Are you in the United Kingdom and missing South Africa?

With more than half a million South Africans in the UK, you’re not alone.

So wouldn’t it be great if you could watch your favourite TV services like DSTV Now?

If you’ve already tried, then you’ll know it’s not that simple as it’s blocked.

Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be like that.

In this guide I’ll be teaching you the straightforward method using a VPN app that will let you keep up with all your favourite shows while you’re outside South Africa.

Surprisingly, DSTV has 13.5 million users according to data from 2018, with 7 million people being from South Africa alone. So if you’re one of that vast number, this guide is for you.

Let’s get you watching.

What do you need to watch?

Unfortunately, but not entirely surprising – the channel and the app do not work outside of South Africa.

That means that you won’t be able to simply head over to their website or use the app directly while you’re in the UK.

However, there is a quick solution to that.

A VPN app!

It’s an app like any other that helps you stay secure online and unblock TV services.

In the case of streaming DSTV Now it lets you disguise your location, so you appear like you’re in South Africa, even though you’re really in London or Manchester, Glasgow or Essex (or anywhere else in the UK for that matter!).

There are loads of difference VPN services to choose from but using some you can access all the overseas content you want from anywhere in the world.

The first thing you’ll need to do is get one which I discuss below.

Where to get a VPN?

VPNs were invented to provide users with security and privacy, but their ability to let you bypass geo-restrictions has made them extremely popular in recent years.

There are many VPN services out there, and many new ones keep emerging all the time.

In our extensive testing, ExpressVPN performed the best for streaming video and we’re not alone in our assessment:

But, there are more choices and below are my top three picks.

1. ExpressVPN – Recommended
2. NordVPN
3. CyberGhost VPN

All of these services are fast which makes them perfect for streaming, so you’re not interrupted by buffering.

I especially like the 30-day money back guarantee ExpressVPN offers which gives you plenty of time to see it working. They also have apps for every device, which is a neat bonus.

The choice of which VPN app to choose is yours, but once you’ve chosen one you’ll want to know how to use it, which you can find out below.

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How to use the app to stream DSTV Now

Below you’ll find the quick steps you should follow which walk you through getting and signing up for a VPN app and how to use it to get watching.

You don’t have to worry, none of it is complicated, and it doesn’t take more than a few minutes:

1. Pick a VPN. Our tests show ExpressVPN is best for the job.
2. Go to their website and sign up for an account.
3. You will have to pick a payment plan and enter your payment details.
4. Download the VPN app for the device(s) you plan to use. You can download them from the site or your app store.
5. Install the app like any other.
6. Launch the app and log into it.
7. Press the ‘Selected Location‘ button, then ‘All Locations‘,  ‘Middle East and Africa‘ and then ‘South Africa‘.
8. You might also need to press ‘Connect’.

Once you’re connected you can visit the DSTV Now website or use their app like normal and enjoy streaming all your favourite shows.

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How does a VPN work?

VPN uses several security, privacy, and anonymity features, but the most important one for unblocking content is the network of ‘servers’.

Servers are powerful computers that help the flow of information around the internet.

VPNs have servers in countries around the world, to which you can connect to when you use the service’s app.

Doing so hides your real location, and makes you appear as if you are located where the server is.

That way, if you connect to a server in South Africa from the UK, DSTV Now will think that you are in South Africa. Since that is the only condition to getting access to its content, there are no other obstacles in your way, and you can watch it freely.

What about a free VPN?

Of course, free VPNs do exist, or more precisely – VPNs that you don’t pay for with money exist.

These VPNs are always either very slow and overcrowded or dangerous.

Keeping the servers up and running costs these services too, and since they are not getting the money from you, they must find it somewhere else.

More often than not, they would record and sell your data, such as identity, location, browsing history, and other sensitive info.

Often, they sell it to advertisers, but some of them do not mind selling it to anyone willing to pay.

Some are even more dangerous than that, as they can infect your device with malware. While they are free, they are dangerous, and we recommend staying clear of such services for your safety and security.

Summary

Having access to your DSTV Now subscription will let you keep in the loop with shows from home.

However, it’s not that simple because if you try to use it while in the UK, you’ll realise it’s blocked.

It doesn’t need to big a big deal though because by using a VPN app you can unblock the service allowing you to watch everything in the UK the same as you would in South Africa.

So to recap, sign up for a VPN service such as ExpressVPN, download their app and install it. Then open it and connect to South Africa. Once you’re connected, you can enjoy DSTV Now as normal.

Where have you been watching DSTV? I would love to know so why not pop a comment in the section below?

References

1. YouGov | Almost half of VPN users are accessing region-based content
2. CNET | Best VPN Services Directory
3. TomsGuide | Are Free VPN Apps Worth the Risk? Experts Say ‘No’