Disclosure: We research and test the best streaming options for viewers in Canada. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
U: TV Player, previously known as UKTV Play, is the UK’s free ad‑supported streaming destination that brings thousands of hours of top British TV and hit series straight to your screens, without a subscription.
Owned by UKTV and recently rebranded to unify its on‑demand service with popular UK channels like U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W and U&Yesterday, U lets viewers stream comedy, drama, documentaries, and classic box sets whenever they want.
With an ever‑expanding catalogue of classics and new favourites all in one place, U has become a go‑to platform for catch‑up TV and binge‑watching on demand across smart TVs, mobiles, tablets, and more.
However, the platform is only available in the UK. The only way to watch UKTV Player in Canada is with the help of a VPN.
If you try to use it while in Canada (without a VPN), you will encounter an error message like the one below:
“Sorry, currently our video library can only be watched from within the UK.”
I was able to unblock U: TV Player in Canada by using Surfshark. It is a safe, fast VPN with efficient servers.
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Overview of U: TV Player
- Live TV Streaming: No
- Subscription: Free
- Channels: 4 U channels
- On-Demand Content: Yes
- Offline Viewing: Yes
- Catch-Up TV: Yes
- Device Compatibility: Available on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, laptops, and streaming devices.
- HD and 4K Content: HD, with some in Ultra HD (4K)
How to Watch UKTV Play in Canada
To stream U: TV in Canada, simply connect to a UK server using a reliable VPN and create a free U account. Here’s how you can easily unblock UKTV Play in Canada with just a few simple steps:
Step 1: Sign up with a VPN service. Surfshark is our recommended choice
Step 2: Download and install the Surfshark VPN App on your device.
Step 3: Open the VPN and connect it to a UK server.
Step 4: Open the U: TV website and click on “Sign In“
Step 5: Click on register to create a new account, or else sign in
Step 6: Enter your email and password
Step 7: Enter your personal details and UK postal code (e.g., SW1A 0AA and M1 1AE)
Step 8: Click on the play button
Step 9: You’ll be redirected to the homepage
Step 10: Scroll down and choose any show you want to watch (e.g., Miss Scarlet and the Duke)
Step 11: Select a season/episode you want to watch
Step 12: Enjoy streaming!
Best VPNs to Unblock UKTV Play in Canada
I have tested 35+ VPNs to check how quickly they unblock UKTV Play in Canada. We found that three of them were the best and did not irritate any kind of ads or trackers.
Have a look at the 3 best VPNs to watch UKTV Play outside the UK:
1. Surfshark- #1 Affordable VPN for Unblocking UKTV Play
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Coverage | 4500+ servers in 100 countries |
| UKTV Play Unblocking | Multiple servers across London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh |
| Price | $2.79/month (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Device Compatibility | Unlimited devices – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Fast Streaming | Uninterrupted streaming with Higher bandwidth per user, and numerous servers |
| Added Privacy | Secure the connection with Camouflage Mode, AES-256-GCM Encryption, Kill Switch, and No-Logs Policy. |
Surfshark is our #1 recommended VPN for unblocking UKTV Play in Canada in one go. The affordability and state-of-the-art features make SurfShark a part of our list.
Upon testing, I was satisfied with its decent efficiency in unblocking and satisfactory features for the price point it offers.
This VPN service also unblocks other geo-restricted channels/services in Canada, like USA Network, PBS, Frndly TV, Prende TV, and Paramount Network, etc.
2. NordVPN – Biggest Server Pool to Unblock UKTV Play
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Coverage | 8300+ servers in 60 countries |
| UKTV Play Unblocking | 440+ Servers across UK |
| Price | $4.69/month (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Device Compatibility | Up to 10 devices simultaneously – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Enhanced Streaming | Faster streaming with a Wider server range & NordLynx Protocol. |
| Added Privacy | Military-grade encryption, Double VPN, CyberSec, and a no-logs policy, |
NordVPN is our last recommendation for accessing UKTV Play in Canada. It is best known for having a big pool of servers among the available VPNs across the internet.
I tested it for unblocking UKTV Play in Canada and experienced smooth streaming without any throttling or security threats.
Besides UKTV Play, it also helps in accessing other geo-restricted channels/services in Canada, like USA Network, PBS, Frndly TV, Prende TV, and Paramount Network, among others.
3. ExpressVPN – Another VPN for Unblocking UKTV Play
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Reach | 3200 servers in 100+ countries |
| UKTV Play Unblocking | Multiple servers in London, East London, Wembley, and the Docklands |
| Exclusive deal | $4.99/month (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Multi-Device Compatibility | Connect up to 10 to 12 devices at once – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Enhanced Streaming | Fast and throttle-free streaming with Smart DNS, Split Tunnelling, and Lightway Protocol. |
| Top-notch Privacy | Digital privacy with 256-bit Encryption, Kill Switch, and No Log policy. |
You can also use ExpressVPN to experience the thrill of UKTV Play in Canada by breaking through geo-blocks with a vast network of high-speed servers.
