From older titles to those you can’t watch on a local connection, using a VPN service is your gateway to whole new worlds of content.
To say that I love streaming TV shows and movies is a grave understatement.
Ever since I left Facebook and drastically lessened my time on social media, I’ve divided my free time between reading and streaming (and a bit of cooking and baking in between). And this love for TV shows and films, especially cooking and travel shows and documentaries was what led me to subscribe to a Virtual Private Network or VPN service.
A VPN creates a secure connection between a device and a remote server over the internet. VPNs are used to protect a user’s online activity by encrypting their data and masking their IP address. Aside from enhancing your security while trawling the internet, having a VPN connection means that you can change your location depending on the list of countries that’s available on your provider.
We used to subscribe to Nord VPN, which I highly recommend but it’s expensive. This year, we switched to Surfshark, which is almost half the price of Nord’s but delivers the goods just as fine.
Subscribing to a VPN service served as my gateway to streaming platforms I otherwise wouldn’t have access to on a local connection. And because Christmas is a time for giving, I’ve decided to share a few tips and recommendations that have enriched my viewing experience. You’re welcome!
HBO Max
Filipinos finally have HBO Max. After over two years of making do with HBO Go’s limited library and lower tech specs, we can now watch our favorite HBO shows alongside other brands such as Discovery, AFN (Asian Food Network), TLC, Food Network, and HGTV.
Related story: HBO Max is now in the Philippines! Here’s what awaits us couch potatoes
Related story: ‘Squid Game’ season 2 and the most anticipated shows to binge this December
As soon as I migrated from Go to Max, I immediately browsed the collections of different countries using my trusty VPN. What I discovered? If you choose to log in while using a Mexico or Hong Kong VPN, the options are so much more varied! It has several Latin American series or telenovelas for starters, and I highly recommend the newest adaptation of Como Agua para Chocolate/Like Water for Chocolate, which deserves an entry of its own because it’s BRILLIANT.
Discovery on Mexico and Hong Kong servers also have more titles and episodes. My family’s favorite show Expedition Unknown, for instance, has all seasons (except season 2) compared with only seasons 11, 12, and 13 for Southeast Asian subscribers. Food Network shows like those hosted by Ina Garten and Giada de Laurentiis also have more episodes and seasons.
SBS On Demand
This site is one of the reasons why I have been a VPN subscriber for almost 4 years and counting. SBS On Demand’s catalogue is so impressive, it rivals that of Netflix or HBO Max! And the best part? It’s free as long as you have a VPN service.
For starters, it carries shows from different streaming platforms, which means you don’t have to subscribe to several sites as long as you can access SBS Australia. It has HBO Max’s Tokyo Vice and My Brilliant Friend, Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Homeland from Disney+, among many other series and films.
Related story: The top 10 box office films of 2024 are all sequels
Related story: First look: ‘Tokyo Vice’ season 2
What I love best about SBS Australia, though, is its wealth of food and travel series and documentaries. Fan of Anthony Bourdain? The platform has all of his shows from A Cook’s Tour to The Layover, No Reservations to Parts Unknown.
Every single Adam Liaw series is also part of the catalogue, as well as those featuring Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, David Rocco, Guillaume Brahimi, Luke Nguyen, and so many others. CNN Originals such as the highly acclaimed series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico are also available. There’s just plenty more! So if you have a VPN and love streaming TV shows and movies, this is one of the best free sites out there.
MeWatch
This free streaming platform is owned by Mediacorp, a Singapore-based media company which also owns CNA (Channel News Asia). I love CNA’s shows so much and that’s how I stumbled upon this gem of a site which I think not too many Filipinos are familiar with.
If you love CNA’s documentaries—which are topnotch and very highly recommended, by the way—and shows from AFN, then I assure you’d be pretty impressed with MeWatch’s catalogue. HBO Max already has AFN, but since many of the shows are produced by Mediacorp, some titles on MeWatch have more episodes or seasons, such as the delightful Old Taste Detective and World Food.
MeWatch also has a wide selection of Chinese and Bollywood content, and even a few from BBC. Oh, make sure your VPN is set to Singapore!
BBC iPlayer
Patience is a virtue when accessing this site, which could take several tries before you’ll be able to access it. Generous rewards, however, await the patient. If you’re a fan of British shows, then this site is a veritable wonderland.
Related story: First look: ‘Expats’ on Prime Video
Related story: 10 Japanese dramas you should be streaming on Netflix right now
BBC iPlayer carries popular titles such as Peaky Blinders, Normal People, and Showtrial, as well as classics like Wolf Hall and Doctor Who. It also has impressive film and documentary catalogues. And the best part? All these for free if you have a VPN!
Crunchyroll
Every anime lover is familiar with Crunchyroll. Filipinos are lucky because subscription is pretty cheap at only P79/month, which already gives access to many of the most popular titles these days like Demon Slayer, Dan Da Dan, and My Hero Academia.
My son and I, however, discovered that if you set your VPN to a first world country like the US or Canada, you’ll get access to a much deeper collection, a quick browse through the titles alphabetically reveals this. Using a VPN set to North American locations will yield older titles such as Cardcaptor Sakura (including its most recent season, Clear Card Arc), Gintama, Cowboy Bebop, and earlier seasons of Dragon Ball.
What about Netflix?
When I browse Netflix catalogues using different locations, I notice that the titles mostly are the same. There are differences, of course, and this can be seen in the Top 10 lists, and each country would have more of their own local content as well. This said, I have yet to spend more time comparing Netflix catalogues per country and I’d make sure to write about it, too!
Related story: REVIEW: ‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ will make you want to hug your lola (or lolo) a little tighter today
Related story: ‘Culinary Class Wars’ elevates cooking competition shows to a whole new level
