The problem you’re encountering is quite common.
You’re using the VPN apps, rather than router-based VPN. I‘ll explain:
I switched from using VPN apps (NordVPN and ExpressVPN) to using VPN routers using NordVPN (“Privacy Hero 2” by Flashrouters.com which uses fast-as-lightning NordLynx protocol) and ExpressVPN’s “Aircove“ router. They’re pricey at around $200 each (also include a 1 or 2(?) year VPN subscription).
While many streaming providers (foreign and domestic) are wise to the most popular VPN apps, some of them, in particular, are incredibly good at ferreting out VPN’s. Through using these routers, I’m able to connect to, stream content from, and even have paid subscriptions, to a couple of super stubborn overseas streaming providers. With one of these routers, I even use an additional app from a different VPN service, to further obfuscate my connection.
For those who don’t know, the VPN routers are plugged into your router receiving your ISP’s signal. Through this method, you have 2 different network signals (your ISP and the VPN) connected simultaneously and available full time, throughout your entire home, on any smart device you want, at any time. You connect to a specific country / city through the VPN’s website (you have to connect to the router network in your device‘s WiFi setting, then it’ll let you into the respective give VPN’s website app). You then select where you want to connect to.
Through this method, I’ve been able to access European content which requires a paid subscription (yes, I paid for the subscriptions) and am watching my favorite European football teams narrated in my native language. Truth be told, during the regular league season, I’m watching around 12 to 15 games per week (this includes regular season Friday, Saturday, Sunday and weekday games (primarily broadcast on 2 different subscription-based streaming channels, Domestic League Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League). These subscription-based streaming channels also broadcast German Bundesliga, Premier League, the Eredivisie from the Netherlands, and Italy’s Serie A. Some also broadcast 2nd and 3rd division games. Most broadcasts are available in that nation’s language, but also in English language.
I am not kidding. I access these services through apps on my AMFS, NVIDIA Shield, iOS devices and Smart TV’s. I also pay for a U.S Prime subscription AND a for another (non-U.S.) Prime, to watch their domestic live streaming and movie library content. Seems like when the VPN signal is coming from a router, it‘s SIGNIFICANTLY more successful at getting access than using just the stand-alone VPN app.
Whatever you do, don’t access your AMFS and then connect to your downloaded VPN’s app in the AMFS apps menu, expecting to watch foreign content (not native to your country). They’ll pick up on that in a heartbeat, as, with the AMFS, you MUST connect to your internet network in the AMFS’s network connections. Otherwise, AMFS will not detect an internet connection, and you won’t be able to connect to any apps / use AMFS. In the AZN website, you must also CHANGE your address / seat of residence to the country who’s content you want to stream. You do this in your account settings (Google this step). You do NOT need to cancel / close your existing service or account. If I use one of my VPN service‘s router, AZN detects that I’m connected to a VPN and tells me to check my connection as I must be connected to a VPN, but, if I connect using the other VPN service’s router, I can watch live streaming content and Prime videos from my preferred country, all day long, every day. This, BTW, this is also the case on my other devices when I open streaming apps in them, Some apps tell me their content is geo-locked if I access it with one router, but the other router gets me in just fine. One service is NOT better than the other, it just depends on the streaming service’s configuration and how it detects connections it doesn’t like. Also, please be aware that connecting your VPN router to your ISP’s signal (router) (via ethernet cable) may affect your connection, to some an extent. I have a 1 Gig connection from my ISP and experience very, very little buffering, while watching live games.
The NordVPN “Privacy Hero 2” router, in particular, lets me select and connect to the same destination server time and again. Most of the time the VPN apps selects the server for you and you only have control over what city you can connect to. The router allows you to select the server, as well. This means, if you have to register on a streaming provider’s app to view their content, even if it’s free to view, you want to make sure your connecting to that app from at least the same city, and, if possible, from the same server or neighborhood. It’s about consistency. I also ensure that whatever device I’m opening the app on that I want to stream, whether foreign or domestic, I set my device to that streaming provider’s time zone. Since they pretty much can identify what type of a device is being used to stream their app content, I’m guessing they might be able see other settings, as well.
ExpressVPN‘s “Aircove” router features an app one must connect to similar to the Privacy Hero 2, above, in order to accesses the router settings. With Aircove, you can create up to 5 different groups into which you can drag and drop all of the devices it recognizes (you must select the Aircove network in each of your device’s WiFi, it then identifies each device by its MAC address). The 5 groups can be connected to 5 different VPN servers in 5 different countries or the same country but different cities, or whichever way want to configure them.
Between this and the Vseebox, I’m set!
PM me if you want more info.