TV · every way to watch
TV packages compared: every way to watch
The cheapest paid TV package we found on 25 Oct 2026 is NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum) at £4.99 a month (Sky Originals and exclusive shows). For live sport, NOW Sports is the lowest-cost package at £19.99 a month. Freeview stays free with a TV aerial or broadband, and every paid price is read from the provider's own site.
- Packages
- 24
- Providers
- 6
- Bundles
- 10
For most homes
NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum)
Sky Originals and exclusive shows · 6 months · £4.99 a month real cost
The cheapest way to add paid channels: keep Freeview for live TV and pay month by month only for what you watch.
Every TV package, cheapest first
Sorted by real monthly cost. Use the tabs for TV on its own, bundles with broadband, sport and movies. Add-ons are priced on top of the package they need.
| Provider and package | What you get | Contract | Monthly price | Real cost | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Freeview Play (free TV) No subscription · Needs a Freeview Play TV or box and an aerial; on-demand needs broadband of 2Mbps or more | What you getFree-to-air live channels · On-demand players: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5 and U · 60,000+ hours of on-demand TV and 1,500+ boxsetsTV aerial or broadband | ContractNo contractNo setup fee | Monthly price£0.00Fixed price | Real cost£0.00 /mo£0.00 over 12 months | See deal at Freeview (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum) Then £7.99 a month after the 6-month minimum term, unless cancelled · Includes ads; one ad-free month included at checkout | What you getSky Originals and exclusive shows · Biggest returning series from HBOStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£4.99Fixed price | Real cost£4.99 /mo£29.94 over 6 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Cinema Monthly Saver with 6-month minimum term, then up to £9.99 a month unless cancelled · Includes ads | What you getHundreds of movies, latest blockbustersStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£6.99Fixed price | Real cost£6.99 /mo£41.94 over 6 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Entertainment & HBO Max Monthly Saver with 6-month minimum term, then up to £9.99 a month unless cancelled · Includes ads | What you getSky Originals and exclusive shows · HBO Max Basic with AdsStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£6.99Fixed price | Real cost£6.99 /mo£41.94 over 6 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Cinema (add-on to Sky TV) | What you getLatest blockbusters and Sky Original films · 2 Vue tickets every month · Paramount+ includedOn top of Sky TV | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£10.00Fixed price | Real cost£10.00 /mo£240.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Essential TV No upfront fees · Streams over your WiFi, no dish | What you get100+ channels incl. Sky Atlantic · 90 free-to-air channels · Netflix and discovery+ includedStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£15.00Fixed price | Real cost£15.00 /mo£360.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Entertainment TV Box Edge (no recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNetflix Standard with Ads · 21 channels from NOW Entertainment · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£17.00£19.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £21.00 | Real cost£19.00 /mo£456.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Sports Monthly Saver with 12-month minimum term, then up to £34.99 a month unless cancelled · Ads included on live sports and channels | What you getAll Sky Sports channels, liveStreams over your broadband | Contract12 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£19.99Fixed price | Real cost£19.99 /mo£239.88 over 12 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Sports (add-on to Sky TV) Watch on Sky Go straight after you order | What you getAll of Sky Sports incl. Premier League, F1 · Sky Sports+ includedOn top of Sky TV | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£22.00Fixed price | Real cost£22.00 /mo£528.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Entertainment Plus TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNetflix Standard with Ads · 21 channels from NOW Entertainment and HBO Max (Basic with Ads) · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£22.00£24.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £26.00 | Real cost£24.00 /mo£576.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Ultimate TV No upfront fees · Streaming apps worth over £20 a month included (Netflix Standard with Ads, Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic with Ads, discovery+) | What you get130+ channels incl. Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness · Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hayu and discovery+ included · 90 free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£24.00Fixed price | Real cost£24.00 /mo£576.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Broadband + Flex TV Flex TV is a rolling 30-day contract; the broadband is 24 months · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get150+ essential channels incl. free to air · Optional entertainment subscriptions you can turn on or off every monthBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£28.99Fixed price | Real cost£28.99 /mo£695.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Sport TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getAll TNT Sports HD channels and TNT Sports on HBO Max · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£27.00£29.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £31.00 | Real cost£29.00 /mo£696.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Entertainment bundle Includes M350 broadband or faster · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get200+ channels incl. free to air · Virgin TV Ultra HD channelBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£34.99Fixed price | Real cost£34.99 /mo£839.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Essential TV + 150Mbps Full Fibre Broadband Price includes 150Mbps Full Fibre broadband · Up to £300 switching credit | What you getSky Essential TV channels incl. Sky Atlantic · Netflix and discovery+Broadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£35.00Fixed price | Real cost£35.00 /mo£840.