You're probably here because you've seen a clip of a dinner party imploding on TikTok and now you're hooked. I get it. Married At First Sight Australia—or MAFS Oz as the locals call it—isn't just reality TV. It's a sociological car crash that makes the US and UK versions look like a quiet Sunday afternoon at the library. The problem is, if you aren't sitting in a lounge room in Sydney or Melbourne, actually figuring out how to watch MAFS Australia can feel like a full-time job.
Broadcasters love their borders. They draw invisible lines across the internet that stop you from seeing the chaos just because your IP address says you're in London, New York, or Auckland. Honestly, it’s frustrating. But there are ways around it that don't involve sketchy, virus-laden streaming sites.
Where the Drama Lives: 9Now is the Source
Everything starts with Channel 9. In Australia, the show airs on the Nine Network, and their streaming platform, 9Now, is where every single episode lives. It’s free. Totally free. But—and it’s a big "but"—it is strictly geo-locked to Australia.
If you try to access it from overseas, you'll likely hit a wall. You'll see a spinning wheel or a blunt message telling you that the content is unavailable in your region. This is where most people give up, but you shouldn't. To get 9Now working, you essentially need to convince the website that you're currently snacking on a meat pie in Brisbane.
Using a VPN is the standard workaround here. I’ve found that not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to Nine's servers. They’ve gotten better at spotting "proxy" traffic. You want something with high-speed Australian servers, specifically in cities like Sydney or Perth. Once you're "in" Australia via your VPN, you just head to the 9Now website or app, create an account (you'll need an Australian postcode, but any 4-digit Aussie code like 2000 or 3000 usually works), and you're golden.
The UK Connection: E4 and Beyond
If you’re in the UK, you have it slightly easier, though you’re often playing catch-up. E4 is the home of MAFS Australia in Britain. They usually start airing the season a few weeks or even months after the Australian premiere.
The benefit? It’s legal, easy, and on your TV. The downside? The internet will spoil everything for you before the first episode even airs on E4. If you follow any reality TV accounts on Instagram, you'll know who stayed together and who threw a glass of wine before the UK even sees the first wedding.
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For those who can't wait, the VPN-to-9Now route remains the gold standard. It’s the only way to stay truly "live" with the Australian broadcast cycle.
Watching MAFS Australia in the US and Canada
North America is where things get tricky. Historically, Lifetime has picked up the rights for the US, but they aren't always consistent with their scheduling. Sometimes they skip seasons. Sometimes they move them to their streaming app behind a cable login.
For Canadians, it’s even more of a ghost town. You might find random seasons on platforms like Hayu, but the newest episodes? Rarely there on day one.
If you're serious about the show, you've basically got two choices. You can wait for a local network to eventually buy the rights, or you can use a VPN to access 9Now. Most people I talk to in the States choose the latter because MAFS is a "social" show. If you aren't watching it when the memes are fresh, you're missing half the fun.
Why Does the Australian Version Feel So Different?
You might wonder why people go to such lengths just to watch a dating show. Well, the Australian format is fundamentally different from the American one. In the US, the couples actually get legally married. In Australia, it’s a "commitment ceremony."
Because they aren't legally bound, the participants tend to be way more reckless. There is no divorce lawyer waiting in the wings. This lack of legal consequence leads to the infamous "Partner Swapping" scandals and the weekly Commitment Ceremonies where everyone sits on a couch and gets grilled by experts like John Aiken and Mel Schilling.
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John Aiken, specifically, has become a bit of a cult figure. He doesn't hold back. If someone is gaslighting their partner, he calls it out with the clinical precision of a surgeon. It makes for compelling, if sometimes infuriating, television.
Technical Hurdles You'll Probably Face
Let’s talk about the 9Now app for a second. Even with a VPN, it can be finicky. If you’re trying to watch on a phone, the app often uses GPS data rather than just your IP address. This means even if your VPN says you’re in Sydney, your phone’s internal GPS tells the app you’re in Chicago.
The fix? Watch on a desktop or laptop browser. Browsers are much easier to fool than apps. Clear your cookies, turn on your VPN, and use an Incognito or Private window. This prevents the site from reading old location data stored in your cache.
Another tip: check your clock. Some streaming sites check if your system time matches your IP location. If your computer is set to GMT but your IP is in Sydney (GMT+11), the site might flag you. It sounds paranoid, but these streaming platforms have big budgets to protect their licensing deals.
The Ethics of "Grey Area" Streaming
I should mention that while using a VPN isn't illegal in most countries, it does usually go against the Terms of Service of the streaming site. Channel 9 wants to sell the rights to the UK and US, and every person watching on 9Now from abroad technically devalues those international deals.
But honestly? When a show is this good and the distribution is this fragmented, fans are going to find a way. Just be careful with those "free" streaming sites that pop up on Google. They are often loaded with malware and intrusive ads that can hijack your browser. If you aren't using a legitimate broadcaster's site (like 9Now, Channel 4, or Lifetime), you're taking a risk.
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What to Expect in the Newest Season
Every year, the producers claim it's the "most explosive season yet." Usually, it's hyperbole. But with MAFS Australia, they actually tend to deliver. We’ve seen everything from secret affairs caught on hot mics to contestants who are clearly there just for the Instagram followers.
The 2024 and 2025 seasons leaned heavily into the "influencer" era, which sparked a lot of debate among fans. Some miss the "genuine" earlier seasons, but the high-octane drama of the newer ones is what keeps the ratings through the roof.
Look out for the "Confessions Week." It's usually the second or third week of the experiment and it’s designed to break the couples early. They have to rank the other contestants by attractiveness or reveal deep secrets. It's brutal. It's uncomfortable. It's exactly why we watch.
Breaking Down Your Viewing Strategy
If you want to be a MAFS pro, you need a routine. The show typically airs Sunday through Wednesday in Australia. Sunday is the big episode—the Dinner Party or the Wedding. Monday and Tuesday are the fallout. Wednesday is the Commitment Ceremony.
- Get a reliable VPN. Don't use a free one; they are too slow for video.
- Set your location to Australia. Sydney is usually the most stable server.
- Create your 9Now account. Use a random Aussie postcode.
- Watch on a browser. Avoid the mobile app if you can to bypass GPS tracking.
- Stay off Twitter. Unless you want spoilers, stay away from the #MAFSAU hashtag until you've caught up.
This isn't just about watching a show; it's about participating in a global conversation. There is something uniquely bonding about complaining with thousands of strangers online about a guy named "Harrison" or "Bryce" and their latest antics.
Final Steps for the Dedicated Fan
Go download a VPN that has a proven track record with Australian streaming services—ExpressVPN or NordVPN are the usual suspects that people swear by for 9Now. Once that's installed, head over to the 9Now website and look for the "Live TV" section if you want to watch it at the exact same time as Australians (keep in mind the time difference; an 8 PM start in Sydney is early morning in London). If you prefer to sleep, the episodes are usually uploaded to the "on-demand" section within an hour of finishing the live broadcast. Pop some popcorn, get your group chat ready, and prepare for the inevitable chaos that only Australian reality TV can provide.