ZDF, Based in Mainz, Rhineland-palatinate, is a public service TV broadcasting service. ZDF is a geo-restricted platform and can only be accessed in Germany.
However, to watch ZDF outside Germany, you can access German IP with a VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN.
A VPN bypasses the geo-restrictions by masking your IP address and connecting you to the internet over an encrypted tunnel.
This article will teach you exactly how to watch ZDF outside Germany.
What Is A VPN?
A VPN or a virtual private network conceals your online identity by connecting you to a remote server over an encrypted tunnel. VPNs use advanced encryption and communication protocols like 256-bit AES, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP.
Strong encryption helps your internet traffic to ensure that your data is safe from hackers and other snoopers, regardless of whether you are on a public or a shared network.
VPN provides features to bypass the geographical restrictions on a streaming platform and avoid ISP throttling.
How To Unblock ZDF Outside Germany Using A VPN?
You can easily unblock ZDF outside Germany by following the steps mentioned below:
- Subscribe to a VPN service like ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN.
- Open the VPN app and sign in.
- Once you are signed in, connect to a server located in Germany.
- Now open zdf.de and sign up.
- Once you have signed up on the platform, you can easily watch ZDF outside Germany without any restrictions.
Why Do You Need A VPN To Unblock ZDF Outside Germany?
ZDF's programming is mainly restricted to the German market. Several programs are also available to viewers in Switzerland and Austria. However, you will get an error message if you try to access the streaming service outside Germany.
Geo-blocking is the act of restricting access to certain materials based on a user's physical location. Because of copyright and licensing agreements, streaming services and TV broadcasters must impose geo-blocking.
ZDF employs geo-blocking to prevent access from locations where it does not have permission to disseminate its material. A virtual private network, however, allows you to securely bypass ZDF's geo-blocking technology by connecting to a server in Germany.
If you have a German IP address, ZDF will assume that you are physically located in Germany and provide you access. To successfully stream ZDF from overseas, I suggest using one of the VPNs I evaluated.
Best VPN To Unlock ZDF Outside Germany:
Our team tested more than 50 VPN services with servers in Germany and shortlisted only three of them to unblock ZDF outside Germany. However, ExpressVPN is the best VPN to unblock ZDF.
Following are the best VPN services:
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
- NordVPN
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN, based in the British Virgin Islands, is the best VPN to unblock ZDF outside Germany. ExpressVPN offers 256-bit AES encryption and robust communication protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSEC, and L2TP to unblock ZDF outside Germany.
You may enjoy superior streaming quality with ExpressVPN's Media Streamer feature. A media streamer is helpful for streaming ZDF on devices that do not have built-in VPN functionality.
The media streamer does not encrypt your device's communication. This means it is not great for internet security but works well for video streaming. To top it all off, ExpressVPN allows you to stream ZDF in Ultra HD on up to five devices simultaneously, with no bandwidth limits.
ExpressVPN has a zero-logging policy and employs RAM-only servers, which remove data whenever the servers are restarted.
However, if you find a flaw in any of these safeguards, you may still get a $100,000 bug bounty.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is the best pocket-friendly VPN service to unblock ZDF outside Germany. Surfshark lets you watch ultra HD content on an infinite number of devices simultaneously. Furthermore, Surfshark is a whitelister VPN, which includes a Bypasser Split tunneling mechanism that lets you add or remove programs from the VPN connection.
The surfshark is an exception to the rule of the five-eyed sharks. WireGuard, IPSec, and IKEv2 are some protocols that Surfshark supports, along with the more advanced 256-bit AES encryption. It also employs ram-only servers and has a strict no-logs policy to prevent any information from being saved.
Surfshark can help you overcome ISP throttling, which might result in slow streaming rates if you don't use a VPN.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN Is the best VPN with the largest network of servers to unblock ZDF outside Germany. With NordVPN's limitless bandwidth, you can stream ultra HD videos on as many as six devices simultaneously.
If you're worried about your online security, you may utilize NordVPN's Double VPN feature, which routes your data via not one but two different VPN servers.
While NordVPN is fast, its split tunneling feature allows you to choose which programs use the VPN connection and which don't. GPS spoofing makes a streaming service like ZDF believe you are physically close to the server.
Conclusion
By now, you know how to watch ZDF outside Germany. We have provided you with all the steps necessary to unblock ZDF. However, if you are still confused, we recommend you reread the article.
ZDF is a geo-restricted streaming platform. However, you can unblock ZDF outside Germany using a VPN like ExpressVPN. A VPN bypasses the geographical restrictions set by the streaming platforms by connecting you through an encrypted VPN tunnel.
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