New York, NY (Top40 Charts) With 56 awards, over 200 nominations, a spin-off that's just as successful, and 11 seasons currently available, CBS' The Big Bang Theory is a phenomenon in its own right. Despite the fact that critics have expressed their downright disapproval of TBBT on many occasions, the show grew considerably in viewership from its first season. Moreover, the producers and cast have managed to keep their audience engaged up until today, as is shown by the fact that The Big Bang Theory consistently ranks as either the first or second most viewed programme in the U.S. timeslot they are allotted.
Nerd jokes, witty sarcasm, and an abundance of references to science and other science fiction media seem to have more traction with the viewers than they do with the critics themselves. Much like Suits, TBBT is not available on American Netflix or Hulu. Although you can view it when the show airs on CBS All Access, you won't be able to access all seasons through their website.
It seems that CBS is adamant on capitalizing their highest-rated sitcom through Prime Video, iTunes, and DVD as much as possible. To achieve this, they heavily imposed geo-blocks on their online content in order to maximize their global profits. However, where there's a will, there's a way, so you can be sure that you'll find out how to watch The Big Bang Theory online - just read on!
Why you can't watch the show everywhere you go
Since TBBT is one of the most viewed shows in the United States, as well as worldwide, the CBS corporation who owns the rights to the series often goes out of its way to capitalize on itwith every chance they get. Despite many attempts from Netflix, as well as other online media providers to gain the global rights to the series, the producers have been very careful and apprehensive about who is able to stream or broadcast The Big Bang Theory in certain parts of the world. The rule is that if they are able to distribute it profitably in a region, they will do so regardless of what it takes.
For instance, in the United Kingdom, where the show has been available on its regional Netflix for some time, the corporation is thinking of canceling their contract in favor of a more lucrative one. Moreover, what this means is that you're likely to encounter countries wherein TBBT is not available online, but by cable subscription only. As you may already know, such a situation can be particularly painful if you're trying to catch up on previous episodes or stay up-to-date with what's currently going on, as their twelfth and final season is expecting its last episode on April 4, 2019.
Geo-blocking is not making things any easier, as people who frequently travel outside of the U.S. or U.K. will find that they cannot stream their favorite TBBT episodes online. You may stream it in certain countries, but not in others, depending on your location and subscriptions. While this may seem counter-productive in a world that's supposed to be globalizing at an extraordinary rate, it is a way for the studio to exploit one of their most successful productions as much as possible.
How to watch The Big Bang Theory online outside of the U.S.
A U.S. subscription on CBS All Access will give you the possibility to stream the show when it airs, but not all of the previous seasons are available if you want to catch-up. Sadly, neither Hulu nor Netflix has the rights to broadcast the show within the U.S., which leaves few alternatives for those who couldn't stay up-to-date and are looking to catch up now.
Similarly, if you have Netflix and happen to be traveling to the U.K., you will have access to their previous seasons, but not the one that is airing at the moment. However, a VPN service will enable you to spoof your location when you travel so that you can use your CBS account to watch it on the go.
Outside of the U.S. and barring a CBS subscription, Kodi, Popcorn Time, and Butter Project can all get you the latest episodes through peer-to-peer streaming, but you will need a VPN service to encrypt your traffic in order to steer clear of any copyright infringement violations.
Here are three of the best VPN services that can help you achieve this:
NordVPN
Consistently ranked as one of the best premium VPN services, NordVPN performs great on all fronts. It's military-grade security guarantees that your private data stays your own when you go online, while its fast connection speeds mean you can stream at your own discretion.
Most importantly, no geo-block feature will stand in the way of its 5,400 servers in over 60 countries. Boasting an incredibly affordable price, we believe that Nord is an offer you can't refuse.
ExpressVPN
Our second go-to option is ExpressVPN. Much like Nord, Express is one of the best services at maintaining the security and privacy of its customers' Internet traffic. Exceptional live support, great speeds, and the ability to by-pass geo-blocked content have turned Express into a veritable pole-position contender.
The only reproach we had to it is a slightly more expensive subscription.
Ivacy VPN
For those looking for a budget option, Ivacy VPN might be the way to go. Comparable with Express and Nord in terms of security and performance, Ivacy is just as awesome and reliable for streaming your favorite TV show online.
Unlike the previous two, however, Ivacy is located in Singapore, which is a Five-Eyes country.
Find all of the most recognized VPNs for Netflix and other streaming platforms here.
What is so big about The Big Bang Theory?
Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom that centers on several friends living in Pasadena, California. Leonard and Sheldon, two roommates who are physicists at the California Institute of Technology, live across the hall from Penny, an aspiring actress who is forced to work as a waitress in order to support herself. The three are joined by Raj, an astrophysicist, as well as Howard, who is an aerospace engineer. Although the series initially had three supporting characters - Stuart, Bernadette, and Amy - they became part of the ensemble cast in later seasons.
As one of the few shows filmed in front of a live audience, the writers and producers have an unenviable task of making it fun and engaging despite nerd culture being one of its main themes. Due to the fact that almost all of the main characters have a science-related occupation, scientific theories, news, and jokes are an intrinsic part of the banter that takes place between them, as well as their personal lives, as the plot gradually unravels. Because the four main male characters are fans of comic books, science fiction, games, and fantasy productions, these media also feature prominently in The Big Bang Theory.
A strong narrative arc is related to the male characters' ability to form amorous relationships, as they are presented in a manner that is notoriously unappealing to their potential partners. Whether through Leonard and Penny, Howard and Bernadette, Sheldon and Amy, or Stuart and Denise, the writers manage to disprove the unattractive nerd stereotype in a natural manner time and again. If these reasons were not enough, the humorous high-profile actor and scientist cameos appearing on the show will definitely convince you to discover how to watch The Big Bang Theory online.
Bottom line
Knowing how to watch The Big Bang Theory online will help you gain access to the last ever episode of the show. In addition to giving you the possibility to by-pass geo-blocks, a VPN service is instrumental to maintaining your online privacy when you travel.
We don't know about you, but we are eager to see what the producers have in store for the last time we'll hear the "Big Bang Theory Theme" by Barenaked Ladies.
