STV Player is a UK-based freemium streaming platform, providing a diverse range of on-demand TV shows, dramas, documentaries, sports and live TV.
It features popular Scottish and international content, appealing to various tastes and interests. However, STV Player is only accessible in the UK.
To watch STV Player in Ireland, you need to use a VPN. Attempting to access the service from restricted countries without a VPN will result in a geo-restriction error message:
“Oops. Something went wrong!”
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice for streaming any geo-restricted services that are unavailable in Ireland OR it is used to stay anonymous over the internet for watching anything for free as it hides your streaming activity from the ISPs.
This time, don’t miss out on an incredible offer: 🎉 Get up to 61% OFF + 4 months FREE on ExpressVPN's 2-year plan! 🎉 Plus, enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Try ExpressVPN
How to Watch STV Player in Ireland for Free
STV Player provides unlimited access to TV shows, movies, and other video content for free. Unfortunately, only users in the UK can enjoy the service due to geo-restrictions.
If you want to watch STV Player in Ireland, follow the method below:
Step 1: Subscribe to a safe VPN service
Step 2: Download and Install the ExpressVPN app on your device
Step 3: Open the app and connect to the UK server (i.e. Docklands)
Step 4: Go to the STV Player Website. Click on Sign in/Join
Step 5: Enter your Email to Sign-in or Join
Step 6: Create a password
Step 5: Enter your details
Step 8: Choose the free plan
Step 9: Click on Let’s Go to continue streaming
Step 10: Click on Watch Now when you select a show to watch
Step 11: Select the season and episode
Step 12: Stream and enjoy!
Try ExpressVPN
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch STV Player in Ireland?
Because of licensing agreements and copyright restrictions, STV Player is only available to users within the UK. To bypass these geo-restrictions, you’ll need to use a VPN.
A VPN changes your virtual location by routing your internet traffic through a server in another country. For example, connecting to a UK server with a VPN will give your device a UK IP address.
This will allow you to access STV Player and enjoy its streaming services.
Try ExpressVPN
Top VPNs to Unblock STV Player Outside the UK
To find the best VPNs that can unblock STV Player in Ireland, I tested 35+ VPNs. Out of them, three VPNs were able to unblock the region lock in a single attempt.
The three best VPN choices to stream STV Player in Ireland are:
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
- NordVPN
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Streaming STV Player in Ireland
Features | Details |
Global Servers | 3000 servers in 100+ countries |
Server locations | Multiple servers in London, East London, Wembley, and the Docklands |
Exclusive deal | €4.87/month (30-day money-back guarantee) |
Multi-Device Compatibility | Connect up to 8 devices at once – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
Enhanced Streaming | Fast and throttle-free streaming with Smart DNS, Split Tunneling, and Lightway Protocol. |
Top-notch Privacy | Digital privacy with 256-bit Encryption, Kill Switch, and No Log policy. |
Recommended Servers: London, East London and Docklands
ExpressVPN offers a vast network of high-speed servers to stream your favourite shows and sports on geo-restricted services.
Speed Test Results: Testing ExpressVPN’s Docklands Server demonstrated impressive performance, reaching speeds of 41 Mbps out of a possible 50 Mbps.
Access More Content: With this VPN, you can access not only STV Player but also other geo-restricted channels and services available in Ireland, such as USA Network, PBS, Frndly TV, Prende TV, etc.
2. Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN for Unblocking STV Player
Feature | Details |
Global Servers | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
US Server locations | Multiple servers across London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh |
Price | Surfshark Price (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. |
Recommended Servers: London, Manchester, Glasgow
Surfshark is another excellent VPN option for accessing STV Player in Ireland, renowned for its affordability and cutting-edge technology, securing a high position on our list.
During our assessments, Surfshark adeptly bypassed geo-restrictions on multiple services and channels, employing forward secrecy to safeguard user privacy.
Furthermore, this VPN service also facilitates access to other geo-restricted channels and services in Ireland, such as 9 Now, Servus TV, 7Plus, Netflix, Prime Video etc.
3. NordVPN – Biggest Server Pool to Access STV Player
Feature | Details |
Global Servers | 6000+ servers in 60 countries |
US Server locations | 440+ Servers across the UK |
Price | NordVPN price (30-day money-back guarantee) |
Device Compatibility | Up to 6 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 No logs policy, |
Recommended Servers: London, Edinburgh, Glasgow
NordVPN offers an extensive network of servers, ensuring smooth streaming experiences. The VPN features an intuitive interface that makes navigation easy.
In our tests for accessing STV Player, the extensive server network provided a stable and fast connection, guaranteeing seamless streaming.
Moreover, this VPN also enables access to various other geo-restricted channels and services in Ireland, such as ORF, Hulu, FuboTV, Sling, BBC iPlayer etc.
STV Premium Tier
STV Player offers premium subscription plans to enhance your viewing experience:
-
STV Player+: Ad-free streaming of dramas, soaps, and documentaries, plus downloads on iOS devices.
- Monthly: £3.99
- Annual: £39.99
-
STV Player+ with Premier Sports: Includes all STV Player+ benefits, plus access to Premier Sports channels (Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports 2, LALIGA TV) featuring live sports like Scottish Premiership football and rugby.
- Monthly: £15.99
- Annual: £120
What Can You Watch on STV Player in Ireland?
