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Find and compare the best broadband and TV deals in your area.
One of the most popular types of broadband packages in the UK is Broadband and TV deals. For many, these packages offer the most value, as in addition to connecting you to the internet, they also give you access to TV shows, films, and even sports in some cases.
Most broadband providers offer TV packages of some sort, meaning that there are many choices and things you need to consider to get the best broadband and TV deals for you.
The multitude of options can make finding the best broadband and TV packages challenging. To help you get a better understanding of what makes a great broadband and TV deal, you can use this guide to learn more. You can also use Switch My Broadband to compare broadband packages from many of the best UK providers available in 2024.
A broadband and TV deal is where instead of just getting broadband, you can also bundle in a service that gives you access to TV channels and shows. Most broadband providers have TV services, although some are more comprehensive than others.
There are many different types of broadband and TV packages available, all of them offering something slightly different from each other.
The first type is satellite TV. This is usually one of the more expensive TV options and requires a satellite to be installed on your property to receive the TV signals. Sky TV was the pioneer of satellite TV, and this technology gives them the ability to cast multiple channels to your TV Box.
A similar option is cable. This is where an underground cable is used to give you your TV signal. This is something that Virgin Media mainly adopts and ensures that you’ll always get a strong signal to your TV channels.
An alternative option is Internet TV. This is where TV is given to you via the internet and is how many providers offer their on-demand services. You’ll need a good, solid internet connection if you access TV via this method.
Then there’s also streaming. This is where you access content from various streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV, Prime, and Freeview streaming services like BBC iPlayer. Many broadband providers offer streaming services as their TV options. This means you’ll need a subscription for each option, making it pretty expensive if you want everything.
When getting a broadband and TV package, there are two aspects that you need to consider: the quality of the broadband and the quality of the TV service. You want to make sure that both are excellent so that you’re able to get the best broadband and TV deals available.
When looking at the quality of your broadband, there are many different factors you need to consider; these include things like:
The download speed you get with your broadband will dictate much of what you can do. If your speed is too slow, you’ll experience slowdowns and drops in connection when trying to stream digital TV. The best broadband TV deals will offer you speeds from 75-100Mbps. Anything less than this could cause issues.
Download limits restrict the amount of data you can download in a month. If your broadband package has download limits, you may have to pay extra to go over this threshold. The best broadband and TV deals will not have download limits, and thankfully most providers now offer unlimited broadband on all their packages.
The broadband availability will determine if it’s a good choice for you. Depending on your location, some providers may not be able to offer their best packages and deals. This means that it’s very important to see which providers best serve your area before comparing. Providers that use the Openreach network to deliver their broadband will have the most complete availability, but do be aware that you may not be able to get top fibre speeds if you live in a rural area.
One of the most significant factors determining your broadband’s quality is its total cost. The best broadband and TV packages will be well priced and affordable to you. Some broadband and TV providers can be more on the premium side, such as Virgin or Sky Broadband. However, their increased prices do give you a more comprehensive service. This means that you need to find broadband and TV deals that are well priced for what you’re getting. A comparison through Switch My Broadband will help you find the most cost-effective plans.
The length of your contract may determine your broadband package’s overall quality and value. Currently, most broadband providers lock you into a 24-month contract. This length may not be suitable for many, as it restricts their ability to switch to other providers and find a better deal. The best broadband providers will have shorter contracts; a few offer 12-month contracts and even pay-as-you-go options. However, be aware that longer contracts can sometimes cost less, meaning you could save money by locking into a long-term agreement. It all depends on your preferences and should be something you consider before getting broadband and TV deals.
When thinking more specifically about your TV deal, there are a few things you need to think about to ensure that it’s right for you.
The first is that you need to consider the number of channels/content that you can get. As a rule of thumb, the more expensive channels you can access, the better the TV package. However, it’s also important to consider how suitable these channels are for you. If you’re not interested in the vast majority of them, you could save money and make a better package by getting a deal that offers fewer channels but channels that you’re interested in.
Another thing that will make a great TV package is the ability to pause, rewind and record live programming. This gives you more flexibility when watching programs and means you never have to miss anything. Similarly, you should also consider if your TV service has on-demand services. If it does, you want to ensure that your broadband speed is good enough to handle high-quality streaming and downloads.
One final feature that makes TV packages better than others is the ability to access your TV content on multiple devices. A good quality package will allow you to access your content on a TV Box, but you should also have the option to access an app that will enable you to watch your shows on other devices. This is an excellent perk as it means you can watch your content on the go or when you’re away from home, making it more flexible.
