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Receiving German TV in Spain: an overview of legal options

Anyone moving to Mallorca or mainland Spain quickly notices: the familiar ARD Mediathek, Joyn or RTL+ no longer work the way they do back home. Receiving German television in Spain is, however, no witchcraft – there are essentially three tried-and-tested routes: a satellite system on Astra 19.2° East, an IPTV streaming service via your internet connection, or the direct use of media libraries and live TV apps, sometimes supplemented by a VPN. This guide explains why geoblocking applies in the first place, which solution suits your living situation, what it costs, and where the legal boundaries lie between "technically possible" and "recommended for long-term use".

Receiving German television in Spain 2026

Which solution suits your home on Mallorca?

Why is German television suddenly blocked in Spain?

The reason is called geoblocking. ARD, ZDF, RTL and other broadcasters have usually only acquired broadcasting and streaming rights for films, series and especially live sport for the German market. As soon as your device has a Spanish IP address – for example from Movistar, Orange or Vodafone – the server detects your location and automatically blocks certain content.

The following are mainly affected:

  • Films and series in the media libraries
  • Live sports broadcasts such as Bundesliga and Champions League
  • Content from RTL+, Joyn and other private streaming platforms
  • in some cases also documentaries and selected news formats

Note: Not every programme is blocked. News and many in-house productions from the public broadcasters' media libraries are often freely available abroad too. Check this first before investing in technology.

The three reception methods at a glance

Which solution is worthwhile depends on your living situation (rented vs. owned flat, balcony available?), your internet connection and your budget.

Reception method Cost (monthly) Number of channels Quality Internet required?
Satellite (Astra 19.2°) 0 euros after installation 200+ free-to-air channels HD/SD No
IPTV (e.g. Waipu.tv, Zattoo) 6–14 euros 100–250 HD/Full HD Yes, at least 15 Mbit/s
Media libraries (ARD, ZDF) €0 On-demand HD Yes, min. 5 Mbit/s

Please note: A VPN doesn't replace any of the three options, but complements them – usually in combination with media libraries or streaming apps when geoblocking kicks in. More on this below.

Setting up satellite reception via Astra 19.2° East

The classic and most stable solution is a satellite dish aligned to Astra 19.2° East. This satellite broadcasts virtually the entire German free-to-air TV line-up – independent of your internet connection.

A satellite dish on a Mediterranean roof terrace, aligned to Astra 19.2° East for over 200 free-to-air TV channels without internet; as an internet-based alternative, IPTV services typically cost 6 to 14 euros per month.
Channel group Available via Astra 19.2°? Additional costs
ARD, ZDF, Arte, 3sat, Phoenix, regional channels Yes, free in HD None
RTL, ProSieben, Sat.1, VOX, Kabel eins (SD) Yes, free None
RTL HD, ProSieben HD & Co. Yes, with HD+ card approx. €70/year
Further international channels (FR, ES, IT) Yes, additionally None

Here's generally how to go about the installation:

  1. Check with your landlord or homeowners' association (Comunidad de Propietarios) whether mounting a dish on the balcony or roof is permitted.
  2. Choose an installer or dish with a clear line of sight to the southeast; a professional on-site signal measurement will show whether the standard dish size is sufficient at your location.
  3. Have the system aligned precisely to Astra 19.2° East; a signal meter makes fine-tuning considerably easier.
  4. For private HD channels, you additionally order the HD+ card directly from the provider.
  5. Public broadcasters run in HD from the very first signal, without any further activation.

Note: Once installed, there are no ongoing costs for free-to-air TV – ideal for anyone who wants to watch TV permanently and independently of the internet. Also check your internet connection in Mallorca beforehand if you're planning to use IPTV as a supplement.

IPTV streaming providers: Waipu.tv, Zattoo & Co.

Anyone who isn't allowed or doesn't want to install a satellite dish can turn to IPTV services such as Waipu.tv or Zattoo. These transmit the TV signal via the internet – so you'll need a stable connection with at least 15 Mbit/s.

Criterion Typical value
Monthly cost 6–14 euros
Number of channels 100–250
Picture quality HD up to Full HD
Minimum internet speed 15 Mbit/s
Usable devices Smart TV, stick/box, smartphone, tablet, laptop

One advantage of such services: they run equally on smartphone, tablet and smart TV apps, without any installation effort on the roof. Waipu.tv explicitly advertises that you can also use your packages (such as "Perfect Plus" or "Comfort") in other EU countries – more on that shortly in the section on EU portability.

Media libraries & live TV apps: what works without extra cost

Before investing in technology, it's worth taking a look at the free media libraries of ARD and ZDF. News programmes and many in-house productions are often accessible even with a Spanish IP address – feature films, licensed series and live sport, however, generally are not.

  • ARD media library and ZDF media library: news and in-house productions often free, licensed content usually blocked
  • RTL+, Joyn: mostly blocked, as they are licensed purely under private broadcasting rights
  • For live sport (Bundesliga, Champions League), geoblocking applies almost across the board

Attention: Don't rely solely on open media library content for important dates (e.g. a football highlight) – test the specific programme beforehand instead of experiencing a nasty surprise in the evening.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through a server in Germany, so that streaming services detect a German IP address. This is the technically simplest method of unlocking blocked media library content, and costs from around 3 euros a month.

  1. Choose a reputable VPN provider with server locations in Germany.
  2. Install the app on the device you use to watch TV (laptop, Fire TV Stick, Smart TV box).
  3. Connect to a German server before opening the media library or app.
  4. Check the connection speed – for smooth streaming, the minimum values mentioned at the outset are usually sufficient.

