How to watch 7TV outside Germany
When traveling outside of Germany, it pays to get a VPN so that you can have unrestricted access to 7TV. After all, the online streaming service is normally reserved for German audiences, and is geoblocked everywhere else. Today, we show you how to use your VPN to borrow a German IP address to watch 7TV anywhere in the world.
7TV is a hugely popular online streaming platform in Germany. It brings together content from a number of different German TV channels owned and operated by the ProSiebenSat.1 Media company, as well as free-to-air channels from Discovery Communications too.
The ultimate aim of 7TV is to provide a comprehensive German language online streaming service to challenge the likes of Netflix. By providing access to content from across their network of channels on a single platform, 7TV offers a huge selection of popular German TV shows. These include everything from factual programs and documentaries, to entertainment and reality shows, and even a great selection of live sport. This wide range means 7TV attracts diverse audiences, although the majority of users are thought to be from younger demographics.
Traveling abroad and suffering without access to 7TV? Get a German IP with these secure VPNs, and never miss your favorite content again:
- NordVPN – Best for 7TV – NordVPN is the world’s premier site unblocker. With hundreds of secure servers within Germany, you can spoof past 7TV’s geoblocks and enjoy its content from any country in the world thanks to unblockable NordLynx encryption.
- Surfshark – An affordable VPN with some seriously powerful utility for unblocking websites, like built-in smart DNS, obfuscation, and NSA-grade encryption.
- ExpressVPN – One of the fastest VPNs is, unsurprisingly, also one of the very best for streaming content. Ideal for bandwidth-starved networks due to its efficient Lightway encryption.
- CyberGhost – Dead-simple way to access 7TV–simply click the plain-language option for “unblock streaming” and you’re good to go.
The only problem with 7TV is that it isn’t available to stream outside Germany. Expat Germans, or those who want to dip into German TV to practice their language or learn about German culture, will find that the service blocked. This is because, for rights reasons, 7TV employs geo-blocking methods to restrict access to their content overseas.
But fortunately, with a VPN, it is possible to bypass this block and access all of 7TV’s content as usual. In this article, we will tell you how to watch 7TV outside Germany, as well as recommend the best VPNs for the job.
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Watch 7TV outside Germany with a VPN
If you try to access the 7TV online streaming platform outside Germany, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that some content is freely available. But this is only the case for a limited number of shows. For complete access, you need to login to an account and also be located in Germany. This is because the 7TV platform does not hold the global rights to stream many of their shows outside Germany. As a result, they use geo-blocking to stop people outside the country from watching.
Geo-blocking works by looking at the IP address of every visitor to the 7TV website. Your IP Address tells them exactly where you are connecting to the internet from. If it says you are outside Germany, 7TV not allow you to stream their shows. But by connecting to a VPN server located in Germany, it is possible to fool websites into thinking you are in Germany even when you aren’t. This should allow you to watch their full range of content. It is a really straightforward process. All you have to do is follow these four simple steps:
- Sign up for a VPN.
- Download the VPN app onto the device you want to watch 7TV shows on.
- Log-in and connect to a server located in Germany.
- Visit the 7TV website or app and start streaming their programs.
It really is as easy as that. In fact, the only difficult part is deciding which VPN to use. But we have done the leg-work for you there too.
Get a provider with these features
There are a lot of VPNs on the market so choosing the best one can be difficult. But not every VPN is suitable for streaming 7TV outside Germany, so you need to choose the right one. We have tested all of the best VPNs for streaming 7TV outside Germany and identified three providers which do the best job. In making our choice, we applied a number of core criteria which we found were needed:
- German servers available – For a VPN to be able to stream 7TV outside Germany, it must have plenty of German servers available.
- Fast Connection Speeds – Online streaming requires a VPN to offer fast connection speeds, but some can slow down your internet speeds. However, the best will offer super-fast connections which are ideal for online streaming.
