Rivals is a regional release, not available everywhere on Disney Plus

Rivals is a British television series that Disney Plus carries in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but not in the United States, Canada, Australia, or most other regions. If you cannot find it on your Disney Plus account, the most likely reason is that your account is registered in a country where the show is not licensed to Disney Plus. The show is owned by Disney but distributed through different platforms depending on where you live.

Disney Plus licenses content differently in each country based on existing distribution deals and broadcast rights. A show available in one region may be exclusive to another streaming service in your country, or it may not be available to stream at all. Rivals falls into this category—it streams on Disney Plus in the UK and Ireland because Disney owns the rights there, but those same rights belong to other distributors in North America and other territories.

Key Takeaways

  • Rivals is only available on Disney Plus in the United Kingdom and Ireland; it is not offered in the United States, Canada, Australia, or most other countries.
  • The show is distributed by different streaming services in different regions because Disney does not own all the streaming rights worldwide.
  • Using a VPN to access content outside your region violates Disney Plus's terms of service and can result in account suspension.
  • You can check where Rivals streams in your country by searching the show title on JustWatch or a similar tracking site.

How Disney Plus licensing works by country

Disney Plus does not have the same catalog everywhere because streaming rights are sold by country, not globally. When a show is produced, the rights holder (in this case, Disney) sells the right to stream it in different territories to different companies. Those deals are often made years in advance and may have already expired or been assigned to competitors.

Rivals was produced by Disney-owned studios but the streaming rights for North America and other regions were sold to other platforms before Disney Plus launched or expanded. This is common with older British television—many shows predate the existence of Disney Plus as a streaming service, so the rights were already locked in elsewhere. Even though Disney owns the company that made the show, they do not own the right to stream it everywhere.

Your Disney Plus account is tied to the country where you created it or where you currently live. The app checks your location and shows you only the content licensed for that region. If you move to a different country, you may eventually lose access to shows you were watching, or gain access to new ones.

Where to watch Rivals in different regions

In the United States, Rivals does not currently stream on a major platform. The show may be available for purchase through digital retailers like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV, or it may air on cable television depending on licensing agreements that change over time. Checking JustWatch.com and entering your country will show you every legal place the show is currently available to watch.

In Canada and Australia, Rivals may be available on different services than in the US, or it may not be streamable at all. The same applies to most other countries outside the UK and Ireland. JustWatch updates its database regularly and will tell you the current status in your specific location, including whether the show is available to rent, purchase, or stream with a subscription.

If the show is not available anywhere in your region, it may become available in the future if licensing agreements change. Streaming rights are renegotiated periodically, so a show that is unavailable today might appear on a platform next year.

Why VPNs do not work with Disney Plus

Some people try to use a VPN (virtual private network) to make it appear they are in the UK so they can watch Rivals. Disney Plus actively blocks VPN connections and will either refuse to play the content or suspend your account if you are caught using one. The company detects VPNs by checking your IP address against known VPN services and by monitoring unusual account behavior, such as logging in from different countries in a short time.

Using a VPN to access content outside your region also violates Disney Plus's terms of service. Your account can be suspended or permanently closed if Disney determines you are circumventing regional restrictions. This is not a gray area—it is explicitly forbidden in the agreement you accepted when you signed up.

Checking your account region and location settings

If you are traveling or recently moved, your Disney Plus account may still be registered to your previous country. Check your account settings to see which country is listed as your home region. On the Disney Plus website, go to your account settings, then look for "Profile" or "Location" information. The app version varies by device, but the setting is usually under your profile icon in the top right corner.

If you have moved to a new country permanently, you may need to update your account information and payment method to match your new location. This process varies depending on which country you are moving to and from. Contact Disney Plus support through your account if you need to change your region, and be prepared to provide proof of your new address.

What to do if Rivals is not available where you are

Your first step is to confirm that the show is truly unavailable in your region by checking JustWatch or a similar service. Search for "Rivals" and select the version from 2024 (the most recent adaptation), then choose your country from the dropdown menu. The site will show you every legal way to watch it, including free options if they exist.

If the show is not available to stream, you can purchase individual episodes or the full season through digital retailers. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and similar services often sell shows that are not available through subscription streaming. Prices vary, but buying a season typically costs between the price of a month or two of a streaming subscription.

You can also check whether the show airs on cable or broadcast television in your country. Some British shows are still distributed through traditional television networks, especially in countries with strong ties to British media. A quick search for "Rivals TV schedule [your country]" may reveal broadcast options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Rivals ever come to Disney Plus in the US?

It is possible but not certain. Streaming rights are renegotiated periodically, so if Disney's current licensing agreement expires or changes, the show could move to Disney Plus in the US. There is no way to predict when or if this will happen. You can check back on Disney Plus periodically or set up a notification on JustWatch to alert you if the show becomes available in your region.

Can I watch Rivals if I have a Disney Plus account in the UK?

Yes. If your Disney Plus account is registered in the United Kingdom or Ireland, Rivals will appear in your catalog and you can stream it without any restrictions. If you are in another country but have a UK account, Disney Plus will block the content based on your location, even though your account is registered there.

What if I buy Rivals on Amazon Prime Video—can I watch it anywhere?

Digital purchases are usually tied to your account and the region where you made the purchase. If you buy the show in the US, you can watch it on any device where you are signed into that account, regardless of where you are physically located. However, some services restrict downloads to specific regions, so check the terms before you purchase.

Is there a free way to watch Rivals?

Rivals may be available free through ad-supported services or broadcast television in some countries, but this varies by region. Check JustWatch and filter for "free" options to see if it is available that way where you are. In most regions, the only free option is to wait for it to air on cable or broadcast television, which may not happen at all.

Why does Disney Plus have different shows in different countries?

Disney Plus licenses content country by country because streaming rights were sold that way before the service existed. Older shows like Rivals had their streaming rights assigned to other companies in certain regions years ago. Disney cannot straightforward add every show everywhere because doing so would violate existing contracts with other distributors.