Calling all Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital fans… Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 is here, and UK fans are probably wondering how and where they can watch Grey’s Anatomy online or streaming on their telly, legally, WITHOUT an expensive Sky/Cable subscription.
If you need a refresher, Grey’s Anatomy is an American medical drama created by Shonda Rhimes, and starring Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey, who works with her friends, colleagues and romantic interests at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital. To this day, the show is ABC’s highest-rated drama, and has seen success in the UK as well.
With Season 15, Grey’s Anatomy broke the record as being the longest-running prime-time drama on ABC, and has already been renewed for two seasons (16 and 17).
Season 16 debuted in the US on September 26, 2019, and went on the winter break on November 21. New episodes started with Episode 10 on January 23, 2020.
In the UK, however, things are looking dire for Grey’s fans, as no date has been set for Season 16’s debut yet.
There’s been some speculation that Grey’s Anatomy might end up on the upcoming Disney+ streaming service in the UK – but there’s been no official word yet.
Here’s how to watch Season 16, as well as catch-up with past seasons. (If you’re a fan of medical dramas, you might also want to check out The Good Doctor).
Where Can I Watch Grey’s Anatomy In The UK – Past And Current Episodes?
In the UK, Grey’s Anatomy used to air on Sky – but as Cord Cutters, we’re here to talk about your other viewing options – those not involving a full-on Sky (or Virgin, or BT) subscription.
These are your major options:
1. Amazon Prime Video – Seasons 1-15
Amazon’s video on demand library (see our review) offers the older seasons (1-14) of Grey’s Anatomy as part of their Amazon Prime subscription, or as a separate one-time purchase.
Pros
- Watch for “free” as part of the Amazon Prime subscription (Up to Season 14)
- Season 15 available as one-time purchase
- If you buy, you own forever – without seasons expiring on you mid-watch
- Full HD quality (1080p)
Cons
- Gets expensive if you buy multiple seasons
- Season 15 not part of Prime subscription yet
- Season 16 Not available at all yet
Watch On: Amazon’s website, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Smartphones, Gaming consoles
Quick Tip: With Amazon, you can also go the old-fashioned way, and get past seasons on DVD.
2. Netflix US – Seasons 1-15
Unfortunately, Grey’s Anatomy is not available on the UK version of Netflix. However, it IS available on the American version of Netflix – all past seasons, as well as Season 15.
And while it’s a bit more complicated, there are ways to watch it in the UK, if you’re willing to invest some time and money.
We have a full guide on how to watch American Netflix in the UK, but it basically means subscribing to a VPN service, and having a streaming device with that VPN’s app, if you want to watch it on your telly. (Your Netflix subscription stays the same – that is, it’s your regular UK-based Netflix subscription).
Pros
- Part of a regular Netflix subscription (but with the US content library).
- Stream all the past seasons, up to Season 15
- Full HD quality (1080p)
Cons
- Must use a VPN for the US Netflix library
- Season 16 should be coming later in the year
Watch On: Netflix’ US website, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Smartphones – But only while your VPN app is working.
3. Google Play Store – Seasons 1-15
Google’s play store offers all past seasons of Grey’s Anatomy (1-15), as a separate one-time purchase.
Pros
- Buy and own forever – without seasons expiring on you mid-watch.
- Full HD quality (1080p)
- Subtitles!
Cons
- Gets expensive if you buy multiple seasons
- Season 16 not yet available.
Watch On: Chromecast, certain models of Smart TVs, Roku, smartphones and certain other devices via the YouTube app
4. NOW TV – Season 16?
Sky’s on-demand service, meant to compete with Netflix, offers a cheaper price over Sky’s regular TV offerings – and without a lengthy contract (see my guide on getting cheap NOW TV passes).
All past seasons (1-15) of Grey’s Anatomy used to be available as box-sets on NOW TV’s Entertainment Pass – however, Sky have decided to remove all seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, and Season 15 is no longer available either.
Season 16, however, was supposed to return to NOW TV at some point. We were hoping for it to premiere in October, but we’re now in 2020… and NOW TV/Sky haven’t released a date yet, and they’re keeping quiet about when – or if – it will ever come. We’ll update once we know more.
If the season arrives, the new episodes will be available week-by-week.
Pros
- Cheap, monthly subscription (£8.99 a month) – Might have Grey’s Anatomy next season and many other programmes.
- Available on several platforms
Cons
- Picture Quality - only gets up 720p (unless you pay more)
- At the moment the series isn't available at all
Watch On: NOW TV Box (get it here), Chromecast, Apple TV, Gaming consoles, Certain models of Smart TVs (No Amazon Fire TV).
I can’t find Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 on NowTV at all, did it ever arrive?
Unfortunately no, and they’re not even willing to comment on when – or if – it will arrive. Some speculate that it will end up on Disney+, the new streaming service which is coming to the UK in a couple of months
Oh that’s such a shame. Thanks for the update. I really hope they hurry up and make their minds up where they’re going to show it.
Greys is still available on uk prime video tonight (8th December). Just watched a couple more episodes of season 14.
No updates as to why, how or what for.
Disappeared from French Amazon Prime between 22 December & 23rd December. So it’s going to go in the UK too. I had no idea.
For now, it’s still on the UK version of Prime. We’re hoping it’ll stay that way… but Amazon is keeping quiet for now
And actually that’s ALL of Grey’s Anatomy taken from Amazon Prime in France. I was on season 6 … no seasons at all now, not even season 1.
Same comment as above that Amazon Prime have just announced that Grey’s Anatomy will no longer be available after 7 Dec 2019. WHERE / HOW will we be able to watch it in the UK?
It’s a bit too early to say, unfortunately – but my guess is that it might end up on Disney+, which is set to launch in the UK on March 31, 2020 (because Disney owns ABC).
Yep, that would be my guess, too. Meanwhile I’ve just bought the lot on Amazon Prime even though a) their message said that it “may” be available if already purchased, and b) it cost a small fortune. If Amazon Prime doesn’t honour purchases, then I guess it will just be a battle to get a refund. Meh…
I have a link to try and get it to stay!! I need more people to share it though ughhh http://chng.it/6ccBfnSv
There is no way to watch it in UK… The removed it from Now TV and Netflix, Amazon have only first 14seasons… So basically if you want to watch the new season you are 💩
Just a small correction – Amazon has the first 15 seasons (but 15 is currently not a part of Prime). As for the new season (16) it WILL be available on NOW TV, but only in October, so UK viewers have to wait a few weeks, as usual, which is very annoying
Amazon Prime have just announced that Grey’s Anatomy won’t be available from 7th December 2019.
Indeed, thank you for the update. This really adds insult to injury, with Season 16 still not available in the UK
However, its December and no sign of it on Sky or NOW TV.
Greys Anatomy appears to have been removed from Netflix US this week. 🙁
No, it’s still there.