How to Unlock & Stream Blocked Video Content on Your iPhone

With the 2017 Oscars calling it a wrap, the buzz in the air for movie buffs is what film to put next on their watchlist. But what if we told you that the content you currently see on your favorite streaming service isn’t the only content available to you?

Geo-blocking is a term used to describe digital content blocking based on location, or more specifically, an IP address. Depending on where we are in the world, what we experience on our streaming service of choice (whether it’s Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go or others) differs greatly by region. In some locations, certain movies or TV shows might be blocked – that’s because every country has different rules that determine how money is distributed between the user (or the subscriber, which would be us in this scenario) to the streaming service, and then finally to the actual content creator (directors, production companies, etc.).

That means that internet-based content that originated in another country (for example, England) might take longer to hammer out the rules and licensing for the US, and vice versa. So if there’s a new amazing film that’s received much applause overseas, it’s pretty likely you won’t be able to take a peek just yet in the US.

So what if you don’t want to wait? All this hooplah can seem pretty silly for an expat who just wants to catch an episode of Game of Thrones or a film lover who’s been waiting for their content provider to get that Japanese movie for over a year. For people who want access to content that’s restricted simply by location, there is a workaround: just use the help of a Smart DNS like StreamJack TV SmartDNS.

What Is a Smart DNS?

Without getting excessively technical here, a Smart DNS functions like a clever disguise for your actual location. When using a Smart DNS service, your content requests are sent to a proxy server, and the proxy server then sends over your request for content. Finally, your content is delivered back to you – without ever revealing your true location.

Essentially, while using a Smart DNS, you’ll appear to be in a location where the content you’re trying to access is available. And you’ll get past that pesky local copyright, no problem. Plus, unlike a VPN, Smart DNS solutions won’t slow down your internet speed (but more on that later).

Is It Legal to Access Geo-Blocked Content?

Every streaming service has some type of geographical restriction placed on it. For example, services like Netflix lock specific content, while Hulu is only available to the US or specific overseas military bases. So it’s actually very common for people who are abroad or traveling to use an internet shortcut like a Smart DNS or Virtual Private Network – VPN – to access blocked content.

Like most Internet shortcuts, the use of a VPN or Smart DNS is a bit of a gray area in terms of legality, and there are compelling arguments on both sides of the story. Content is locked in specific locations because of licensing laws – streaming services need to license the content they want to stream in each individual region or country.

Occasionally, streaming services can’t license movies or television series due to legal constraints. Other times, it’s because demand for these series is so low in the region that it’s not a worthy spend of their time and resources to license that content. For example, say you’re living in France for a year and want to catch up on an episode of your favorite series from your teenage years, just for old times’ sake: what’s the likelihood that The Wonder Years will be in high demand there? It’s not very likely. Other times, it’s because the series hasn’t garnered enough attention, and so the streaming service won’t pursue it.

Say you do use a VPN – does this violate your streaming service’s terms of use? Usually a service like Netflix or Hulu does clearly state that you can only view content available in your physical location. And Netflix recently announced a crackdown on the use of VPNs specifically, in order to honor the contracts they have in place with their content providers.

But you don’t see the same media outcry over this issue as you see around other news from the world of streaming services, for example, the response to Taylor Swift’s departure from Spotify and the rise of artist-friendly service Tidal. And in terms of a copyright, with the serious issue of internet piracy and re-selling being increasingly prevalent, you probably won’t end up in court just for watching a geo-blocked show. The streaming service does have the right to block or terminate your account – but that’s likely the worst thing that’ll happen.

It can also be argued that you’ve already paid your subscription service for access to the content. Meaning, you’re simply bypassing some red tape to get what you paid for. And there are plenty of people out there who would risk losing a streaming account to watch Game of Thrones no matter where they are (it is about to be the last season, after all).

If you find yourself traveling outside of the US often and missing home (and all your favorite shows and movies), we recommend you try a simple Smart DNS solution that works like SteamJack TV. The primary grievance when it comes to using a VPN is the internet lag, which is especially frustrating while trying to stream video. Smart DNS services like StreamJack TV are not guilty of this flaw.

How? Instead of routing all of your internet traffic, StreamJack TV focuses on routing just the traffic you need, so you can still enjoy your favorite shows and movies without sacrificing speed. For example, it will reroute Netflix, but not your Google search. Most importantly, StreamJack TV unlocks more than 100 different channels around the world, accessing over 13 different VPN locations. It employs intuitive, easy-to-use Smart DNS technology, and there’s also a free, optional VPN and SmartVPN account to encrypt all of your traffic. You can use StreamJack TV across all your devices – including your iPhone.

Get a lifetime subscription here for $29 – that’s 96% off the usual price of $750.