Launched back in 2013, SonyLIV was one of the first Indian streaming services and today sits under Sony Pictures Networks India. It is the home of the cult finance drama Scam 1992, the dynasty saga Maharani, the reality juggernaut Shark Tank India, Champions League nights and New Zealand cricket. Its own Indian originals are the real draw. The catch is that SonyLIV keeps its full Indian library and cheap rupee pricing locked to India and a few diaspora markets, so a traveller or expat abroad, even in the US, only gets the slimmer diaspora cut sold through YouTube.
A VPN solves it cleanly. Surfshark swaps your IP for an Indian one, the app believes you are back in Mumbai, and the full SonyLIV slate of shows, films and live sport returns, often at the cheaper Indian subscription price. Streams run up to 4K, so picture quality holds up. Just remember the service blocks plenty of VPN servers, so pick a provider with fresh Indian addresses you can hop between.
SonyLIV actively blocks VPNs. Only certain providers reliably bypass the detection.
| VPN Service | Price | SonyLIV | Tested | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SurfsharkBEST | From $1.78/mo | ✓ Works | October 3 | Try it |
 ExpressVPN | From $2.79/mo | ✓ Works | October 3 | Open |
 NordVPN | From $2.99/mo | ✓ Works | October 5 | Open |
 ProtonVPN | From $3.59/mo | ~ Partial | October 2 | Open |
 Private Internet Access | From $1.79/mo | ~ Partial | October 4 | Open |
 CyberGhost | From $1.75/mo | ~ Partial | September 30 | Open |
 IPVanish | From $2.19/mo | ~ Partial | September 30 | Open |
✓ Works✓ Works✓ Works~ Partial~ Partial~ Partial~ PartialTakes about 2 minutes. Works on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, or laptop.
SonyLIV works in 24 countries, including in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada and in New Zealand. In 170 more it is blocked, and outside available regions you will need a VPN.
SonyLIV works without a VPN in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada, in New Zealand, in Ireland and in Germany, plus in 17 more countries.
SonyLIV is blocked in Japan, in South Africa, in Brazil, in Afghanistan and in Albania, plus in 165 more countries. To access it, use a premium VPN like Surfshark.
SonyLIV is the Indian streaming service run by Sony Pictures Networks India, legally Culver Max Entertainment, based in Mumbai and part of Japan’s Sony Group. It was one of the country’s earliest streamers, launching back in 2013. Its reputation rests on ambitious originals. Series such as Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, Maharani, Rocket Boys, Gullak and Undekhi earned critical praise, while the business reality show Shark Tank India became the platform’s flagship. Live sport adds another draw, with New Zealand cricket, UEFA Champions League and Europa League football, and the Australian Open in tennis. The model is hybrid. Paid tiers reach up to 4K, but ads still run during sport and marquee exclusives, so there is no fully ad free option. The complete Indian catalogue and the cheap local pricing are geo locked to India. Abroad you get only a limited diaspora cut, sold in markets like the US through YouTube TV and Primetime Channels, while the full Indian catalogue and its low prices stay locked to India.
5 tips from our SonyLIV testing team · Updated July 17, 2026
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Everything you need to know before subscribing to SonyLIV.
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