before you move to Thailand. Then, purchase an Amazon Firestick, set up everything, and bring it with you.
- Use a fake address, though we don’t recommend this method.
Now, on to You
We hope this article provides a clear understanding of what you need to do to watch English TV in Thailand. While the process might seem complicated at first, it becomes straightforward with a little practice.
If you have any more tips on watching English TV while in Thailand, feel free to share them in the section below.
