Watch American Netflix with these tricks
23.9.2016
Translation: machine translated
The really big selection of films is only available with the American versions of Netflix, HBO and co. I'll show you two simple ways to enjoy the same films as our friends overseas and tell you whether it's even legal.
Netflix has been available in Switzerland for around two years. Compared to its American counterpart, however, our selection of films and series is meagre (around 2,500 films and series to over 5,300). New seasons are often released late, various series are not even available and when searching for films, you are put off with dusty alternatives. You can see which content is available in which countries here. Suppliers such as Hulu and HBO are not even available in this country. I'll show you two methods to change this
.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, a quick note: Netflix has been taking increasingly rigorous action against "foreign viewers", i.e. those who access foreign Netflix via proxy or VPN. This means that many of the familiar tricks no longer work or only work unreliably. In particular, the DNS method, which can be used on practically any device (more on this later), appears to be dead. Nevertheless, we have found a few loopholes.
Method 1: VPN
Netflix always provides you with the local offer. If you're on holiday in Norway, you'll watch slightly different series and films than in Switzerland. Regardless of whether you have a Swiss, American or Norwegian account. You can take advantage of this by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPN services route your internet connection via a country selected by you. In our case, the USA, because that's where the Netflix service is best.
VPN suppliers are a dime a dozen. If you only watch TV via your browser, the easiest way is to install the free Chrome extension Zenmate. Activate it before you start Netflix and you'll be able to watch the US programme.
You may also want to watch "Bob's Burgers" on your tablet or with an Android TV directly on your big screen TV. In this case, you will usually have to use the Netflix app, which is less easy to fool. The best way to do this is to install the corresponding VPN app directly on the device. Experienced users can also set it up directly via the router. After trying out countless suppliers, I finally ended up with Buffered. It costs a bit, but you can test the service for 30 days free of charge. You need the OpenVPN app for Android or iOS, download the config file from the Buffered website, import it into the app and you're done. The connection may be a little too weak for 4K streams, otherwise the service worked reliably for me.
If Buffered no longer works either, Google can help you. A good place to find out whether the VPN service for Netflix is working is to visit the supplier's Facebook page. Users usually complain there if Netflix no longer works.
With VPN, you can also access streaming services that are not yet available in Switzerland, such as Hulu or HBO Now. While you only need to register for Hulu with a VPN switched on and enter any US address on your Swiss credit card, things are a little more complicated with HBO Now. You can currently only subscribe to HBO Now with American Google, iTunes or Amazon accounts. How you can switch your accounts is beyond the scope of this article, but Google will certainly help you. Once you have cancelled the plans, the usage is exactly the same as with Netflix.
Method 2: DNS
The DNS solution is faster and more flexible than VPN. All you have to do is change the two DNS addresses in the network settings of the desired devices (TV, smartphone, PC). You can find instructions for this with all DNS suppliers. Works practically everywhere from TVs to PCs and consoles. Unlike with VPN, your connection is not redirected via a foreign server, but it is merely faked that you are somewhere else. It's like changing the number plate on your car. Suppliers such as uflix or Overplay only cost a few francs a month. Unfortunately does not currently work with Netflix. However, HBO Now and co. can still be fooled. There are also free DNS addresses on the internet, but these are less reliable and privacy can suffer as a result.
Is this even legal?
According to Swiss lawyer Martin Steiger, VPN tricks do not make you liable to prosecution under Swiss copyright law. The Netflix T&Cs do not stipulate an absolute ban either. In the worst-case scenario, Netflix could block the account, explains Steiger when asked. However, he has never heard of such a case. You can find out more about this on his blog.
Bonus tip: Chrome extension
A little tip for Netflix users: Get the Chrome extension Flix Plus. It supplements film and series information with IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes ratings and other practical links. You can also watch YouTube trailers directly. Really extremely practical.
If you prefer to watch Netflix and co. on the big screen, the following products will help you
You can install streaming apps directly on these two devices
Or you can go straight for a TV that supports apps: Either a normal SmartTV
Or a SmartTV that is based on Android
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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