RTE Player is Ireland’s national public service media streaming platform, offering a wide array of news, entertainment, and sports from RTE television and radio for free.
The service not only features current shows and news but also provides a rich library of past programs, documentaries, and series, reflecting Ireland’s cultural heritage and contemporary stories.
RTE Player has an international version for other countries but it does not offer the same content as Irish RTE Player. This is quite a bummer if you are travelling outside the country. To watch RTE Player outside Ireland, you’ll need a VPN to bypass geo-blocks.
You will see the following error message if you try to watch RTE Player outside Ireland without a VPN:
This programme cannot be streamed due to right restrictions
I was able to unblock RTE Player outside Ireland with the help of ExpressVPN. It is my recommended VPN.
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.
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How to Watch RTE Player Outside Ireland
RTE Player is one of the most popular streaming services in Ireland. The service offers thousands of catch-up and regular live content. Since the service is only available in Ireland, you must use a premium VPN to access it outside the country.
Follow the steps below to watch RTE Player outside Ireland:
Step 1: Subscribe to a safe VPN service (ExpressVPN is our recommended choice)
Step 2: Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device
Step 3: Open the app and connect to the Irish server
Step 4: Go to the RTE Player and click on login
Step 5: Click Sign in
Step 6: Click Don’t have an RTE Account?
Step 7: Enter your credentials
Step 8: Enter your birth year and gender
Step 9: Verify your account
Step 10: Select the show/movie you want from the homepage
Step 11: Click on the play icon
Step 12: Enjoy streaming
Top 3 VPNs to Unblock RTE Player Outside Ireland
We tried over 35+ VPNs in hopes of finding the best ones to bypass RTE Player’s geo-restrictions. We found the best VPNs to unblock RTE Player in a single click.
Below are the three best VPNs to access RTE Player in Ireland:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our #1 choice to access RTE Player outside Ireland. The VPN offers over 3000 servers in 105 countries, including Ireland.
ExpressVPN has a customized kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and 256-bit encryption. It offers a lightning-fast speed (82 Mbps out of 100 Mbps) that eliminates buffering.
ExpressVPN’s Trusted Server technology ensures none of your data is written to the hard drive. ExpressVPN is available for €6.42/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is another premium VPN to unblock RTE Player outside Ireland. The VPN offers 3200+ servers in over 100 countries, including Ireland.
Surfshark’s military-grade security technology helps users to stay anonymous and secure their information. With Surfshark, you can enjoy browsing without the fear of being watched on an unlimited number of devices.
The VPN has strong 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IPv6 leak protection. You can subscribe to Surfshark for €3.06/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. NordVPN
The last of our recommended premium VPNs is NordVPN. It is one of the best choices if you are looking for a VPN with many server choices. Nord offers 5900+ servers in over 60 countries.
Nord’s SmartPlay feature lets you connect to worldwide servers to improve your streaming experience. It allows you to connect six devices to one account simultaneously.
Other Nord features include 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6, DNS, a no-logs policy, WebRTC leak protection, and a customized kill switch. You can subscribe to NordVPN for €3.99/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch RTE Player Outside Ireland
RTE Player is one of the most popular free streaming services in Ireland. However, you cannot access it outside Ireland due to licensing restrictions. The only way to watch RTE Player outside Ireland is through a VPN.
But not every VPN can unblock RTE Player outside Ireland. A premium VPN, such as ExpressVPN, is my recommended one to access the service. It works seamlessly and bypasses the restrictions in other regions.
The VPN works when you connect to its Irish server from your country. All your data is routed through the virtual servers instead of your original one. The virtual server then masks your IP address and assigns you a new Irish one.
When you access RTE Player while connected to the VPN, it detects your virtual Irish server and allows you access to its content library.
What Can You Watch on RTE Player
You can stream thousands of on-demand TV shows and movies on RTE Player. The following are some of the top content to enjoy on RTE:
TV Shows/Movies
- Love & Death
- Eastenders
- Love/Hate
- The Late Late Toy Show
- Kin
- Paula
- Ireland’s Fittest Family
- A Star is Born
- Between the Canals
- Beautiful Boy
- The Christmas Retreat
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- 10 Truths About Love
- Call of the Wild
- Father Ted
- Normal People
- Sherlock
- The Fall
Sports
- United Rugby Championship
- European Cross Country Championships
- European Rugby Champion Cups
- Horse Racing
- UEFA Champions League
- Rugby World Cup
- Rugby Union Internationals
- FIFA World Cup
- English Premier League
- FA Cup
List of Channels Available on RTE Player
In addition to on-demand content, fans can also enjoy live TV channels. The following are the channels available on RTE Player:
- RTE One
- RTE Two
- RTE News
How to Watch RTE Player Outside Ireland on Mobile Phones
You can enjoy RTE Player on the go with its official mobile app. However, the app is only available on Google Play Store in Ireland due to geo-restrictions. Fans outside Ireland can get the app by downloading its APK file from their phone browsers.
Follow the steps below to watch RTE Player outside Ireland on mobile:
Step 1: Install our suggested ExpressVPN app on your device
Step 2: Connect to the Irish Server
Step 3: Download the RTE Player APK and install it on your phone
Step 4: Open the app and select Accept All Cookies
Step 5: Click on the sidebar from the homepage
Step 6: Select Sign in
Step 7: Sign in with your RTE account
Step 8: Select the on-demand show/movie or live content you want to watch
Step 9: Click on the play icon
Step 10: Click continue
Step 11: Enjoy streaming
List of Compatible Streaming Devices
You can stream RTE Player on the following compatible devices:
- Mac Desktop
- Windows Desktop
- Linux Desktop
- Apple Devices
- Android Devices
- Google Chromecast
- Smart TVs
Other Streaming Services to Watch in Ireland
If you enjoy streaming catch-up and live TV shows, then we recommend checking the following free streaming services in Ireland:
- Watch ITVX in Ireland
- Watch 7Plus in Ireland
- Watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland
- Watch 9Now in Ireland
- Watch FranceTV in Ireland
FAQs – RTE Player
Do you need to subscribe to watch RTE Player outside Ireland?
No, RTE Player is a free streaming service, and you only need to create an account to enjoy its content. However, you must use a premium VPN to access it outside Ireland.
For how long can you watch shows on RTE Player?
RTE channel shows are available on RTE Player for up to 21 days after broadcast. Soap fans can enjoy their favourite show for a maximum of 7 days after they air.
Does RTE Player International offer the same content as RTE Player?
No, RTE Player International version doesn’t offer the same content as the Irish version.
Conclusion
RTE Player is our favourite free streaming service for enjoying live and on-demand Irish and foreign content. The service is geo-restricted and only available in Ireland.
Irish residents travelling outside Ireland face blockage when they try to watch RTE Player outside the country. A reliable VPN is the only way to bypass the restrictions and access RTE Player in other countries.
We recommend ExpressVPN and other premium VPNs in our guide to watch RTE Player outside Ireland. These VPNs offer fast and efficient servers that easily overcome geo-blocking.
