There is something particularly frustrating about trying to watch a familiar TV channel while you are away from home. You find the programme you want, press play, and instead of a stream you get a message saying it is unavailable in your region. I get it all the time with the BBC and usually forget that BBC iPlayer won’t work when I travel. That is what often happens with 7plus, the free streaming service from Australia’s Seven Network. You may be able to browse its listings but not play live channels or catch-up programmes.
The good news is that there is a fairly straightforward way to try accessing it: connect through an Australian VPN server before opening 7plus.
Why Does a Free TV Service Block Overseas Viewers?
It is not a question of payment. 7plus is free to use, but free does not mean worldwide. Broadcasters license programmes and sports for particular countries, and overseas rights may belong to another company. To enforce those agreements, streaming sites check the public IP address of your connection. If your address points overseas, 7plus can refuse playback.
A VPN changes the address visible to the streaming service. Connect to a server in Sydney, for example, and 7plus sees the Australian server’s IP address rather than the one issued by your usual internet provider.
Getting Connected
- Start by choosing a VPN with Australian servers and reasonable streaming speeds.
- I use NordVPN myself, but the procedure is similar with other providers. None can promise uninterrupted access.
- Install the VPN application on your computer or phone, open it and select Australia. Sydney is a sensible place to start.
- Wait until the VPN confirms that it is connected, then visit 7plus.com.au in your browser.
If you have already tried playing something before connecting, refresh the page. Open a live channel or an on-demand programme and see whether the player starts. You are still using the ordinary 7plus website.
Here’s the example of how to watch 7 Plus or any Australian TV abroad –
Do You Need an Account?
For much of its live and catch-up content, 7plus asks viewers to sign in. Registration is free and normally involves an email address, password, basic personal details and an Australian postcode. Sydney’s central postcode is 2000 and central Melbourne’s is 3000. You should provide accurate details as far as age goes but don’t need to put your real name or anything remeber to check the registration terms.
If you already have an account, use that rather than creating another. You may also need to confirm your email address before the player works properly. There is no paid streaming subscription to set up.
What If 7plus Still Refuses to Play?
A VPN connection does not guarantee success. Streaming providers can identify and block some VPN addresses, and your browser may retain information from an earlier session. Try a different Australian server first. Switching from Sydney to Melbourne sometimes gives you a fresh IP address that is not being blocked. Then reload the page. If that fails, open a private browsing window, sign in again and test the player. Alternatively, delete the site’s cookies.
Occasionally an ad-blocker or strict tracking-protection setting interferes with the video player, so it is worth testing with the site temporarily exempted or just pause the ad blocker for a while to help troubleshoot. On a phone or streaming device, connect the VPN before starting the 7plus app. If the app was already open, fully close and reopen it.
One Last Thing to Consider
So, a VPN also encrypts traffic between your device and its server, which is useful on hotel and café Wi-Fi. It does not make you anonymous, however, and you are placing some trust in the VPN company. VPN use is legal in the UK, but accessing Australian-only streams from overseas may conflict with 7plus’s terms.
For viewers who miss familiar Australian programmes, the process is worth understanding: Australian VPN server, ordinary 7plus website, free account, then a quick playback test. If one server fails, do not assume they all will.