Key Highlights
- This year’s Winter Olympics will feature 116 events across eight sports.
- The Olympics are being held in Milan and Cortina, Italy, from February 4 to 20, with the opening ceremony on February 4.
- In the US, NBC is the primary broadcaster for Olympic coverage, but a VPN can provide access to free international streams.
- Many countries offer free streaming options, often in foreign languages.
- A quality, vetted provider from CNET’s list of best VPNs is recommended for reliable streaming performance and security.
The Winter Olympics: A Global Spectacle with Regional Restrictions
This year’s Winter Olympics, set to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, from February 4 to 20, will showcase the world’s top athletes competing across 116 events. Yet, as with many major sporting events, international broadcasting presents a challenge for viewers outside their home regions.
The US, like other countries, has limited options for catching all the action. NBC is the primary broadcaster in the United States, but you may miss out on key events if you don’t have paid subscriptions or local access.
This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes into play. A VPN allows you to bypass these regional restrictions and stream content from other countries.
Accessing Free International Streams with a VPN
Free streaming options are available in many countries, but they often come with caveats. For instance, the UK’s BBC iPlayer and Australia’s 9Now both offer free Olympic broadcasts, albeit potentially in foreign languages. You might need to create an account or enter your postal code to access the content.
These sites can be challenging to navigate if you’re not fluent in the language.
For those who prefer English-language streams, consider these options:
- UK: BBC iPlayer
- Australia: 9Now
- Canada: CBC Gem
- Ireland: RTE Player
- New Zealand: Sky Go
Other countries with free streams include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and more. Each of these sites requires you to connect to a server in the relevant country through your chosen VPN.
The Role of a Reliable VPN
A reliable, quality VPN is crucial for ensuring smooth streaming performance and maintaining privacy online. CNET’s list of best VPNs can help you choose one that offers servers in 100-plus countries, including the ones necessary for accessing these international streams.
Some notable options include NordVPN and ExpressVPN, which cost $13 per month but offer more robust services compared to their cheaper counterparts. Proton VPN and Surfshark are also excellent choices at lower prices: Proton costs $10 per month while Surfshark is slightly higher at $15.45 per month.
Once you’ve selected your provider, downloading the app and signing in is straightforward.
Simply choose a server location from the list of available servers to stream content from that region. This process typically takes just a few seconds once connected.
The Case Against Free VPNs
While free options are tempting, they often come with significant drawbacks. Free services can be slow and unreliable due to limited server capacity and potential logging of your online activity. Proton’s free tier is the only option recommended by CNET for general web browsing but lacks the necessary features for reliable streaming.
Free VPNs may also pose security risks, as some have been found to sell user data or even contain malware.
For a safe and secure experience, investing in a paid service is highly recommended. However, if you’re on a tight budget, consider requesting a refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
Remember, the Winter Olympics are just one of many events where a reliable streaming solution can make all the difference. Whether it’s the Olympics or your next big game, a good quality VPN ensures you don’t miss any of the action.