RTE Player is an Irish video-on-demand service that offers live and recorded RTÉ television programs, material exclusive to the player, and content from other foreign broadcasters for free.
The RTE Player service has two versions, one for Ireland and one for International audiences such as Canada. Most of the content is restricted to Ireland while only limited content is available to an international audience.
The only way to watch RTE Player in Canada is with the help of a VPN and by connecting to the Irish server.
Due to geo-restrictions, if you try to watch a show that is only available to the Irish audience, then you will see an error that says:
“This programme cannot be streamed due to the rights restrictions”
I was able to unblock RTE Player from Canada with the help of ExpressVPN and the other best VPNs that I have discussed in this guide.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice when it comes to unblocking RTE Player in Canada as it easily bypasses its geo-restrictions and keeps your online identity safe while streaming.
Get yourself ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee so use all of its features risk-free for 30 days.
How to Watch RTE Player in Canada
RTE Player is a freemium service, so users may watch anything without paying anything. However, for €8.99 (CAD$12.40/£6.99), subscribers may watch the content ad-free.
You don’t need to sign up for a free account. Here are the steps to watch RTE Player in Canada:
Step 1: Subscribe to a good VPN service (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and install it on your device
Step 3: Connect to an Ireland server
Step 4: Go to the RTE Player website and scroll down to choose the content
Step 5: Select Fair City or any of the content
Step 6: Start streaming!
3 Best Recommended VPNs to Unblock RTE Player in Canada
We tested 35+ VPNs to find out which VPN works the best to watch RTE Player in Canada. However, only 3 of them worked efficiently. Those are:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a great choice if you need a VPN that is both easy to use and relatively speedy (88 Mbps out of 100 Mbps).
It is a VPN service with over 3000 servers in 94 different countries, including Ireland; The service’s interesting qualities—including 256-bit encryption—continue to draw customers.
Moreover, ExpressVPN provides a stable connection for accessing countless other streaming services and channels, such as Channel 4, American Netflix, etc.
Plus, it works with a wide variety of devices, allows for simultaneous usage of five different logins, and maintains blazing-fast speeds and excellent video quality.
Costing just $6.67 per month, this VPN service comes highly recommended and with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark provides superior functionality at an affordable price. It works with practically every OS, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
It’s easy to use and doesn’t create any headaches because of its intuitive interface and simple controls. It has 3200+ servers located in 195 different countries, including a server in Ireland
It provides fantastic streaming quality with lightning-fast speeds(83 Mbps out of 100 Mbps). As an added bonus, it alleviates buffering problems.
It’s really cheap at only $2.49/month, and you may cancel within the first 30 days if you’re not satisfied.
3. NordVPN
We also suggest NordVPN to access RTE Player from within Canada because of its high level of security with its Kill Switch, No-logs policy, and DNS protection
In terms of servers available, NordVPN leads the pack with 5441 in 62 different countries. In addition, it has a fast speed as well (82 Mbps out of 100 Mbps)
As there are now more than 50 servers located in Ireland, viewers from there will have a great time watching RTE Player and other services like BT Sports and HGTV.
Also, you can use it on 6 devices simultaneously. You can buy NordVPN for $3.29/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why do I need a VPN to access RTE Player in Canada?
RTE Player has a restriction that all of its content will be for those in Ireland while limited for international users. This is why most of the content is blocked in Canada.
The restriction is known as geo-restriction and it is there as a result of licensing agreements and copyright laws.
On the Internet, a series of numbers known as IP address depicts your real location i.e. whether it is Ireland or abroad.
When you open RTE Player, it can see, through your IP address, that you are an international user. Hence, allowing you access to only the RTE player international version.
However, you can mask your IP address through a VPN. When you connect to an Ireland server, the VPN will assign you an Ireland IP address.
Therefore, when you access the RTE player after connecting to an Ireland server, RTE Player will believe you are a national user, hence granting you access to the full content of the RTE Player.
What to Watch on RTE Player in Canada
You can watch original programming, box sets of several popular RTÉ programs, simultaneous live streaming, and extended catch-up on RTE. Some of the popular shows RTE player offers include:
- The Great House Revival
- The Late Late Show
- Year to The Ground
- The Meaning of Life
- Fair City Capsule
- 12 Years a Slave
- Claire Byrne Live
- Underdogs
- NuachtThe Late Late Show
In addition to the above, you can watch different IRISH channels on the RTE player. The channels include:
- RTE One
- RTE2
- RTE3
- TG4
- Be3
- RTE News Now
Alternatives to RTE Player
You may enjoy much more than RTE Player after connecting to a VPN. You may also access the following streaming services:
FAQS- RTE Player
Can I use a free VPN to access RTE Player?
Free VPNs could damage your privacy by selling personal information or exposing you to viruses in addition to the cyber dangers that often go along with free services. They are unlikely to be able to bypass RTE Player’s geo-blocks.
How much is RTÉ Player?
Users may access 100 hours of free material, updated daily, and the entire content offering of 500 hours can be viewed and watched without ads with a monthly membership of €8.99 ($8.99/£6.99) via the Apple Store.
Conclusion
RTE Player is a platform that offers RTE television programming which includes live television and on-demand content.
The only problem is that because the player is an Irish player, most of its content is geo-restricted in Canada. However, you can solve the problem and watch RTE Player in Canada by using a premium VPN.
We recommend ExpressVPN if you can choose any VPN that has Irish servers. After you connect to the VPN you can enjoy Irish content on RTE Player without any restrictions!
