TV and broadband deals

Many of the UK’s leading broadband providers offer TV and broadband deals, so there are some competitive offers out there.

NOW Broadband

NOW Broadband is an affordable service that gives you the opportunity to access Sky channels without taking out a Sky contract. That’s because the company is owned by Sky.

NOW’s streaming packages allow you to pick and mix different TV memberships, which include Entertainment, Cinema and Sports. These can be added to the company’s full fibre broadband, which is available in three plans with average download speeds ranging from 75Mb/s to 300Mb/s, all with line rental included.

NOW doesn’t offer a set-top box, so you won’t be able to record programmes, but you can still pause, rewind and watch programmes on-demand. 

Sky

Sky’s TV services are mostly transmitted by satellite, meaning they’re available across the UK. And new products like Sky Stream mean you can stream Sky content even without a dish. Its broadband uses the BT Openreach network, which also has good coverage. Sky Broadband is Full Fibre and offers a range of download speeds from 75Mb/s all the way up to 900Mb/s.

Despite its impressive speeds, Sky’s main attraction is its TV services. It offers a range of packages that bundle its broadband with combinations of Sky channels such as Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and Sky Entertainment, as well as Netflix and Discovery+. You can also bundle-in unique tech, like Sky’s Glass TV which has Sky channels built-in and means you don’t need a set-top box.  

BT

BT’s Openreach network is well established across the UK and led the full fibre rollout. That means customers get a wide range of speeds, with packages ranging from download speeds of 50Mb/s to 900Mp/s, and there is coverage for most addresses.

It’s less of a leader in TV and actually no longer sells TV under BT; instead you can select from one of five EE TV Packages, including Entertainment, Sport, Big Entertainment, Big Sport and Full Works (previously called ‘VIP’). You can add on or remove EE TV extras, including include NOW Sports, NOW Cinema, Netflix or our HD extra, each month. 

The set-top box BT provides is called the EE TV Box, and it can pause, rewind and record live TV.

Virgin Media

Virgin Media’s broadband runs on its own cable network, which has good high-speed coverage around the UK, independent of the full fibre rollout. Its download speeds range from 132Mb/s up to a remarkable 1130Mb/s.

Rather than offering a pick-and-mix selection of customisable bundles, Virgin offers five fixed packages: ‘Broadband & flexible TV‘, ‘Bigger’, ‘Bigger + Movies’, ‘Bigger + Sports’, ‘Biggest Combo’ and ‘Mega Volt’. These include a range of channels for different age and interest groups, as well as packages for sports and cinema lovers.

Virgin offers two TV set-top boxes: the Virgin TV V6 box and the TiVo® box. Both offer pause, record and rewind functions, but only the V6 box supports 4K resolution.

There are a few things to think about when you’re weighing up the options. Here’s a 3-step guide to the decision-making process.

Know the speed you need

Available broadband speeds are getting faster all the time thanks to technological improvements. But do you actually need the fastest speed out there?

To decide, think about how your household uses the internet. How often are people streaming, gaming, using smart devices or running AI services? Do you or someone you live with work from home frequently, and does this involve video calls?

Know what kind of connection you can get

The UK is in the middle of a big full fibre (fibre-to-the-premises) rollout at the moment, with 7 out of 10 UK properties covered by the fibre network as of September 2024, according to Think Broadband. 

That leaves 3 in 10 addresses limited to part-fibre (fibre-to-the-cabinet) or copper ADSL (‘standard’ broadband) for the time being. These services don’t bring fibre optic cable all the way to your home, so they’re not quite as fast as full fibre. They are also likely to be more expensive than full fibre packages.

Other options include Virgin Media’s broadband, which uses a special insulated copper cable to connect your home to the fibre network – it’s not as fast as full fibre, but good enough for most households – and 5G home broadband, which allows you to connect to the internet via a 5G-enabled SIM card in a home router, bypassing the need for a phone line or fiber optic cable.

Know which channels and services you want

We’re living in the Golden Age of Television at the moment, meaning there's an almost endless selection of good-quality programming available.

Some services have their own exclusive channels and content, such as Sky Sports or TNT Sports. If these are essentials for you, then your choice is limited to these providers.

Paid-for TV services can also come with equipment like a set-top box that lets you record, pause and re-watch live TV. Check which features your provider offers and how much storage you’ll get for recorded programmes.

What TV packages include Netflix?

You can get Netflix as part of your package with Sky, Virgin and EE. 

Sky includes Netflix in all its TV packages as standard, while the Netflix app is built Virgin’s latest TV box. With EE, if you sign up for the Entertainment, Big Entertainment or Full Works package Netflix will be included, but you can still add it as an extra if you opt for a different package.

Know which discounts or special rates are available to you

Discounted broadband and phone packages, called ‘Social Tariffs’, are available for users who receive benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Disability Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and more. They’re usually the same speed and quality as other home broadband deals and delivered in exactly the same way. Ofcom estimates that they could save users up to  £200 a year, and yet as of April 2023 only 5% of eligible households were signed up to a discounted Social Tariff.

Know what free gifts, incentives or bonuses are available

Many providers offer incentives to sign up, including pre-loaded cash cards, Amazon vouchers, free installation and big discounts. Some incentives are unique to comparison sites like Confused.com or USwitch while others might only be available from the provider’s own site. While they’re unlikely to be the number one reason you pick one supplier over another, they’re worth exploring as their value can bring down the overall cost of a package. 

TV and broadband providers are increasingly getting involved with deal periods like Black Friday too, so if you’re thinking about signing up to a new package towards the end of the year it’s worth seeing what offers are available.  

The UK has several kinds of digital TV, some of them new, some of them old, and some of them are being phased out. Here’s a quick guide.

Streaming TV

Different to streaming services like Netflix, this is pay-TV from big providers like Sky offered through streaming devices like Sky Stream or Sky Glass. These connect to your Wi-Fi to give you access to your provider's content.

Satellite

TV signals arrive at your property via a satellite signal. You need a physical satellite dish to receive them, which is installed on the outside of the property (and not permitted by some landlords and councils). Sky TV is the best-known satellite TV service, although it’s moving away from satellite. UK viewers can also pick up Freesat.

Cable

Your TV signal comes through a cable connected to your home. In the case of Virgin Media 02, your TV, internet and phone signals all travel through the same cable.

Streaming services

Services like Netflix, NOW and Disney Plus use your home internet connection to deliver video on demand as a subscription service. Some services also stream TV live as it’s being broadcast.

IPTV

Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) uses a privately managed internet network. Some IPTV services are illegal, and are used to access media that’s not available in a viewer’s region or to get content for free.

Freeview

Freeview is a digital terrestrial TV service that’s free to access (although you still need a TV licence to watch or record live broadcasts.) It works via a digital signal received by your TV aerial.

Freeview was set up as a joint venture by UK broadcasters in 2002. Today, Freeview combines live digital broadcasts with an on-demand streaming service. Its sister service, Freesat, delivers TV via satellite.

Can I add extra channels to a broadband and TV package?

Usually, providers offer add-ons or passes that you can buy to upgrade your package. Some offer a flexible package where you can change the mix of channels you receive each month during your contract. Check with your provider before you subscribe, especially if your contract is for a long period.

Can I add a mobile plan to my TV and broadband deal?

Some providers offer a bundled deal that includes TV, broadband and mobile.

For example, Virgin Media O2 offers packages that include an O2 SIM.