How to Watch CTV Outside Canada

Canadian TV is well-known to be one of the top go-to entertainment in the world. We’re talking about shows like Masterchef Canada, Cardinal, and so many more. But what channels hosts such programs? Well, CTV, of course. Accessing the channel in Canada is pretty easy. The problem lies with those living or traveling abroad, as the service is only available within Canadian borders. Don’t fret, that’s about to change today. Here’s how you can watch CTV anywhere in the world.

CTV Television Network – Canadians Allowed Only

Despite having a large catalog of content to sink your teeth (or eyes) into, the channel is only available to those who reside in Canada. You see, CTV applies what we call geo-blocking. A mechanism used to protect copyrights in certain geographical locations.

As it happens to be, CTV’s content is not allowed to be viewed outside the Canadian borders. So, if you’re living or traveling overseas, you’ll miss out on some of the best TV shows, movies, and programs the channel has to offer.

The service can determine your location by looking up your IP address. That’s not all. Your public IP can reveal a lot of information that might jeopardize your privacy. Aside from your location, a website can determine what browser and device you’re operating on. 

If CTV examines your IP and figures out that you’re outside its area of coverage, the following error message will pop up:

“We’re sorry, this content is only available for viewing in Canada. 72.”

To be honest, CTV is a great platform for streamers looking to enjoy tons of new, varied content. That’s why I came up with this guide, to help you unblock it no matter where you’re residing on the map. 

CTV – Canada-restricted No More

Technically speaking, Bell Media most probably doesn’t want to purchase licensing rights in every single country around the world. But still, you can access the channel even if it’s blocked in your country with the help of a Virtual Private Network.

VPNs unblock CTV by giving you a new IP address based on the server you choose within Canada. But how do they do that? Well, a VPN is a cybersecurity tool that reroutes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server in a specific country.

Once you’re connected, the VPN will shield your data and hide your identity, which protects you against hacking and monitoring attempts. Also, according to the server you choose, you’ll get an IP address in its respective country.

For example, if you connect to a Canadian server, you’ll receive a Canadian IP address. And what channel needs a Candian IP to operate? You guessed it, CTV. Now you can stream top Canadian content anywhere in the world with a push of a button.

What Steps Need to Be Followed?

Here’s what you need to do in order to get CTV outside Canada:

1. First, sign up with a well-known VPN provider that has speedy servers in Canada. In this case, I recommend ExpressVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN application on your device. You’ll find compatible clients on Android, PC, Mac, and iOS.
3. Activate the app, sign in, and head over to the server list.
4. Navigate until you find a Canadian server and hit connect.
5. Wait a few moments and check if the connection took place using this IP tool.
6. Launch CTV.
7. Stream top Canadian television anywhere in the world.

Best VPN for CTV

You’ll find dozens of VPN providers that claim to be number one on the market, but they’re just claims. If you want an easy and efficient way to unblock the likes of CTV and hundreds of other channels, I advise you to go for ExpressVPN.

It’s the ultimate tool that takes customers’ privacy and security seriously. It provides you with military-grade encryption along with over the top security protocols. But that’s not all. Unblocking geo-restricted channels require a good server network. Well, ExpressVPN has a global one with over 3000 servers in 94 countries. You can tell that you won’t be running out of options any time soon.

Also, the provider provides some advanced tools, like a kill switch, which terminates your internet access if a sudden drop in your connection occurs. That way, none of your data goes leaking back to your ISP’s server.

Connecting to an ExpressVPN server is pretty fast. During my evaluation, the provider took almost 4 seconds to connect, which is pretty good. Moreover, ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that can work around Netflix’s VPN ban. So, wherever you are, expect to have Netflix’s US library with a push of a button.

Although ExpressVPN is one of the tops, it’s still not the only one that can get the job done. In case it wasn’t your number one pick, check the list below and pick an alternative.

CTV Compatible Devices

Unblocking the channel is one thing, and finding that it’s not supported on your device is another. What good is getting the channel if you don’t have the platform to play it on? Therefore, I suggest you check the devices below and see if yours is listed among them:

• Windows
• Mac
• iPhone
• iPad
• Android
• Apple TV
• Samsung Smart TV
• Xbox One

What’s on CTV

Now that you’re one step closer to getting CTV in your country, shouldn’t you know what you’ll be gaining in the process? Here are a couple of titles that CTV offers:

• The Big Bang Theory
• Blindspot
• Blue Bloods
• Cardinal
• Carter
• Criminal Minds
• The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
• The Amazing Race Canada
• American Idol
• American Ninja Warrior
• Dr. Phil
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show
• For The People
• The Good Doctor
• Grey’s Anatomy
• MLB
• NBA
• CFL
• Curling
• How to Get Away with Murder
• Law & Order: SVU
• The Alec Baldwin Show
• Magnum P.I. NEW SERIES
• MasterChef
• MasterChef Canada
• NHL
• Canadian Open (Golf)

CTV Abroad – Final Words

CTV is a premium broadcasting channel that allows you to watch some of the world’s best programs. However, it’s coverage rights are strictly restricted to Canada unless you make use of a VPN. You now know what you have to do. If you encounter any problems setting up your VPN, make sure to contact me in the comments below.