Streaming Cycling in UK - Discovery+ prices!

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NorvernRob

Guru
Location
Sheffield
As the spring classics are looming I’m becoming slightly anxious,
what to do, it’s not the money but the principle of paying for lots of stuff I don’t want to watch. :wacko:

I’ve done what others have above, use a VPN set to Australia and registered with SBS. You don’t need a postcode, it’s a simple email conformation.

I’m not sure if they have everything, but Strade Bianchi, P-N. TA and MSR are all listed as upcoming this month, as well as other stuff.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
I’ve done what others have above, use a VPN set to Australia and registered with SBS. You don’t need a postcode, it’s a simple email conformation.

I’m not sure if they have everything, but Strade Bianchi, P-N. TA and MSR are all listed as upcoming this month, as well as other stuff.
I just got a 2 year subscription to NordVPN for a little over 2 months worth of Discovery streaming.

Just the email confirmation... confirmed!

I tried SBS and got a video playback error. After some faffing about I found that I needed to suspend the VPN threat detection.

I am just watching the end of the UAE tour... Very pleased!
 

Blazing Saddles

Über Member
I have other options, but just now have taken up the SBS option.
Simple enough to set up an account using a VPN.
Had a rummage around and tried the Tour of Provence on demand, only to hear Hannah Walker commentating.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
Can someone help an old man with fat fingers with a step by step guide to set up such a thing?
First, sort out a VPN... There are lots of options, some free, but I read that there can be issues with them so I opted for NordVPN because it had good reviews and was reasonably priced. I will assume that you go with them.

Sign up to a cashback site if you don't already have a suitable account. Make sure that you allow cookies so that the cashback tracking works. I use TopCashback. Search on the cashback site for NordVPN. Click on the link. That will take you to the NordVPN site and drop the cashback cookie.

Sign up to NordVpn. You could choose a short subscription but it is much better value to go for the 2 year option. That is just over £70, but you will get £25+ cashback so it will amount to to only about £2/month.

When you use the VPN, set it to automatically find the quickest Australian server.

(I found that the cycling coverage is streamed well, but I can tell that general browsing is slightly slower so I may opt to switch the VPN off when not streaming.)

I tried installing the SBS app on my tablet but was told that it isn't available here. Maybe I could have worked round that but I took the easy option of just accessing SBS-on-demand on their website. I kept getting video playback errors until I turned off the threat detection option in the NordVPN setup. If you use the VPN on other sites, it would probably be a good idea to turn it back on for them.

Chrome is my browser. This is is how I set it up and use it...
  • Navigate to the SBS cycling on demand page.
  • Click the 3 dots icon, top right of the browser window. Scroll down the list and click 'Add to homepage'. That will create a convenient desktop shortcut.
  • When you start watching a video double-click on it to make it full screen.
 

TakeTheHighRoad

Well-Known Member
If you're technical enough to post on a cycling forum, ChatGPT can help you. I used it to talk me through casting my tablet to my telly, and what buttons I needed to press to stop it disconnecting when the VPN was turned on
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
(I found that the cycling coverage is streamed well, but I can tell that general browsing is slightly slower so I may opt to switch the VPN off when not streaming.)
Ah - the answer to that is to switch to a UK-based VPN server when not needing to connect to SBS.

Just to add there is also a £20 Amazon voucher offer with Nord VPN, so this might be an even better deal with cashback.
I did notice that when I was researching. It would be great if one of them popped up too but no sign yet.
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
If you're technical enough to post on a cycling forum, ChatGPT can help you. I used it to talk me through casting my tablet to my telly, and what buttons I needed to press to stop it disconnecting when the VPN was turned on
Better to search the web or ask forums for instructions, as at least them you have some idea of the author's reputation, instead of it being plucked from the ether, plus you can credit (or blame) them.
 

Dan Lotus

Veteran
I went with Proton VPN, just read up a few reviews etc etc, and have had no problems with it, I forget how many, but you can install it on a number of devices.
There was some big percentage discount thing for 2 years, AND a whopping amount of cashback on TCB, something like £30, so it's ended up costing me less than £2 per month, which is nuts.
To view SBS on my TV, I connect up the VPN on my laptop, get to the required page through a web browser, then go full screen, and connect it to my TV via an HDMI cable - pretty sure if you try and cast it severs the VPN, and the connection will of course terminate.
Shame the women's race isn't starting until 10:15, I was planning to turbo whilst watching it, but I'll probably be mostly done by then.
Men's not starting to be screened until 13:00 either - I thought coverage started earlier previous years, but might be mistaken.
Would imagine by then there will only be around 100km left at that point?

F1 qualifying highlights on at the same time I think, but will save that for the evening.
 

Blazing Saddles

Über Member
Another one I can recommend is Surfshark. I have been using it for two years.
It’s considered the best VPN to use on a Firestick.
So all I have to do to connect to my tv is select an Aussie server, then open the web browser on the Firestick. Job done.
Surfshark is cheap too. 27 months for £48 (Surfshark one package)
 
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