- No bandwidth restrictions – Online streaming can be very data intensive. Some VPNs restrict the amount of data you can use through their servers, which is useless for streaming. But the premium providers have no bandwidth restrictions whatsoever, which is perfect.
- Encryption strength and security–The best VPNs offer strong encryption to keep user data secure when streaming.
- Effectiveness of privacy policies – 7TV doesn’t like people evading their geo-restrictions, so it is best to keep your activities private. The best VPNs have a guaranteed no user logs policy which means they keep no record whatsoever of what you are doing online.
Comparison Of The Best VPNs To Watch 7TV Outside Germany
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- Disney+,
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- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
Best VPNs to unblock 7TV outside Germany
We have identified a handful of providers which fulfill all of these criteria and which, in testing, were able to unblock all of 7TV’s content. Each offers slightly different features, but all are ideal for the job:
1. NordVPN
- Very affordable plans
- Most VPN servers with different IP addresses
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections
- No logs and encrypted connections for total privacy
- 24/7 Customer Service
- They can take 30 days to process refunds
NordVPN is priced much more affordably than most other providers, especially if you choose their new three-year subscription deal. But lower prices don’t mean you have to compromise on service because NordVPN is a premium-level VPN which is also great for online streaming sites like 7TV. They have a huge server network, which consists of 5,500 servers in 59 countries, including plenty in Germany, and is one of the quickest around thanks to their recent investment in new super-fast servers and the rollout of their cutting-edge NordLynx encryption.
There are also robust security and privacy provisions available too. NordVPN offers 256-bit encryption on OpenVPN connections as standard as well as a host of additional security features including a kill switch, shared IP Addresses, double VPN servers (which reroutes your internet data via two servers for extra protection) and Onion over VPN servers (which pushes your traffic through the TOR Network and a VPN for additional security). There are no user logs retained, no data restrictions, and a great range of user-friendly apps available too.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- Reliably unblocks Netflix US, UK, Japan, and more
- One of the first VPNs to implement RAM-only servers
- VPN split tunneling available
- Independently audited privacy practices
- Refund requests are simple and fast–no waiting or hassle
- Server network is not nearly as expansive as major competitors
- Apps don’t allow for much manual fiddling for power users
Surfshark’s meteoric rise to prominence in the VPN industry has a lot to do with how it handles streaming sites like 7TV. Many employ sophisticated VPN-blocking methods (Netflix’s proxy error is the most infamous example of this), but Surfshark seems to just swim past them. How?
They employ only the most powerful encryption, tunneling via OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard protected by the unbreakable 256-AES-GCM cipher. What’s more, each of their 3200 servers+ (across 65 countries) has built-in smart DNS and obfuscating settings, allowing you to make a very convincing spoofing effort most sites won’t recognize or block. It also works to keep nosy ISPs and government surveillance agencies out of your business.
With BVI jurisdiction, Surfshark is free to enforce their strict no-logging policy without interference from data-retention laws. Additionally, their RAM-only servers continuously wipe memory upon reset–making logging virtually impossible.
3. ExpressVPN
- Unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime
- 3,000+ super fast servers
- No DNS/IP leaks found
- No logging policy well enforced
- Great customer service via chat
- Power-users configuration options
ExpressVPN has a terrific reputation and is the perfect choice for almost all online streaming services including 7TV. As the name suggests, ExpressVPN offers super-fast connection speeds. But alongside these speeds, ExpressVPN also offers excellent security and privacy protections too. They offer 256-bit encryption as standard and also have a guaranteed and dependable no-logging policy. It is a rare combination but a real winner for fans of online streaming.
