The 7th season of Game of Thrones is finally here and fans around the world are wondering what’s in store and who will die next. This time, the show started later than usual and this season is set to be shorter than previous ones. Although HBO subscribers won’t have any issue watching what happens in Westeros every week, there are some caveats to consider. For instance, only those in the US can access HBO GO and HBO Now due to geographical restrictions. One of the countries in which users struggle to find practical and affordable options to watch Game of Thrones is Germany. The only service that offers the possibility of watching Game of Thrones at the same time as in the United States is Sky Atlantic, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights in Germany.
Many users don’t want to spend a lot of money paying for Sky, or are already subscribed to another cable TV service. Paying for a whole package just to watch one particular show doesn’t seem to be the most convenient solution. In addition, it is only possible to watch HBO online, if you are subscribed to the cable version. Although torrenting is an appealing option, there are many risks associated to this activity in Germany. Many users who have downloaded torrents have received letters and have been fined thousands of Euros. The problem is that legitimate solutions like HBO NOW are subject to geographical restrictions. While things seen complicated, the good news is that Game of Thrones fans in Germany and other countries, can rely on a VPN as a solution to defeat the blocks.
The number of people who wish to stop paying for cable TV and who prefer to pay for online streaming services is increasing. Unfortunately, even if you are willing to pay in order to watch Game of Thrones on your computer, mobile device or using Chromecast, or Roku, you will come across some limitations. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry is still behind in terms of offering users flexibility to watch what they really want or to pay only for the content that really interests them. The situation with Game of Thrones is a clear example of this. Even those in the US who don’t have or want a cable subscription and prefer to pay for streaming websites, come across issues while trying to find a service that allows them to watch Game of Thrones without having to get a cable subscription, or upgrade their existing one.
Watching Game of Thrones outside United States
If you are not in the United States and try to access HOBO GO to stream Game of Thrones, you will come across an error message letting you know that the content is only available in the US. Since a VPN allows you to change your IP address and appear as if you were connecting from another country, you can make HBO think that you are actually in the US. You just need to connect to a VPN server located in that country and your real IP address will be hidden. Even if you are actually in Germany, you will appear as if you were in the US because you will get an IP from that location. Here are the steps that you can follow in order to defeat geographical locations and watch Game of Thrones.
- Subscribe to a VPN service. Although there are many free VPNs, we advise you to go for a paid solution. This will allow you to enjoy better speeds, reliability and a higher standard of security. We recommend options like ExpressVPN, PureVPN, VPNArea, NordVPN, TorGuard and VyprVPN. These providers are well-established and are known for the good quality of their service.
- Once you have chosen your VPN and created your account, you will be able to download and install the VPN client. Most providers offer their own software, which makes things simple and gives you access to a good set of convenient features.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server in the United States. This will allow you to appear as if you were there. With a US IP address, you will be able to unblock not only HBO, but other options like Hulu.
- The next step is to get HBO NOW. Users in Germany (or anywhere else outside the US), need to make sure that they are connected to the VPN and using a US server before following the steps below.
iOS
First of all, you will need to sign up for a US iTunes account so that you can install the HBO app on your iPhone or iPad. In order to be able to switch your iTunes region without having to use a US credit card, you need to log out of your iTunes account. At the bottom of the iTunes Store, switch your region to United States. Find any free app and select “Get”. You will be asked to create an account and will be given the option to choose “no card”. You can create a new username and password for this account. Enter a US address while making sure that you select no card. You can get a random US address from http://www.fakenamegenerator.com then log out of your iTunes account from within Settings. Then log in using the details of your new US account.
Android
Android users will need to change their region to US on Google Play Store so that they can install US apps on their devices. To do this, make sure that the VPN is running on your Android device and connect to a US server. Go to Settings and then Apps. Search for Google Play Store under “Downloaded” and click on it. Select “Clear Data” and “Force Stop”, then exit Settings. Relaunch the Google Play Store App and you will be able to access apps and content that are available in the US, including HBO’s apps.
Torrents
Subscribing to HBO NOW and downloading the app is the legitimate option to watch Game of Thrones on the go. However, if you are unable to subscribe to the service, the alternative is to use torrent websites. If you opt for this solution, using a VPN is crucial, particularly for users in Germany where there are strict regulations against online piracy. It is important that you keep in mind the implications and risks of downloading torrents in Germany. If you decide to do it, make sure that you take the necessary measures to protect your identity. A VPN disguises your IP address and location, it also encrypts your data, meaning that your ISP, organizations that enforce copyright and other parties, won’t be able to see what you do online.