BT Broadband offers an excellent digital TV service, giving you access to many premium channels and its own sports product.
BT has recently revamped its TV selection, allowing you to choose from different add-ons to build a TV bundle that suits you. You can also change your package details each month, making it a flexible choice for users.
BT broadband and TV deals aren’t the cheapest that you can get. However, it is a good middle ground as it offers good TV options while not being quite as expensive as Sky and Virgin.
Find out more about BT broadband here and compare their various deals on Switch My Broadband.
Sky is the pioneer of digital TV in the UK and was the first to offer satellite TV. As a result, Sky has the most comprehensive digital TV package, offering a huge amount of premium channels, movies, sports, and more.
Many people consider Sky Broadband to offer the best broadband and TV packages with various choices. The only issue is that Sky broadband can become pretty expensive.
You’ll have to select what channels and TV bundles you want when getting Sky TV alongside broadband. To get access to everything, you’ll have to add all the TV bundles to your plan, which can become very expensive.
If it’s within your budget, Sky Broadband easily offers the best broadband and TV deals. Compare Sky Broadband here on Switch My Broadband.
With TalkTalk, you can add a TV package to your current broadband deal for a few extra pounds a month. There are two types of TV packages that you can get with TalkTalk Broadband.
The first is the standard TV box. This gives you access to around 80 free-to-air channels, with the added benefit of pausing and rewinding live TV or accessing catch-up and on-demand features.
Their TV Plus box gives you everything in the standard one; however, you’ll now be able to record TV so that you can watch it later.
With both these packages, you can also get ‘Boosts’, which are premium channels you can add for an additional cost.
TalkTalk’s best broadband and TV deals are a decent option, and you can find out more about TalkTalk Broadband here.
EE Broadband is owned by the same company that manages BT, meaning they use the same infrastructure to provide its services.
With that said, what’s offered in EE’s broadband and TV packages is a bit unique to help them differentiate from their parent company.
When you add TV to your EE broadband, you’ll get given an Apple TV 4K. This allows you to stream Apple TV and other streaming platforms, like Netflix and Disney+. You can also access iPlayer and ITV Hub to access live TV and watch those shows on demand.
The catch with EE that makes their broadband and TV deals low value compared to others is that to access each streaming platform, you’ll need to have your own subscription. This means that their TV option can be pretty expensive.
To learn more about EE broadband, compare their packages here on Switch My Broadband.
The brand Now is better known as an on-demand TV service and started to offer broadband after that product was established. That means that Now’s broadband and TV deals are a good option and are packages they like to promote.
When you set up a broadband package with Now, you can add a TV Membership to your account anytime. As you’re already a customer, you’ll likely get a discount on your selected TV plan.
With Now Broadband, you can get multiple different tiers of TV packages, including their Cinema Membership and Entertainment Membership. This allows you to tailor your package to your interests.
With Now TV, you’re not committing to it for a long time, as you can cancel and restart your TV whenever, adding extra flexibility.
You can find out more about Now Broadband here on Switch My Broadband.
If you’re looking for broadband and TV deals, Plusnet isn’t a good option because they don’t offer TV packages to new customers.
Plusnet likes to keep things simple for their customers, meaning you can only get broadband and landline from them. This simplicity ensures that your packages are cheaper than most, but they don’t offer much value when combining services into broadband and TV deals.
If you’re an existing Plusnet customer, you may have the opportunity to add their TV option as long as you were once a Sky customer and still have their equipment. With that said, you also need to be a fibre broadband customer and commit to a new 18-month contract.
With Plusnet TV, you can access BT sports and a few premium channels, but because of the hassle involved in getting it, it may not be the best option.
Learn more about Plusnet Broadband here.
Virgin broadband has a TV package that you can add to your broadband that rivals the likes of Sky. With their broadband and TV deals, you can access over 1000 channels.
Depending on your TV bundles, you can access various Sky channels, including their sports offerings and cinema. Some of their more premium options also include Netflix, meaning that you get a lot of entertainment options with Virgin broadband and TV deals.
Virgin Broadband only offers full fibre, meaning it is a more premium and expensive provider. You can compare Virgin Broadband here to find out more.
Vodafone is a fibre-only provider, meaning you can access pretty fast speeds with them.