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Essential TV + 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast Broadband Price includes 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast broadband · Up to £300 switching credit | What you getSky Essential TV channels incl. Sky Atlantic · Netflix and discovery+Broadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£35.00Fixed price | Real cost£35.00 /mo£840.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Ultimate TV + 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast Broadband Price includes 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast broadband · Up to £300 switching credit | What you getSky Ultimate TV channels · Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hayu and discovery+ includedBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£41.00Fixed price | Real cost£41.00 /mo£984.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Cinema bundle Includes M350 broadband or faster · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get200+ channels incl. free to air · Sky Cinema HD Collection · Virgin TV Ultra HD channelBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£44.99Fixed price | Real cost£44.99 /mo£1,079.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
EE TV Entertainment + Full Fibre 150 Core broadband Price includes Full Fibre 150 broadband · Apple TV free for 6 months (worth £60), then £9.99 a month unless cancelled | What you getNetflix Standard with adverts · NOW Entertainment · EE Full Fibre 150 Core broadbandBroadband included | Contract24 months£30.00 setup | Monthly price£45.99£51.99 from 31 Mar 2027, then £57.99 | Real cost£53.24 /mo£1,277.76 over 24 months | See deal at EE (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Sport bundle Includes M350 broadband or faster · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get200+ channels incl. free to air · Sky Sports HD Collection, live Premier League action · Virgin TV Ultra HD channelBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£54.99Fixed price | Real cost£54.99 /mo£1,319.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Sport Plus TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getAll TNT Sports HD channels and TNT Sports on HBO Max · Sky Sports channels with NOW Sports in HD · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£55.00£57.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £59.00 | Real cost£57.00 /mo£1,368.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Sport + Cinema bundle Includes M350 broadband or faster · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get210+ channels incl. free to air · Sky Sports HD and Sky Cinema HD · Virgin TV Ultra HD channelBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£64.99Fixed price | Real cost£64.99 /mo£1,559.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
Virgin Media Max Volt bundle (Gig1 broadband, TV, O2 SIM) O2 SIM included · Price includes Virgin Media broadband | What you get230+ channels incl. free to air · Sky Sports HD, Sky Cinema HD and Kids TV · Virgin TV Ultra HD channelBroadband included | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£76.99Fixed price | Real cost£76.99 /mo£1,847.76 over 24 months | See deal at Virgin Media (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Full Works TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNOW Entertainment and HBO Max (Basic with Ads) · Netflix Standard · Sky Sports channels with NOW Sports in HDStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£88.00£90.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £92.00 | Real cost£90.00 /mo£2,160.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Ranked by real cost; commission never changes the order. Prices checked on each provider's own site on 25 Oct 2026.
Providers
Every provider in the table
Pay TV from Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, BT and EE, plus Freeview, the free option most homes already have.
EE
Owned by BT Group; runs its own 4G and 5G network.
1 deal · from £45.99/mo
Sky
Sky UK, part of Comcast: satellite and streaming TV (Sky Stream, Sky Glass) plus home broadband and mobile.
7 deals · from £10.00/mo
BT
BT Group's consumer brand, selling broadband, BT TV and mobile; runs mainly on the Openreach network, which BT Group also owns.
5 deals · from £17.00/mo
Virgin Media
Virgin Media O2, a joint venture of Liberty Global and Telefonica: broadband, TV and mobile over its own cable and full fibre network.
6 deals · from £28.99/mo
NOW
NOW is Sky's flexible streaming brand (Entertainment, Cinema and Sports memberships) and NOW Broadband is powered by Sky.
4 deals · from £4.99/mo
Freeview
Freeview is the UK's free-to-air TV service, delivered by aerial and online as Freeview Play, with no subscription.
1 deal · from £0.00/mo
How to choose
Pay only for the channels you watch
Start with what you actually watch. If it is one or two series, a monthly streaming pass like NOW Entertainment costs far less than a full TV contract, and you can stop it when the series ends.
Sport is the big cost. Premier League football is split between Sky Sports and TNT Sports, so a fan who wants every game needs both. Check which channel shows your team before you sign.
A TV and broadband bundle can cost less than buying both apart, but it ties you in for 18 to 24 months. Compare the bundle with the cheapest broadband plus a monthly pass.
Straight answers
TV questions
- What is the cheapest way to watch Sky channels?
- A NOW membership streams Sky's entertainment, cinema or sports channels month by month, with no long contract. Our table shows today's price for each pass.
- Do I need a TV licence?
- You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer. Streaming only on-demand from other apps does not need one.
- Do I need a satellite dish for Sky?
- No. Sky Stream works over your broadband with a small box and no dish. Sky Q still uses a dish.
- Is Freeview really free?
- Yes. Freeview needs only a TV aerial, or broadband for Freeview Play, and there is no monthly fee. You still need a TV licence to watch live TV.