Royal Ascot is one of the oldest and most famous horse racing meetings in the world. Taking place at Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, the week-long meeting features several classic Group One races with big prizes and even greater prestige.
It is also a major TV sporting event too, with ITV covering the entire week this year. But while Royal Ascot is a big deal in the UK, it is not so widely covered aboard. This means if you want to watch the action from outside the UK, you can be disappointed.
But in this article, we will explain how to use a VPN to watch ITV’s coverage of Royal Ascot no matter where in the world you are.
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What you need to stream Royal Ascot abroad
In the UK, Royal Ascot will be broadcast exclusively on ITV. Coverage will be split between their main terrestrial TV channel and their digital channel, ITV4. However, in some parts of the country, you may find that certain ITV regions are not showing every episode of their coverage.
As well as showing all the action on their TV stations, ITV will also be making their coverage available to stream, both live and on-demand, via their online streaming service, the ITVX (formally ITV Hub / ITV Player).
But unfortunately, if you try to access ITVX from outside the UK, you will find that you are blocked. That is because ITV employs geo-restriction technology to stop people overseas from watching.
Geo-restriction is a really simple tool which looks at the IP Address of each user to determine where they are connecting to the internet from. If it is in the UK, they can access ITVX, but if it isn’t they are blocked.
However, there is a way to fool this technology into thinking you are in the UK even when you aren’t. To do this you need a VPN.
When you use a VPN, your online data is redirected through an external server. When it passes through this server, it is tagged with the IP Address of that server instead of your own. So, if the server is located in the UK, ITVX will think you are too and so let you watch their coverage of Royal Ascot.
How to live stream Royal Ascot overseas
If that sounds a bit technical for you, don’t worry. Using a VPN is remarkably easy. The only difficult bit is choosing which of the many VPNs on the market to use. There are three providers we recommend for users of the ITV Hub. They are:
Each provider is slightly different, but they can all be used in broadly the same way.
To make things really easy, we have pulled together a simple step-by-step using our top recommendation, ExpressVPN as an example:
- Visit the ExpressVPN website and sign up to their service by choosing your subscription package and following the simple onscreen instructions.
- Go to the Download VPN section of their website and download the right app for your device. These are also available in your app store.
- Open the ExpressVPN app and use the activation code provided to log in.
- Select a server based in the United Kingdom and click on it. It should connect automatically. If it doesn’t, just click the Connect button.
- Lastly, visit the ITVX website or app. If you don’t have an account already, you will need to sign up for one. This is a free and easy process. All you will need is a UK post code (such as N11 8BQ)
Use ExpressVPN to watch the races.
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When is Royal Ascot taking place?
The prestigious Royal Ascot 2023 is scheduled to take place from Tuesday, June 20 until Saturday, June 24.
This famed event will unfold at the historic Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England, maintaining a tradition that has lasted over 300 years.
The event will be broadcast on ITV, with a presenting team that includes well-known figures like AP McCoy, Brian Gleeson, and Rishi Persad.
The Royal Ascot is a major highlight of the British sporting calendar, featuring a total of 35 races spread across the five-day event. Around 500 horses will compete, showcasing some of the finest talent in horse racing.
The 2023 event promises an increased prize pool, with a total of £9.52 million up for grabs, an increase of £1.33 million from the previous year. This record offering in prize money raises both the stakes and the prestige of the event.
As for the jockeys, several notable names are participating. Oisin Murphy, who was the leading jockey two years ago with five wins, is expected to shine again.
Champion jockey James McDonald has been preparing a strong roster of rides for the event. Current champion jockey William Buick, who has enjoyed significant success at Ascot, will also be participating.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Brett Prebble will ride, partnering with Cannonball in the King’s Stand Stakes. Lastly, the legendary jockey Frankie Dettori will once again grace Royal Ascot with his presence.
Summary of what you need
This year will see Royal Ascot being broadcast on ITV as part of their ITV Racing programme. It will also be available to stream on ITVX, both live and on-demand.
But if you are abroad, you will not be able to do this without using a VPN connected to a British server. In this article, we have explained how to do this as well as make some recommendations of the best VPNs to use.
Sign up for one of these (I recommend ExpressVPN) and follow our simple instructions and you too can enjoy the jewel in the crown of British horse racing from wherever you are in the world.
30-day money back guarantee
