The main ways to watch Italian TV in the UK are free satellite TV through Tivùsat, a paid streaming service such as Il Globo TV for Rai channels, Mediaset International for Canale 5 and other Mediaset content, and the limited part of RaiPlay that works abroad. RaiPlay and Mediaset Infinity keep most live channels for viewers in Italy, so a UK connection sees a block message instead of Rai 1 or Canale 5.

This guide explains why Italian TV is blocked in the UK, which options give you Rai 1 and Canale 5, how to set them up on a Fire Stick or smart TV, and what to know before using a VPN.

Why Italian TV is blocked in the UK

Italian broadcasters buy most of their shows, films and sport with rights that only cover Italy. They check your IP address and block viewers outside the country:

  • RaiPlay. From abroad, RaiPlay shows a message that Rai holds the streaming rights for connections from Italy only. Outside Italy, the live section is generally limited to Rai News 24, and on-demand is limited to titles Rai has rights to show abroad. Sport is the most restricted.
  • Mediaset Infinity. Mediaset’s help centre says live streaming works from Italy, and from other EU countries only with an Infinity+ or GOLD subscription activated in Italy. Free content is not available outside the EU.

The UK is not in the EU, so EU portability rules do not help UK viewers.

Italian TV channels you can watch

Most Italian viewers look for the same groups of channels:

  • Rai, the public broadcaster: Rai 1, Rai 2, Rai 3, Rai News 24, Rai Premium, Rai Storia and more. Rai Italia is Rai’s international channel for Italians abroad, and it became available in the UK through the World Stream platform in December 2023.
  • Mediaset: Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4, with entertainment, news and drama.
  • Independent channels: La7 for news and talk shows, plus channels such as TV8.

If you also follow French channels, see how to watch French TV in the US.

Italian TV streaming options

How to watch Italian TV in the UK for free

The only way to get the main Italian channels free of a monthly fee in the UK is satellite TV through Tivùsat (also written Tivusat), Italy’s free satellite platform, similar to Freesat. It carries Rai and Mediaset channels, including Rai 1 and Canale 5, as well as La7. There is no subscription, but you need:

  • A satellite dish pointed at Hotbird 13°E. A standard Sky dish points at 28.2°E, so it will not pick up Italian channels. An 80cm dish is recommended for most of the UK. A 65cm dish may work in the south, but can lose signal in heavy rain.
  • A Tivùsat receiver and viewing card, or a Tivùsat CAM and card for a TV with a CI slot.
  • Card activation. Activating the card requires Italian registration details, including a codice fiscale (Italian tax code). Some UK installers and resellers handle the registration for you.

Online, RaiPlay’s free international section gives you Rai News 24 live and a selection of on-demand titles that Rai has rights to show abroad.

How to watch Rai 1 in the UK

You have three realistic options for Rai 1:

  1. Il Globo TV. A paid, internet-based service for viewers outside Italy. Its UK line-up includes Rai 1, Rai 2, Rai 3, Rai News 24, Rai Premium, Rai Storia, Rai Italia and LA7 Italia, with 7-day catch-up and no dish required.
  2. Tivùsat. Rai 1 is part of the free satellite line-up, if you can install a Hotbird dish.
  3. RaiPlay. Live Rai 1 is blocked outside Italy, but some on-demand programmes are available abroad.

How to watch Canale 5 in the UK

Canale 5 is harder to find, because Il Globo TV does not carry Mediaset channels:

  • Tivùsat includes Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4 on free satellite.
  • Mediaset International is Mediaset’s official service for viewers living outside Italy, available through the Mediaset Infinity app.
  • Mediaset Infinity itself only streams live from Italy, or from EU countries with a subscription activated in Italy, so it will not play live Canale 5 on a UK connection.

Watching on a Fire Stick or smart TV

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick. Il Globo TV has an app for the Fire TV Stick, which is the simplest way to get Rai channels on your TV without a dish. Some Italian apps only appear in the Italian Amazon Appstore; see how to change your Amazon country if an app you need is missing.
  • Smart TVs. Il Globo TV also has apps for Samsung, LG and Android TV models. If your TV has a CI slot, a Tivùsat CAM and card turn it into a satellite receiver for Italian channels, as long as it is connected to a Hotbird dish.
  • Phones, tablets and computers. Il Globo TV works on iOS, Android and in a web browser on a PC or Mac.

How to watch Italian TV in the UK with a VPN

A VPN can connect a Windows PC to a server in Italy, so websites see an Italian IP address instead of your UK one. It is useful for Italian websites and news, and it can help you bypass geo-blocking on other Italian content, such as YouTube videos restricted in the UK. To set it up on Windows:

  1. Download EonVPN, a free VPN for Windows, and install it on your PC.
  2. Open the app and create your free account. No credit card is needed.
  3. Connect to the Italy server. This changes your IP address to an Italian one.
  4. Check your IP address to confirm it shows Italy.
  5. Open the Italian site you want in your browser.

EonVPN uses OpenVPN over UDP with AES-256-GCM encryption, keeps no logs and protects against DNS leaks on Windows.

Before you rely on a VPN for streaming, know the limits. Mediaset Infinity states that its platform does not allow connections through a VPN, and broadcasters can detect and block VPN servers. Their terms may also restrict viewing from outside Italy, so check them first. For regular viewing of Rai 1 or Canale 5, Il Globo TV, Mediaset International and Tivùsat are the official routes.

Choosing the right VPN

Conclusion

For free Italian TV in the UK, Tivùsat on a Hotbird dish is the only option that includes both Rai 1 and Canale 5. If you would rather stream, Il Globo TV covers the Rai channels with catch-up on a Fire Stick, smart TV or phone, and Mediaset International covers Mediaset content. RaiPlay still offers Rai News 24 and some on-demand titles abroad. A VPN on your Windows PC gives you an Italian IP address for Italian websites, but it is not a reliable way to stream Mediaset, which says it does not allow VPN connections.

FAQs

How can I watch Italian TV in the UK for free?

Tivùsat is the main free option. It needs a dish pointed at Hotbird 13°E, a Tivùsat receiver or CAM, and a viewing card registered with Italian details. RaiPlay’s international section is also free, but only offers Rai News 24 live and a limited on-demand selection.

Is RaiPlay available in the UK?

Partly. The RaiPlay website and apps open in the UK, but live channels such as Rai 1 are blocked for rights reasons. Rai News 24 and titles Rai has rights to show abroad are available.

Can I watch Canale 5 in the UK?

Yes, through Tivùsat on free satellite, or through Mediaset International, Mediaset’s service for viewers outside Italy. Mediaset Infinity does not stream live Canale 5 to UK connections.

Is Rai Italia on Sky UK?

Rai Italia is not part of Sky UK’s channel line-up. It has been available in the UK through the World Stream platform since December 2023 and is included in Il Globo TV’s UK line-up. Italian satellite channels need a dish pointed at Hotbird 13°E, not a standard Sky dish.

Do I need special equipment to watch Italian TV in the UK?

For streaming, you only need a compatible device, such as a smart TV, Fire TV Stick, phone or computer, and a stable internet connection. For free satellite channels, you need a Hotbird dish and a Tivùsat receiver or a CAM for a TV with a CI slot.