Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) is a free-to-air public broadcasting network in Belgium, the southern, French-speaking region.
RTBF hosts interesting programs which are available for free on the website. It offers both live and on-demand programming.
Nevertheless, it’s incredibly inconvenient that it’s restricted everywhere except Belgium. If you want to watch RTBF in Canada, you’ll need to use a VPN to access the service via a Belgium server.
If you try to access RTBF from a country where it is blocked, like Canada, without (VPN), you will get an error message that:
“This content is visible only in Belgium.”
I could stream RTBF in Canada with the help of ExpressVPN is our recommended choice and the other best VPNs I have discussed below.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice for effectively bypassing geo-restrictions and protecting your online identity while watching RTBF in Canada.
Subscribe to ExpressVPN right away to receive three additional months for free. Use all of its features, as you have a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.
How to Watch RTBF in Canada
RTBF broadcast is solely available in Belgium. RTBF is a free-to-air service but you will need to create a free account to stream its content.
Here are the steps to watch RTBF in Canada:
Step 1: Subscribe to a good VPN service (ExpressVPN is our recommended choice)
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN and install it on your device
Step 3: Open the VPN app and connect to the Belgium Server
Step 4: Open the RTBF website and click on “Se Connector”Â
Step 5: Click on Creer un compte to sign up
Step 6: Enter your email, password,, first and last name, and 1000 on the postal code.
Step 7: Check your email, and complete on Valdier mon complete to verify your email address.
Step 8: Review your information and click Valider.
Note: It is possible that you might find this email in your spam/junk folder
Step 9:Â Visit the website again and click on the show you want to watch, e.g., Good Doctor.
Step 10: Start streaming!
3 Best Recommended VPNs to Watch RTBF in Canada
We have tried 35+ VPNs to find out which works best. These top 3 VPNs will help you unblock RTBF in Canada. The VPNs are:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended VPN for accessing RTBF from Canada because it has a server in Belgium. It is quite pleasing because it avoids annoying buffering during streaming because it has a blazing-fast speed (89 Mbps out of 100 Mbps).
You can stream other channels such as RTVE, Sky Go, DIRECTV Now, and other services with ExpressVPN’s 3,000 servers in 94 different countries.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day refund policy which costs $6.67/month. You can use ExpressVPN on 5 devices simultaneously with a single account.
2. SurfShark
Surfshark is another VPN that we recommend to Canadian users. It is possible to watch RTBF in Canada using 2 Belgium servers and a speed of 83 Mbps out of 100.
Surfshark can unblock geo-restricted streaming services in addition to RTBF, thanks to its 3,200 servers in 65 countries. For example, you can watch A&E, ViuTV, ITV Hub, and other stations in Canada.
It has data security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and DNS. Additionally, you can use unlimited devices simultaneously with Surfshark VPN.
Subscriptions to Surfshark cost $2.49/month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.Â
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is another suggested VPN. It has 60 Belgium servers it can let you watch RTBF in Canada. With its exceptional speed of 81 Mbps out of 100, you may watch live television, movies, and other forms of entertainment without buffering.
NordVPN boasts more than 5,200 servers in 59 countries, allowing you to access geo-restricted channels and watch your chosen television shows.
This VPN service works well for people who desire additional security features such as 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6, DNS, no-log policy, WebRTC leak protection, and a programmed kill switch.
You may subscribe to NordVPN for $2.99/month, which includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, a single NordVPN account can be used simultaneously on up to six devices.
Why do I need a VPN to Watch RTBF in Canada?
Due to licensing restrictions, several Belgium television channels can only broadcast their programming in Belgium. License agreements of channels, such as RTBF, restrict their ability to distribute locally-produced films and television shows in Canada.
Channels must keep their programming within the parameters outlined in their licenses and contracts. Hence, RTBF is restricted to Belgium citizens only. Accessing them outside Belgium will result in geo-error messages.
However, you can easily deal with geo-restrictions by using a VPN to mask your true IP address. The IP address is a unique number on the internet that defines your geographical location.Â
After you press “Connect” on a VPN, your real IP address will be masked. Connecting to a server in Belgium will cause your IP address to change to that of Belgium. Thus, RTBF will assume your location is within the parameters and give you access.
What Can I Watch on RTBF?
RTBF features entertaining content, including comedy, romance, rom-com, and thrillers. Some of the binge-worthy content available includes:
- Tomorrow is Ours
- Plan Cult
- Views
- Culture Club
- Ladies in Rock
- Archives
- Melting Port Cafe
Alternatives of RTBF to view in Canada
Apart from RTBF, there are many other major streaming services that you can easily view while using a VPN, such as:
- Watch 6Play in Canada
- Watch France 2 in Canada
- Watch Canal+ in Canada
- Watch Salto in Canada
- Watch RTLplay in Canada
FAQs – RTBF
How can I watch RTBF outside Belgium?
Since RTBF is geo-restricted outside Belgium, you will need to use a premium VPN, such as ExpressVPN, which has servers in Belgium.
Is RTBF free?
Yes. Since 2016, RTBF Auvio has compiled a free video on demand (VOD) which you can stream after signing up.
Conclusion
RTBF is a free-to-air service that is only available in Belgium and is blocked in Canada unless you use a VPN. If you don’t have a VPN, you won’t be able to watch RTBF in Canada.
As soon as you connect your VPN to a Belgium server, you’ll be able to stream any content of your choosing, including TV shows, movies, series, documentaries, live shows, and more. We used ExpressVPN to bypass the geographical restrictions, which did the trick.
You can also use other VPN services if they can unblock geo-restrictions and improve the quality of your streaming experience in general.
