9 best alternatives to Sky TV in the UK

As someone who’s been through the cord-cutting journey myself, I can wholeheartedly say that there are plenty of alternatives to Sky TV that cater to various preferences and budgets.

Television plays a significant role in our lives, serving as a common bond for many. There isn’t an issue that can’t be eased by gathering with family or friends to watch EastEnders at 7:30 pm, or sharing a TV dinner during Love Island broadcasts. In more recent times, we’ve been appreciating the multitude of streaming platforms that have emerged.

Regardless of what program or method you prefer on television, make sure you select a TV plan that suits your preferences best. Considering what types of shows you enjoy and what you don’t mind missing out on will help find the perfect fit for you.

You can find Sky TV offered in several packages, including Sky TV alone, Sky Stream, and a combination with Netflix. Typically, these packages begin at a monthly cost of around £26.

You have the ability to tailor your plan by including extra channels. For sports enthusiasts, there’s an option to subscribe to Sky Sports for only £18 per month; for parents with children, there’s Sky Kids at £6 monthly; and for film lovers, you can opt for Sky Cinema at an additional £10 a month, which also includes a Paramount Plus subscription and two complimentary Vue cinema tickets every month.

By opting for a Sky TV package, you’ll receive a Sky Q box included. This versatile system merges your traditional television viewing with on-demand and catch-up services like All 4, ITV Hub, and BBC iPlayer, and it also offers applications such as YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix.

To enjoy these services in high definition (HD), it’s an additional £12 each month. If you wish to watch TV simultaneously in multiple rooms, you’ll need to get a Sky Q Mini Box, which costs an extra £15 per month. For viewing content in a third room, another box will cost around £50. However, please note that only up to four boxes are allowed per household.

If you’re currently subscribed to Sky TV, you might have noticed how quickly additional costs can accumulate. If you’re contemplating switching service providers, here are some more affordable and superior alternatives to Sky that we recommend.

To find out about various streaming services, check out the cost of Disney+, learn how to access Viaplay in the UK, and discover ways to stream HBO in the UK.

Get three months free Disney Plus with Virgin Media

Black Friday has come early at Virgin Media!

Starting today and lasting up until Sunday, 8th December, brand-new Virgin Media broadband subscribers have an opportunity to acquire discounted broadband packages across all their bundles. Additionally, they’ll enjoy a three-month complimentary subscription to the standard tier of Disney Plus.

Get three months free Disney Plus at Virgin Media

Best alternatives to Sky for live TV

Virgin Media

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d like to share that unlike some other Sky TV alternatives, Virgin Media doesn’t provide a standalone TV package. Instead, their most affordable bundle is the ‘Big Bundle’, which includes M250 Fibre Broadband, Weekend Chatter, and over 100 TV channels for just £31.99 per month, on an 18-month contract, with no setup fee.

For Wi-Fi, TV, and your home phone, 32 quid isn’t a bad deal, especially if you’re looking to move these three things over from Sky. However, after that initial 18-month period, the price jumps up to £72 per month.

This Black Friday, exclusively for a brief period, you’ll receive three months of complimentary Disney Plus when you subscribe to Virgin Media broadband, and there won’t be any setup fees charged.

Sign up to Virgin Media from £31.99 a month

Tip: Sky has an 18-month contract. If you’re planning on switching, make sure you have checked when you can get out of the contract from.

Freeview

“Freeview strives to deliver top-notch television to households nationwide in the UK, without any monthly fees. In these challenging times with rising living costs, we are extremely grateful for services like Freeview as they provide our beloved TV shows when it might not be feasible to pay for pricier TV subscriptions or streaming platforms.

It provides more than 70 channels, including 15 HD options. If your television is connected to the internet, you can utilize Freeview Play to stream shows on-demand from services such as My5, BBC iPlayer, and All 4. In fact, Freeview Play is usually pre-installed in modern TVs, so it might be already available for you!

Take a look at Freeview

Best alternatives to Sky for entertainment

EE TV

Among the major players in the broadband and TV sector, BT stands alongside Sky and Virgin Media. On the other hand, EE is primarily recognized for its mobile services. However, these two industry titans are now teaming up, with BT offering internet packages that can be paired with EE’s TV offerings.

Instead of Sky, you’ll find our packages are affordably priced, allowing you to choose an entertainment bundle starting from just £20. For sports enthusiasts, we offer a package for only £18.