Speed Test: When I connected to the London Server of ExpressVPN and tested its speed, it came out to be 43 Mbps out of 50 Mbps.
With that fast speed, not only was I able to instantly access UKTV Play, but had a smooth streaming experience without any buffering!
Beyond UKTV Play: ExpressVPN is your golden ticket to access geo-restricted channels/services in Canada, such as USA Network, PBS, Frndly TV, Prende TV, Paramount Network, etc.
Why Do I Need a VPN to Unblock U: TV Player in Canada?
Due to licensing agreements and copyright restrictions, U: TV is only available to users within the UK. As the service is geo-restricted in Canada, you’ll need a VPN to bypass these limitations.
A VPN allows you to change your virtual location by connecting to a server in another country. By connecting to a UK server, your device will be assigned a UK IP address, enabling you to access UKTV Play from Canada. Surfshark is our #1 choice.
What Can You Watch on U: TV Player in Canada?
Wondering what you can watch now that you’ve finally gotten access to U: TV Player in Canada? Well, we can give you a bit of a jump start on your bingeing with our list:
| Comedy | Documentaries | Drama | Entertainment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and Recreation | Robson Green: World's Most Amazing Walks | Smother | Bangers & Cash |
| Birds of a Feather | Abandoned Engineering | Elementary | Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake |
| Two Doors Down | Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake Christmas Special | The Brokenwood Mysteries | MasterChef Australia |
| Clash of the Comics | Flipping Bangers | NCIS: New Orleans | Will and Ralf Should Know Better |
| Would I Lie to You? | Canal Boat Diaries | Seal Team | Richard Osman's House of Games |
How to Watch UKTV Play on Mobile in Canada
U: TV has an official app for various streaming devices, including smartphones. However, since the service is geo-restricted to the UK, you cannot download its app from the Google Play Store or App Store if you’re in Canada.
Therefore, to stream U: TV Player in Canada on mobile phones, we recommend downloading the APK version of the app. Follow the steps below:
Follow the steps to watch the UKTV Play on mobile in Canada.
Step 1: Subscribe to Surfshark VPN App and connect to the UK server.
Step 2: Download the U: TV Player apk
Step 3: Install the app
Step 4: Accept or Reject the cookies
Step 5: Sign in or Register for free
Step 6: Enter your credentials
Step 7: Go to the “categories/channels” from the bottom menu bar
Step 8: Select a channel for shows to watch, e.g. U&Dave, and choose a show to watch, e.g. Son of Anarchy
Step 7: Select a season/episode
Step 8: Start streaming
U: TV Player Device Compatibility
U: TV (formerly UKTV Play) is compatible with a variety of devices, allowing you to stream content on different platforms. Here’s a breakdown of its device compatibility:
| Device Type | Compatible Devices |
|---|---|
| Smart TVs | Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic |
| Streaming Devices | Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google Chromecast |
| Mobile Devices | iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android (smartphones, tablets) |
| Web Browsers | Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge |
| Game Consoles | PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S |
Other Streaming Services to Watch in Canada
Apart from the UKTV Play, let’s have a look at other free streaming services that you can watch with the help of a VPN. These services are:
- Watch My5 in Canada
- Watch Freeview in Canada
- Watch UKTV Play in Canada
- Watch ITVX in Canada
- Watch BBC iPlayer in Canada
- Watch All 4 in Canada
FAQs – UKTV Play
1. What is U: TV?
U: TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service offering on-demand access to a wide range of British TV shows. It’s the rebranded version of UKTV Play, providing content from channels like U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W, and U&Yesterday.
2. Is U: TV available outside the UK?
U: TV is geo-restricted to the UK. To access it from outside the UK, you’ll need to use a VPN that connects to a UK server to bypass the region lock.
3. Do I need a subscription to watch U: TV?
No, U: TV is completely free to use. However, it is supported by ads, meaning you’ll encounter advertisements while streaming content.
4. Can I watch U: TV on my TV?
Yes, U: TV is available on most smart TVs (such as Samsung, LG, Sony) and streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Google Chromecast.
5. Is there a way to watch U: TV offline?
Currently, U: TV does not support offline viewing. You need an active internet connection to stream its content.
6. Can I watch live TV on U: TV?
No, U: TV is an on-demand streaming platform and does not offer live TV streaming. You can catch up on shows after they have aired.
Closing Words
U: TV Player, formerly known as UKTV Play, is completely free to watch, offering a wide range of comedy, drama, crime and entertainment shows. However, the platform is only available in the UK.
To watch UKTV Play in Canada, you’ll need to use a VPN like Surfshark, connect to a UK server, and bypass the geo-restrictions.
