When Jawed Karim uploaded his “Me at the Zoo” video on YouTube on April 23rd, 2005, it was improbable he would have realized just how big the platform would get. YouTube has gone through several transformations over the past few years, making it the perfect media sharing platform on the internet. YouTube TV is one of the many shades of that transformation. It offers audiences the chance to enjoy the same privileges as regular cable TV with access to all the most popular channels, straight from your phone. However, there’s one problem: it is geo-restricted only for US audiences. But there is a way to circumvent those restrictions and enjoy YouTube TV in Canada. Read on to learn more.
How To Watch YouTube TV in Canada
Want to watch the popular pre-game and post-game analysis on ESPN, or wish to watch MacGyver the same day in Canada that it airs in the US? YouTube TV’s the best place to do so. Here’s how you can access YouTube TV in Canada anytime you want:
- Subscribe to a PureVPN package.
- Download and install PureVPN on your Windows/macOS or get it from the app store for your Android/iOS.
- Connect to a US server.
- Head over to YouTube TV and log in with your credentials.
What is YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is, in simple words, the future of cable TV. The younger generation is moving away from traditional television. This is increasingly apparent in the burgeoning subscriptions for streaming services. However, there is still a lot of content on cable TV that’s enough to warrant a subscription. That’s where YouTube TV comes in.
Using the same subscription model as regular cable TV, you get access to a whole bunch of popular channels that you can watch from the comfort of your smartphone or PC. Other perks include no recorder fees, HD-quality videos (at times 4K), and by far the best part, no ads.
However, as good as the service sounds, it’s also geo-restricted to US audiences. This is where a premium VPN such as PureVPN can help you access it from anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds.
How Does a VPN Give You Access to YouTube TV in Canada?
Digital streaming services such as YouTube TV go to great lengths to ensure that you can’t watch geo-restricted content from outside the intended country. By far the safest, and most effective way to get around those restrictions is via a VPN. But how exactly does a VPN give you access to such sites and content?
It starts with your IP address. While you’re on the internet, your IP address is your most important identifier. It is how streaming platforms recognize where you’re trying to log in from. And that’s how they know who to block and who to grant access to. This is where a VPN comes in. Once you connect to a VPN with a US server, the VPN “masks” your actual IP address with a US one.
That way, you won’t encounter any issues when trying to access geo-restricted content from the US since your IP address is technically being displayed as a US one.
Fair warning though, you’ll need a premium VPN that can give you access to a fair number of servers for this to work. This is why you must read the following part.
Will a Free VPN Perform Just As Well?
Now that you’ve realized what a VPN can do for you, it’s only natural to wonder, “Why can’t I go for the free ones rather than a paid one?” It makes sense considering that these free VPNs market themselves as being just as capable as any premium VPN on the market. Their claims range from providing you access to all geo-restricted content to giving you absolute privacy. If this sounds too good to be true, it’s because they are.
Do the math: providing you access to enough servers that’ll restore access to any geo-restricted content globally, or providing you multi-logins along with the best possible encryption protocols, takes a lot of resources. Free VPNs do not have that kind of resources. Plus, if they’re not charging you for their service, it’s because they’re making up their money elsewhere.
How? Well, selling your activity logs to third parties such as advertisers, or worse, government agencies. Those pesky pop-up ads you keep getting on your phone? You can thank the free VPNs for that. Other problems include bandwidth throttling, frequent disconnections, and terrible customer support. By the end of the day, you’ll probably end up asking yourself if all this was worth saving the couple of bucks a premium VPN would have cost.
Getting the Playback Error on YouTube TV?
Though rare, sometimes you might encounter a playback error when you’re watching a show on YouTube TV. In almost all instances, it is down to the following reasons:
Bad internet connection: YouTube TV won’t run properly unless you have at least a 5MBPs connection.
Too many users: YouTube TV does not support more than three streams simultaneously. In case you try logging in with a fourth device, you’ll get this error.
TV not compatible: In some instances, your smart TV may not be compatible with YouTube TV.
Channel issue: Sometimes YouTube TV is fine, but the particular channel you’re trying to watch may be down.
YouTube TV might be down: The service might be temporarily down, nothing more you can do other than waiting for it to come back up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some other questions you might have about watching YouTube TV in Canada:
How much would YouTube TV cost in Canada?
YouTube TV subscription in the US costs $69.99 per month. If you access it via a VPN in Canada, you can expect to pay CAD 85.95.
Why is YouTube TV not available in Canada?
YouTube TV is only available for audiences in the United States since it’s a geo-restricted service. You’ll need to use a VPN in Canada if you want to access it.
Is Google TV available in Canada?
Yes, Google TV became available in Canada in September 2020. However, you’ll need to purchase a Chromecast device to watch it.
Will YouTube TV work with a VPN?
Yes, provided you use a premium VPN such as PureVPN, you’ll have no issues accessing YouTube TV outside the US and enjoy more than 85 US TV channels such as ESPN, ABS, FOX, NBC, CBS, and many more.
How do I access YouTube TV on my TV?
If you wish to watch YouTube TV on your TV, there are a few ways to do it. You can use PureVPN to access YouTube TV and watch it on your Smart TV. Follow the instructions below to watch YouTube TV on the big screen:
- First, sign up for PureVPN.
- Next, download and install the PureVPN app on your device.
- Once you have installed the app, launch it and connect to a US server.
- Go to YouTube TV and sign in with your account details.
- You should now be able to watch YouTube TV on your TV.
If you have any trouble, get in touch with PureVPN’s support team via the Live Chat option.
PureVPN
June 20, 2023
10 months ago