Much like EE, when you get a broadband and TV package with Vodafone, you’ll get access to Apple TV 4K, allowing you to stream from different platforms.
When you get broadband and TV from Vodafone, you’ll get Apple TV for free for 3 months, making it a good deal initially. However, to access all the apps available on Apple TV 4K, you will need a subscription to each streaming service, which can increase the price dramatically.
Find out more about Vodafone Broadband here to see if it’s right for you.
One of the most significant benefits of getting a bundled broadband and TV package is that you’ll likely be able to save money when doing so. If you were always planning on getting a TV package, combining it with broadband from the same provider will likely mean you’ll get discounts on the total price.
This means that the best broadband and TV packages are cost-effective and will cost less than if you get both services separately. In addition to the discounts, many providers also throw in additional extras, such as vouchers, cashback, and even free gadgets, when you get their more comprehensive TV packages. This can make things even better value for money.
Plus, having two services in a single bill can make managing it much easier. You’ll only have to keep up with one payment plan instead of two, making budgeting much more manageable. It also means you have a single point of contact when you need to speak to customer services.
There are a few drawbacks to broadband and TV deals that you’ll need to consider before you opt to get them, as they’re certainly going to be a service that doesn’t suit everyone.
Perhaps the biggest issue with TV packages is that they can make your broadband much more expensive, especially if you choose a more comprehensive option.
For example, when getting a TV package from Sky, many of their TV bundles can cost an additional £10-20, with sports channels being one of the most significant expenses. This means that if you’re getting everything that Sky offers, you could easily increase your monthly payments by over £70. This is simply unaffordable for many, meaning broadband and TV deals may not be the best option.
You’ll have to think carefully about if you’ll get enough use from your TV packages to ensure that it’s worthwhile. If you currently stream a lot from Amazon Prime or Netflix, it may be cheaper to continue using those services than to pay a lot for a TV package you may not use.
Yes, all broadband providers who offer TV packages allow you to get broadband-only deals. This means that if you're not interested in digital TV, you can still opt to get broadband on its own.
Some providers like Sky and Now will try to promote their TV deals and encourage you to add them to your package, but you can always ignore these.
With that said, some providers are much better valued if you include their TV package. For example, Sky's TV package is their main selling point, meaning that getting broadband from them without TV means you may miss out on one of their key features.
If you're looking to get broadband-only deals, it may be better to get it from a provider who doesn't focus so much on their TV deals.
No matter where you live in the UK, it's likely that you'll be able to access broadband and TV deals. With that said, some providers and packages may not be available if you live in a remote area due to you not having the required infrastructure.
To ensure that you get the right TV experience alongside your broadband, you must get a service that best suits your situation.
For example, if you live in an area where you can't get the fastest broadband speeds, getting a digital TV package that requires streaming may not be the best choice. This is because you may experience buffering and low-quality content. In this situation, getting satellite or cable TV will make more sense, as you won't rely on a slow broadband speed to deliver your content.
On the other hand, if you live in a flat or rent a property where you're not allowed to make alterations, you may not be able to install a satellite dish, meaning that streaming digital TV may be the best option for you.
So, although you're likely able to get broadband and TV deals in any location in the UK, you need to choose the right deal that best suits your situation.
Switching to a new broadband deal that includes a TV package is very easy. If you're at the end of your contract, you must contact your new provider of choice to start the switching process.
If your current and new providers are using the same broadband network, such as Openreach, they'll be able to manage the entire switch on your behalf.
To access your broadband, you'll likely get sent a new Wi-Fi router you can connect yourself. For the TV aspect, an engineer will be sent to install a satellite dish on your property if you're getting digital TV from Sky. This could prolong the switching process as you may have to wait a week to get an appointment.
Other providers will also send you your TV box, which you can then plug in yourself to begin your access. Many broadband providers offering their TV services through streaming allow you to access your content the instant you switch, making them great options.
For most broadband providers, to access your broadband, you will need an active landline to be connected to your home. You don't need to have bought phone services, as many allow you to simply have a landline and not use it, but even then, you'll likely find that line rental is included in your broadband package.
You'll likely need a landline installed when you get TV bundled into your broadband package.
The only exception is if you're using a broadband provider with their own cable network, such as Virgin. However, although you don't need a landline with Virgin, you will need a cable installed in your home, which can be an expensive initial cost.
Plus, to get the full level of services from most TV packages, you will need a landline to use all their features. All this means that you're unlikely going to be able to get broadband and TV without having an active landline.