This Black Friday, enjoy a fantastic deal: ultra-fast broadband and an EE TV Entertainment package featuring NOW Entertainment, Netflix, discovery+ Basic, and more, without any initial costs. Additionally, you’ll receive three months of Apple TV+ absolutely free, ensuring endless entertainment at your fingertips!

Sign up to EE TV from £43.99 a month

Are you interested in sports channels? Here’s a selection of the top BT Sport deals currently on offer for your consideration.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ entered the streaming competition relatively late, but that doesn’t diminish its strength. Unlike many other streaming platforms, it concentrates on producing original content such as “Slow Horses,” “Ted Lasso,” “Cherry” starring Tom Holland, and “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.” Instead of amassing vast libraries of previously popular TV shows and films, as other streaming services often do.

The streaming service will cost you £8.99 a month. You can get three months free when you buy selected Apple products, so if you’re planning on purchasing a new device anyway, this is a great benefit. There’s also a seven-day free trial regardless of whether you buy from Apple.

Apple TV+ can be used on smart televisions, Fire Sticks, and gaming systems. Simply visit your app store, find ‘Apple TV+’ and install it to get started.

If you’re unsure about how to begin, don’t forget to check out our Apple TV+ guide and our list of top-rated TV shows available on Apple TV+ for some helpful insights.

Hayu

If you’re a fan of reality TV shows that offer drama, gossip about celebrities, and emotional scenes, then Hayu might be your ultimate streaming service. With series like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives franchise, and Botched, as well as hundreds more to choose from, Hayu is a great choice for you.

Like Apple TV Plus, Hayu is £4.99 a month, however, you can pay £43.99 for 12 months — the 12-month plan will save you 25 per cent off the monthly price. There’s also a seven-day free trial for you to sink your reality TV-loving teeth into.

Hayu is compatible with most smartphones, tablets and TV devices, including Google Chromecast.

As a cinephile on the hunt for the perfect streaming service, I’d recommend capitalizing on the numerous free trials offered by various platforms. This way, you can test drive several options before taking the plunge from your current Sky subscription.

Best alternatives to Sky for sports

NOW TV

Opting for the Sky Sports upgrade comes with a monthly fee of £18 extra – it grants access to eight different Sky Sports channels, allowing you to enjoy live coverage of the Premier League, Formula 1, and other exciting events.

On NOW TV, the Sports Membership provides you access to 11 Sky Sports channels in both standard and high-definition formats. This package offers more than 1,000 hours of sports highlights and documentaries on demand. Furthermore, it allows connection to up to six devices for your convenience, all at a monthly cost of £14.99.

Get NOW TV from £14.99 per month

Best alternatives to Sky for the whole family

Disney Plus

Disney Plus provides various subscription plans with distinct prices. The plan that includes ads costs £4.99 per month, the regular plan is priced at £7.99 monthly (or £79.90 annually), and the Premium plan goes for £10.99 a month (or £109.90 yearly).

In this venue, you’re welcome to savor popular choices like Frozen, The Simpsons, and Encanto, along with Marvel and Star Wars productions. Additionally, there are exclusive series such as Pam & Tommy and National Geographic offerings, and plenty more to discover!

Sign up to Disney Plus from £4.99 a month

Want to get Disney Plus for less? Take a look at the Disney Plus offers available right now.

Amazon Prime Video

Another fantastic value for money TV subscription service is Amazon Prime Video. From countless box sets and movies to documentaries and reality TV, there’s something for the whole family on Amazon Prime Video.

Should you already be a Prime member, you’ll enjoy the added perks of Amazon Prime Video, in addition to benefits such as free next-day delivery and special events like Prime Day. The monthly fee for this service is £8.99, or you can choose the annual subscription at a cost of £95, which equates to approximately £7.91 per month.

Netflix

Experience top-notch entertainment at affordable prices with Netflix. It offers an extensive library of blockbuster films such as Emilia Pérez, She Said, and Tár, engaging TV series like Bridgerton and Stranger Things, and let’s not forget a vast selection of documentaries.

You can watch Netflix anytime and anywhere from any device, like your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV or streaming device. Plans start from £4.99.

It’s a good idea to explore the consequences, if any, when moving away from Sky TV services but wanting to keep Sky as your internet provider instead.

2024-11-21 22:05