Note: Using a VPN yourself is not prohibited. However, the terms of use of many streaming providers prohibit deliberately disguising your actual location, especially in the case of a permanent residence abroad. For short trips, the legal situation is more relaxed than for a permanent move – read the following section on EU portability for more details.

EU Portability Regulation: what really applies for emigrants

Within the EU, there is a regulation that expressly safeguards streaming subscriptions for temporary stays in another EU country – for example, on holiday or a business trip. Waipu.tv itself points out that customers with the "Perfect Plus" or "Comfort" packages can also use their content abroad within the EU, as long as it is a temporary stay.

Situation Does EU portability apply? Practical consequence
Holiday or business trip in Spain Yes Subscription continues as normal, mind the length of stay
Permanent residence in Spain Not clearly covered Providers may restrict use

Note: Anyone who permanently emigrates to Spain moves, when using media libraries/apps alone, outside the portability rule originally intended for short stays. In practice, many emigrants therefore additionally turn to satellite or IPTV in order to be independent of individual providers' terms.

Cost comparison at a glance

Solution One-off costs Ongoing costs Independent of the internet?
Satellite + HD+ card Purchase of dish/receiver approx. 70 euros/year for HD+ (≈ 5.83 euros/month) Yes
IPTV subscription None €6–14/month No
Streaming/catch-up services (Mediatheken) None €0 No
VPN (in addition to streaming/catch-up services) None from approx. €3/month No

Football, Bundesliga & live sport on Mallorca

Live sport is the biggest geoblocking hurdle, because broadcasting rights are almost always strictly tied to the German market. Besides satellite, IPTV or VPN, there's a simple analogue solution on Mallorca: for major events such as a World Cup match of the German national team, numerous German pubs and sports bars on the island show the broadcast on a big screen – no equipment of your own required.

Most common mistakes with TV reception in Spain

  • Installing a satellite dish without prior agreement with the landlord or Comunidad de Propietarios
  • Booking IPTV without first checking your own internet speed
  • Relying solely on open streaming/catch-up content for live sport
  • Using a VPN permanently in everyday life without knowing the terms and conditions of the respective streaming provider
  • Forgetting the HD+ card and then being puzzled by SD quality on private channels

What comes next? Maintenance, contracts and moving house

After the initial installation, you should renew the HD+ card every year if you want to keep using private HD channels permanently. With IPTV subscriptions, it's worth checking package changes and prices once a year, as channel packages occasionally change. If you move within Mallorca, check again for a clear line of sight to the south-east for satellite systems – a balcony with a view blocked by neighbouring buildings can completely prevent reception. Your internet connection should also remain permanently stable for IPTV, not just at the time of testing.

Checklist: setting up German TV in Spain

  1. Check your living situation: is a balcony/roof allowed for a satellite dish?
  2. Test your internet speed (at least 5 Mbit/s for streaming/catch-up services, at least 15 Mbit/s for IPTV)
  3. Decide: satellite for independence from the internet, or IPTV for flexibility across multiple devices
  4. If needed, order an HD+ card for private HD channels
  5. For streaming/catch-up special cases: read the provider's terms and conditions regarding permanent residence abroad
  6. For live sport events: keep an alternative such as a German sports bar on Mallorca in mind

Conclusion

Receiving German television in Spain is straightforward with the right preparation: satellite via Astra 19.2° East delivers over 200 free-to-air channels permanently and independently of the internet, IPTV services such as Waipu.tv or Zattoo offer flexibility for 6 to 14 euros a month, and on-demand media libraries cover at least the news for free. A VPN can help in specific situations, but it doesn't replace any of the three basic solutions and should be used consciously with the providers' terms of use in mind – especially if you're living in Spain permanently rather than just temporarily.

Official sources

Why are German media libraries blocked in Spain?
Because broadcasters like ARD, ZDF or RTL have usually only acquired their streaming and licensing rights for Germany. If the server detects a Spanish IP address, geoblocking kicks in and blocks films, series and live sport.
Do I need internet for German TV in Mallorca?
Only for IPTV and media libraries. Classic satellite reception via Astra 19.2° East works completely independently of any internet connection.
How much does a satellite system for German TV cost in Spain?
After the one-off installation, there are no ongoing costs for free-to-air TV. For HD reception of private channels such as RTL HD, an additional HD+ card costs around 70 euros per year.
Is a VPN enough to watch German TV permanently?
A VPN can technically bypass geoblocking, but according to the terms of use, many streaming providers only allow this for temporary stays, not for a permanent residence abroad. For everyday use, satellite or IPTV is usually the more stable solution.
What is the EU Portability Regulation and does it help me as an emigrant?
It explicitly safeguards streaming subscriptions for temporary stays in other EU countries, for example while on holiday. For a permanent residence in Spain, the coverage is not clearly regulated.
What internet speed do I need for IPTV providers like Waipu.tv?
For smooth IPTV streaming, you should plan for at least 15 Mbit/s; for media library use alone, 5 Mbit/s is usually enough.
Can I still watch Bundesliga matches in Spain?
Live sport is almost always subject to geoblocking. Besides IPTV subscriptions or a VPN, a German sports bar in Mallorca is often the simplest alternative for major events.
Do I need a bigger satellite dish than in Germany?
The dish size required depends on your exact location and unobstructed view towards the south-east. It's best to have this checked by a local specialist with a signal measurement before installation.