The following are some of the best content available on STV Player:
Show
Drama Series | Comedy Dramas | Entertainment Shows | Soaps | Documentaries |
Unforgotten | Piglets | The Masked Singer | Emmerdale | Belle Gibson: Instagram’s Worst Con Artist |
Out There | Douglas Is Cancelled | Dancing on Ice | Coronation Street | The Real Unforgotten |
The Code | Changing Ends | Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win | Shortland Street | Murder: Fight For the Truth |
Sports
Here’s a list of sports available on STV Player:
- Leinster Rugby Senior Cup
- United Rugby Championship (URC)
- EPCR Challenge Cup
- Scottish Football
- SPFL
- LaLiga
- World Surf League
- Asian Le Mans Series
- Ultimate Karting Championship
- World Downhill Skateboarding
- Michelin Le Mans Highlights
- Football’s Greatest (Player Career Reviews)
- Transworld Sport (Global Sports Stories)
- Coppa Italia
What Devices are Compatible with STV Player?
The following devices are compatible with STV Player:
- Apple TV – running a minimum of tvOS13 and above
- iPhone and iPads – running a minimum of iOS13 and above
- Android phones and tablets
- Roku – running the latest version of our app
- Fire TV – version 3.0.0 and later
- Smart TVs – running app version 4.17 or later
How to Watch STV Player Outside the UK on Android phone
If you want to watch STV Player on your mobile app from geo-restricted countries, you will need to download a VPN.
Here is how you can stream shows on the STV Player app from your mobile phone.
Step 1: Install ExpressVPN from the Playstore
Step 2: Choose the UK (i.e. Dockland) Server in the “location” setting and press “Connect“
Step 3: Install the “STV Player” app from the Playstore
Step 4: Open the STV Player App
Step 5: Wait till the application opens
Step 6: Enter your Email Address for STV Player Account
Step 7: Enter your details and then click on Join STV
Step 8: Click on Continue
Step 9: Click on Not Now
Step 10: Scroll down and select your favourite show
Step 11: Choose your favourite on-demand show
Step 12: Enjoy Streaming!
Try ExpressVPN
How to Watch STV Player on iPhone in Ireland
Following are the steps to stream STV Player content on an iPhone in Ireland.
Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN app and download its iOS app.
Step 2: Connect to a UK server.
Step 3: Navigate to your device’s Settings and tap on your Apple ID.
Step 4: Select ‘Media & Purchases’ and then ‘View Account.’
Step 5: Sign in if prompted.
Step 6: Scroll to ‘Country/Region’ and change it to the UK.
Step 7: Accept the Terms and Conditions to confirm.
Step 8: Provide a payment method and billing address corresponding to the UK region.
Step 9: Download the STV Player app from the App Store.
Step 10: Search for a show or sports event you want to watch
Step 12: Start streaming STV!
Try ExpressVPN
How to Watch STV Player on Fire TV Stick in Ireland
Step 1: Go to Firestick settings on the Homepage.
Step 2: Enable the Developer Option.
Step 3: Turn on ‘Apps from Unknown Sources.’
Step 4: Download the Downloader App from the Amazon Store.
Step 5: Search for STV Player on the Downloader app. Enter the URL bit.ly/fsh-downloads OR STV Player Downloader Code 730116.
Step 6: Open ExpressVPN and connect it to the UK server
Step 7: Open the “STV Player” app and sign in.
Step 8: Select your favourite show.
Step 9: Enjoy streaming!
Try ExpressVPN
Other Services/Channels to Watch in Ireland
Here are some alternatives to STV Player that you can watch in Ireland as well:
Troubleshooting Playback Issues
If you are experiencing playback issues on multiple platforms and encountering Error 8 or Error 3 messages, try the following steps:
- Turn off any VPN or location blocking/masking service you might be using.
- Reboot the device running the STV Player app and your WiFi router.
- Check that your ISP is correctly reporting your location. You can use a service like whatismyipaddress.com to verify that it shows you as being in the UK.
- Use a different WiFi or data network to see if this resolves the issue.
- Check if the issue persists when using the web version of our player at stv.tv.
If you are still having issues accessing shows on the STV Player, contact STV customer support: enquiries@stv.tv and provide the following information:
- The platforms you are having issues with (e.g., web, Android mobile, Sky, etc.)
- For mobile devices, the make and model of your phone or tablet
- The content you are trying to watch
- Your Internet provider (ISP)
- The location being reported by your ISP
- Your IP address
You can find the information for the last three points by visiting whatismyipaddress.com.
FAQs – STV Player
Is it possible to watch live TV on the STV Player?
Yes! Simply follow the schedule and select the Stream Live option to view the STV Livestream. You can easily watch STV news and other shows on the schedule live.
Is there a premium version of STV Player?
Yes, STV Player+ is the premium version that offers an ad-free viewing experience along with additional features. It includes a 7-day free trial for new users.
Are there any benefits to subscribing to the STV Player VIP package?
Yes, the STV Player VIP package offers several benefits, including no pre-roll ads and opportunities to win prizes. VIP subscribers, especially binge-watchers, can enjoy monthly prizes.
Why can I watch STV Player live stream on my phone but not on my TV?
This is because STV Player live stream does not support older TV models.
How can I manage parental controls on STV Player?
STV Player provides options for setting parental controls to ensure a safe viewing environment for all ages. These settings can be adjusted in the ‘Parental Controls’ section within the platform’s settings.
Can I watch STV Player if I’m not in Scotland?
All UK residents can access live channels and on-demand content on STV Player for free.
Conclusion
STV Player is a video-on-demand and live-streaming service that provides its audience with a variety of video content such as TV Shows, Movies, Sports, Music, and News.
However, due to geo-restrictions, the streaming service is only available in the UK. If you want to watch STV Player in Ireland or any other country, you will need a VPN.
ExpressVPN is my recommended VPN due to the security it provides to its users. You can easily unblock STV Player by using ExpressVPN without worrying about your privacy.