Their server network is a big one with more than 3,000+ servers in 94 countries worldwide. This includes a good selection of German servers. There are no usage restrictions in place, which means you can stream as many shows as you like. And, thanks to their terrific range of user-friendly apps, you can use ExpressVPN on almost every device too. If there is a downside to ExpressVPN, it is the price, which is a little higher than some competitors. But, for the money, you do get a VPN which is tailor-made for online streaming and ideal for watching 7TV outside Germany.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. CyberGhost
- LOW PRICE: 6 EXTRA free months (79% off – link below)
- Special profile designed for torrenting privately
- Robust encryption standards
- Strict no logging
- 45-day no-quibble money back guarantee
- Can’t unblock some other streaming sites
If you want a really simple and user-friendly VPN, then CyberGhost is a great choice. They offer a great range of well-designed, user-friendly apps which are available on almost every device and require no configuration or technical knowledge to use. Just click on “unblock streaming” and then choose a server in Germany. CyberGhost will do everything else for you.
As well as being easy to use, CyberGhost offers strong security and privacy protections too. This includes 256-bit encryption across all connections and a dependable no logging policy. Their server network is made up of more than 5,900 servers in 90 countries, including several in Germany. And there are also no data restrictions which means you can stream as many shows as you like.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
What is 7TV?
7TV is the online streaming service of Germany media company ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It brings together content from their various different TV channels together on a single online streaming platform. Users of 7TV can access content from channels including ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins, Sixx, ProSieben MAXX, SAT.1 Gold, DMAX, Eurosport, and TLC. All of these channels are made available free-to-air and are supported by commercials and advertisements.
RELATED READING: Can you watch ZDF outside of Germany?
Some content can be streaming online for free, but for most, you will need to sign up for a 7Pass. This is a free sign-up service but does require users to provide contact details. If you are outside Germany, you will need to be able to offer a plausible Germany address in order to sign up. But once you have signed up, you will be able to stream a full range of 7TV’s content on any device.
What can I watch on 7TV?
As 7TV brings together the content of a number of different German TV channels, there is plenty of content to choose from. However, it should be noted that not every show that is broadcast on these channels can be accessed through the 7TV platform. ProSiebenSat.1 Media explain that, while they try to make as much content as possible available online, they do not hold the rights to stream every show on their channels, even in Germany.
But there is still lots to choose from. 7TV offers streams of popular entertainment shows including Germany’s Next Top Model. There is plenty of syndicated TV content from the USA and other countries too, all of which has been dubbed (and often subtitled) into German. There is no shortage of documentaries and current affairs shows, and the inclusion of Eurosport means that there is also a wide range of live sports coverage too, including soccer and WWE wrestling. Essentially, 7TV offers something for everyone, which is why it has proved such as popular platform with German TV viewers.
What devices can I stream 7TV on?
If you want to watch 7TV online, you can do so at www.7tv.de. Some shows will be available on the first visit, while for others you will need to register for a 7Pass, using the links at the top of the page. If you want to enjoy 7TV content on the go, you can watch through your browser or otherwise download one of the 7TV apps too. These are available for iOS and Android devices and are easy-to-use with all the same functionality as the main online streaming platform.
As there is a terrific 7TV Android app, it is also possible to watch 7TV content on demand on your Smart TV too. You will still need a VPN to access a full range of content on these apps from outside Germany, as with the web streaming service. But each of the VPNs we have recommended in this article offers dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices too, meaning that shouldn’t be a problem.
Conclusion
7TV is making a bid to be the future of online streaming in Germany. They already bring together content from both ProSiebenSat.1 Media and Discovery Communications and are aiming to add more in the future. For German TV fans and ex-pats, the platform already offers a great range of German language content to enjoy. But unfortunately, it is not currently available to users outside Germany. Unless you use a VPN that is. As we have explained, it is quite easy to get around the 7TV geo-restrictions by connecting your VPN to a German-based server. We have explained exactly how to do that and also recommended the best three VPN providers for the job.
Are you a German expat or a fan of German TV and culture? Have you been struggling to access 7TV’s content from overseas? How helpful was this guide for you? Which of our recommended VPNs have you used to unblock 7TV abroad? How were the results? Did you encounter any problems or are there any additional suggestions for our other readers? We always welcome the thoughts and opinions of all our readers, so why not share them with us using the comment box below?
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