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SBS On Demand is SBS’s own streaming service, and it’s free if you’re in Australia. It’s home to SBS’s foreign-language films, dramas, documentaries, and world news, all without a subscription fee. The catch: it only works inside Australia. If you’re traveling or living abroad, you’ll need a VPN to get in. Here’s what SBS On Demand actually is, how to unlock it from outside Australia, and how to get set up.

What Is SBS On Demand?

SBS On Demand is the streaming platform for SBS, Australia’s multicultural and multilingual public broadcaster. It’s known for its library of foreign-language films and dramas, documentaries, and world news coverage. It’s funded by a mix of public money and advertising, so there’s no subscription tier.

Is SBS On Demand Free?

Yes. SBS On Demand doesn’t charge a subscription; you just need a free account to sign in. That’s also why access stops at Australia’s borders. SBS On Demand checks your IP address, and if it doesn’t come from an Australian provider, you’ll see a message saying the content isn’t available in your region.

How to Watch SBS On Demand Outside Australia

If you try to open SBS On Demand from outside Australia, it’ll block you based on your IP address. The fix is a VPN: connecting to a VPN server based in Australia makes SBS On Demand see you as a local viewer, so the block never triggers. We recommend IPVanish for this specifically, since it consistently keeps Australian servers unblocked for streaming sites like SBS On Demand.

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  1. Step 1: Get IPVanish here and create your account.
  2. Step 2: Set your VPN location to Australia.
  3. Step 3: Open up SBS On Demand and sign in. It will load like you are browsing from Australia.

How to Sign Up for SBS On Demand

Once you’re connected through an Australian server, head to SBS On Demand’s website and create a free account with just an email address. From there, you can watch straight from the browser, or download the SBS On Demand app on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and most smart TVs.

More Free Streaming Sites

SBS On Demand is one of dozens of free, legal streaming sites we’ve rounded up, including other Australian options like 7plus, 9Now, and ABC iview that follow the same VPN rule. Check out our full list of free streaming sites for more.