How to watch Now TV from anywhere

(Image credit: Now)

Now — formerly Now TV — has been a popular product on the U.K. streaming market for over a decade now. Initially launched in 2012, it has given fans of drama, sitcoms, films and sports an avenue to watch Sky TV content, just without the onerously long and expensive contracts. Want to watch Now TV from anywhere? We'll show you how below...

The appeal of a Now Membership is manifold. For starters, it's completely commitment free, meaning you have the option to sign up on a rolling monthly basis that lets you cancel any time. Plus, it's divided into different content types, so you don't end up feeling like your paying for channels that you're simply never going to watch.

And because it gives access to some of Sky's most popular content, you can take advantage of Now as and when you need it to watch televisions's watercooler moments. So that might be every episode of "Heated Rivalry" on Now Entertainment, Ryder Cup golf action on Now Sports, or Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the latest "Wuthering Heights" adaptation on Now Cinema.

That's all well and good if you're in the British Isles, but what happens when you want to watch the best of Sky while abroad on holiday or for business? That's where using one of the best VPNs comes in. Find out why below.

How to watch Now TV in the U.K.

The first thing you have to decide when considering Now, is the kind of membership you're interested in. You can choose between (prices and channel line-ups correct at the time of writing):

Now Entertainment (from £3.99/month): Sky Atlantic, Sky One, Sky Comedy, Sky Witness, U&Gold, U&alibi, Sky Arts, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries, Sky Kids, Sky Nature, Sky Mix, Sky Sci-Fi, Sky History, Comedy Central, MTV
Now Sports (from £14.99/day or £27.99/month): Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Plus
Now Cinema (from £4.99/month): "Access to the latest blockbusters, new and exclusive Sky Original movies and iconic film collections"

While flexible monthly rolling plans are available for each, you can save money by committing to longer periods.

There's also the option to add extra channels such as HBO Max and Hayu, and to combine memberships to make additional savings. For example, right now you can go for a Cinema + Entertainment + HBO Max bundle for £13.98/month; ordinarily that would cost £20.

How to watch now tv — (Image credit: Now TV)

The default picture resolution for streaming content on Now is 720p SD. But you also have the choice of paying extra for a Boost (£6/month) or Ultra Boost (£9/month) add-on that gives access to HD and Ultra HD 4K respectively.

In terms of the devices on which you can watch Now content, they include: Amazon Fire Stick, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV, iOS, LG Smart TVs, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, TalkTalk, VIDAA, Windows PC and Mac OS, Xbox and YouView.

Try accessing your Now Membership through your web browser or its app when outside the U.K. and you'll soon be faced with an error message that stops you in your tracks.

This is where getting hold of a good streaming VPN is a great choice. Using a virtual private network allows you to pick and choose the regional IP address that your laptop, smartphone or streaming device thinks you're located from. So even if you're in France, Australia or Timbuktu, you can make them think you're still in old Blighty.

You'll want a VPN that has a reputation for fast connection speeds, reliable servers based in Great Britain, and has the skillset to unblock Now (and, ideally, any other streaming services you favor). You can see our rundown of the best U.K. VPNs here.

What is the best VPN for Now TV?

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to stream Now content, you'd select a United Kingdom server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Now and watch your favorite programmes, films and sport from anywhere.

Live sports on Now TV

McIlroy and Fleetwood get the win after a nervy foursomes game in day 2 of the Ryder Cup. — (Image credit: Getty Images- Michael Reaves/ PGA of America)

Sky Sports has long been a byword in the U.K. for the very best live sports coverage. Over the years it has eroded the number of sports Brits can watch on free-to-air TV, while resisting behind-the-paywall competition from the likes of TNT Sports, BT Sport, ESPN and Setanta.

And, of course, every minute is available to anybody that subscribes to Now Sports, too.

To compile an exhaustive list of all the sports you can find on Sky and Now could take all day, but they include (deep breath):

Soccer: Premier League, EFL, Women's Super League, SPL, Bundesliga
Cricket: England Tests, ODIs and T20is, ICC World Cups, The Hundred, T20 Blast, Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League
Darts: World Darts Championship, Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, World Cup of Darts
Golf: All four majors (Open Championship, Masters, US Open, US PGA), Ryder Cup, all PGA and LPGA Tour events
Motorsport: Formula 1, Formula 2, IndyCar
Rugby Union: British and Irish Lions, Rugby Championship, selected internationals
Rugby League: Super League, NRL (Incl. State of Origin)
Tennis: US Open, ATP Finals, all Masters 1000s & ATP 500s
American sports: NFL (incl. Super Bowl), NBA, WNBA,

What else is on Now?

Film fan? Now Cinema comprises the entire 1,000+ library of on-demand movies featured on Sky Cinema.

So that includes latest releases like "Wicked: For Good", "Wuthering Heights" and Oscar-winning "One Battle After Another", as well as a litany of classics including "The Lord of the Rings", Jaws", "E.T.", "Grease", "Notting Hill" and many, many more.

Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another — (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

If the small screen is more your things, Now Entertainment gives you the benefit of the hours upon hours of programming that goes out on the 16 channels listed above.

Sky Atlantic is a great place to catch some of the planet's best long-form dramas. From current fare like "House of the Dragon" and "The Day of the Jackal", to generation defining classics such as "Chernobyl" and "Succession".

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Access to Sky One's programming means you can stream "Saturday Night Live UK", "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" and "The Walking Dead", and there's tons more to trawl through thanks to channels dedicated to comedy, kids, documentaries, nature, history, and the arts.

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Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Adam was the Content Director of Subscriptions and Services at Future, meaning that he oversaw many of the articles the publisher produces about antivirus software, VPN, TV streaming, broadband and mobile phone contracts - from buying guides and deals news, to industry interest pieces and reviews. Adam can still be seen dusting his keyboard off to write articles for the likes of TechRadar, T3 and Tom's Guide, having started his career at consumer champions Which?.