Which is the best digital TV package? From Sky Q to TalkTalk, Now TV and more – our guide to choosing a TV subscription service
CHOOSING a digital TV package is a minefield . . . so many choices!
Some families prefer the upfront cost of a basic TV box and licence with no monthly subscription. Others do costly direct debits for access to premium sport packages and the latest boxsets.
So, to help out, we have pulled together a guide to paid-for TV.
Options depend on which internet provider you use as main suppliers offer TV alongside their broadband services. This can be limiting, as BT, Virgin and TalkTalk only supply TV to customers who also buy their internet.
Anyone able to have a satellite dish on their home can get Sky Q, regardless of broadband provider. Those not wishing to pay monthly can watch no-contract Freesat or Freeview TV.
If you want the latest boxsets or premium sport, some providers let you pay as you go. lets you get daily, weekly or monthly passes with no contract. TalkTalk TV allows you to sign up for extra premium channels on a monthly rolling contract.
Or subscribe to streaming services such as Netflix, with no live channels but many films and boxsets.
Ewan Taylor-Gibson, of price comparison site uSwitch, says: “List what you can’t live without and what is just nice to have, then find the cheapest way. Much Sky content is on Now TV, where you can buy a monthly pass to stream shows.”
Free-to-air shows such as The Great British Bake Off and The X Factor are on Freesat and Freeview.
Also decide if you want the latest TV tech, such as being able to watch and record multiple channels at the same time with Sky Q or Virgin’s V6 box.
If you do sign up for monthly payments, beware.
Ewan says: “Providers offer discounts to new customers but after their initial contract is up, costs go up. People outside contracts should always consider switching.”
BT TV
You get: Up to 80 Freeview channels, up to 30 premium channels varying with the package, catch-up TV and movie rental. BT Sport is often available for free as part of promotions when bought with other TV and internet packages.
Selling point: AMC shows such as Better Call Saul and Preacher are free with BT TV. This year it will add The Son, starring Pierce Brosnan, and The Terror, exclusive to BT TV. Sky’s HBO line-up is available as boxsets in the BT TV Store, so you can choose to pay for the shows rather than being tied to paying for a Sky Atlantic subscription.
You need: BT internet, an aerial, a YouView box from BT and a smart TV.
Best for: Sports fans will love BT Sport for it's selection of European and FA Cup action. Decent boxsets.
Prices
Starter Package £3 a month plus activation fee, Plus Package £10 a month, Total Package £18 a month. This is on top of the cost of Infinity broadband and line rental.
Techdirt says
DOUG HUNTER, who is in PR, says: “I have BT TV because of my internet. It’s easy having both on one bill and I got the BT Freeview box that plugs into my router for easy pairing. This allows me BT Sport and to pause TV for a set time. Depending on where you are there should be around 100 channels – HD and regular.”
Get BT TV
Sky Q
You get: All bundles come with a minimum of 270 TV channels. The priciest option, Sky Boxsets, offers hundreds of drama series. Sky Sports and Sky Cinema can be added at extra cost.
Selling point: Sky Atlantic, which offers shows such as Game Of Thrones, Billions, Fortitude, Twin Peaks and Girls, is only available with Sky and Now TV. Sky Q multiscreen lets you watch TV around the home, record up to four shows at the same time and then download them onto a tablet or phone to watch outside the house.
You need: A Sky Q box, Sky dish and broadband connection.
Best for: People who love TV and spend a lot of time watching it, while larger families who want to watch different channels at the same time would benefit from Sky Q multiscreen.
Prices
Basic package £22 a month, Complete Bundle £80 a month. To get the multi- screen option, there is an additional charge of £12 a month.
Get Sky Q
Now TV
You get: Eleven channels not on Freeview, a range of shows to stream on demand, as well as catch-up apps such as BBC iPlayer. The entertainment pass offers shows including Fortitude, Scandal, Girls, The Walking Dead and Game Of Thrones. Sports fans can buy access to live events with day, week or month passes.
Selling point: No contract as with other providers, so you can pay as you go. Big shows like Game Of Thrones are a draw.
You need: Internet connection from any provider and a Now TV Box or Now TV Smart Box. Some TVs can have a Now TV app installed so you don’t need a box.
Best for: People on a limited budget who can’t afford to pay for TV every month, and those without a smart TV who want to access catch-up services.
Prices
Entertainment Pass £6.99 a month, Sky Cinema Pass £9.99 a month, Kids Pass £2.99 a month, Sky Sports Pass from £6.99 for a day pass to £33.99 for a month.
Techspert says
STUFF editor Rob Leedham says: “I have Now TV so I can watch shows without signing up to a £40 a month subscription. Along with Amazon Prime and Netflix, I’ve got plenty of TV and can opt out at a month’s notice. Plus, I can catch up on my phone/tablet using its app.”
Get a Now TV subscription from
Virgin Media
You get: The basic option has free-to-air channels and players and the top package offers Sky Sports, BT Sport and Sky Cinema channels. All come with pause, rewind and record live TV.
Selling point: The new Virgin TV V6 box, available with certain packages, lets you record six shows while watching a seventh. Shows can be watched in different rooms and scheduled to record from outside the house. Exclusive shows free with the service include the comedy horror Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Kingdom and the romcom Billy And Billie.
You need: A 100Mbps broadband connection and V6 TV box.
Best for: The service is designed to bring together the best bits of TV, so would be of interest to families who have a wide range of interests. Only works in areas supplied by Virgin’s underground cable networks.
Prices
Bundles including Virgin TV, internet and phone are from £44 to £85 a month, with upfront fee of £99.95 for cheapest option.
Techspert says
CHRISTIAN CAWLEY, at tech website makeuseof.com, says: “I subscribe to Virgin Media for its superfast broadband and choice of live and on-demand TV. On-demand content like iPlayer or YouTube streams reliably. Better still is the free access to BT and Sky-exclusive sporting events and movies.”
TalkTalk TV
You get: TalkTalk TV customers have Freeview and can pay to add various premium channels – including Sky Sports and BT Sport ones. The TalkTalk TV Store contains thousands of films and TV shows to rent or buy, including season six of US legal drama Suits.
Selling point: If you decide to, you can choose to pay for additional channels on a flexible basis.
You need: TalkTalk broadband, the TalkTalk TV box and an aerial.
Best for: Customers who prefer to pay only for specific channels rather than paying more to subscribe to a whole bundle of them.
Prices
At least £20 per month for broadband. The upfront cost of the TV box is an additional £25.
Techspert says
DANI WARNER of uswitch. com says: “TalkTalk’s TV Plus box has the same powerful search capabilities as some of its competitors but at a lower price. The new visual mini-guide makes it easy to see what else is on without interrupting your current programme.”
Find Talk Talk TV packages .
