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TV and broadband deals

Explore our picks of the best broadband and TV deals in December

Rachel Sadler new profile April 2024

Deals checked by Rachel Sadler, our broadband expert

With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Rachel to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.

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What is a broadband and TV package deal?

This type of broadband deal combines your broadband and TV service into one convenient subscription. Packages can include live TV channels, streaming services and superfast broadband.  

You could save up to 34 per cent by choosing a broadband and TV package, according to Ofcom[1]. You don’t need to stick with the same broadband provider when switching to a broadband and TV package; our expert team has compared the best broadband providers and everything you should look out for when searching for an integrated TV package that suits your needs and budget.

Should I get a broadband and TV package?

A broadband and TV deal has numerous benefits. Here’s what our experts think you should consider:

Value for money

Bundling broadband and TV services usually saves you money. Providers offer discounts for combined deals which usually works out cheaper than paying for separate contracts.

Live TV channels

TV bundles often include premium channels such as Sky Sports and TNT Sports, which saves you money if you already subscribe to these services.

Streaming

Some providers offer streaming subscriptions as part of their deals, which can save you money on platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus and NOW TV.  

One monthly bill

With a broadband and TV package, you’ll get a single bill for multiple services, which can save you time and money.

Discounts and freebies

Many providers reward customers with discounts for bundled services. By adding more services to your deal you could receive special discounts, freebies or gift cards. 

Can I get a broadband and TV deal without a line rental?

You can get a broadband and TV deal if you can access a full-fibre connection or cable connection. However, you won’t be able to if your broadband connection is ADSL or fibre – both deliver internet via the old copper wire system, so you’ll need to take out a landline. 

However, with the rollout of full-fibre broadband nationwide, phone lines will no longer be required for TV services. According to Ofcom[2], 62 per cent of homes in the UK now have access to full-fibre broadband.

What TV channels can I get with broadband and TV packages?

There are several TV channels that you can benefit from with a broadband and TV deal; some channels are exclusive to certain providers, while some are more widely available.

  • Sky Cinema: Sky Cinema covers a wide range of films and can be found on the Sky platform, as well as Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk
  • Sky Atlantic: available exclusively for Sky TV customers. However, it’s also included with a NOW Entertainment membership. Sky Atlantic covers a wide range of imported programmes from the US and HBO
  • Sky Sports: Sky Sports can be added to your watchlist through NOW Sports memberships, which are offered by the likes of Sky, Virgin Media, NOW Broadband, TalkTalk, BT and EE
  • TNT Sports: the cost of TNT Sports varies between providers, but it can be included in broadband deals from Sky, Virgin Media, Plusnet, TalkTalk, BT and EE as well as with a Discovery+ subscription

What types of TV packages can I get?

  • Satellite: requires a satellite dish to be installed on the outside of your home. You need this to watch live TV via Sky Q.  
  • Cable: your TV signal will come from an underground cable. Only Virgin Media offers this service.
  • Internet TV is what’s known as on-demand television; anything that’s not being broadcast as live TV is considered to be Internet TV. This service is offered by Sky, Virgin Media and BT. 
  • Freeview: a digital terrestrial platform. It gives you over 70 TV channels, as well as on-demand players in one place for free. 
  • Streaming: a service which shows content through smart TVs, game consoles and other devices.

Broadband and TV bundle providers

Some of the best broadband providers offer TV services alongside an internet connection. Our experts recommend comparing providers to get the best deals and TV features for your needs. 

We surveyed over 2,000 broadband customers about their current broadband service and this, alongside our team’s expertise, has informed the following judgements on the different bundle providers.

Sky Broadband

Sky broadband offers bundles with a wide range of TV channels, streaming services and ultrafast broadband speeds for eligible households. According to our survey, 82 per cent of customers are happy with the service they receive from Sky. 

What we like: most deals include a standard Netflix plan and only one of six deals requires a satellite dish.

What we don’t like: these deals are not widely available. Some of Sky’s broadband and TV package deals are available to less than 50 per cent of the UK, depending on fibre availability in your area.

Virgin Media

Virgin Media is well-known for its extensive range of broadband and TV packages. The company also offers a variety of other services, such as broadband and phone deals. Although Virgin Media offers some of the best TV bundles, 54 per cent of broadband customers surveyed rated its customer service ‘less than satisfactory’. 

What we like: TV bundles include Virgin TV Go which allows you to stream on up to five different devices. All deals come with a TV 360 box – it’s 4K ready and has a voice control remote. 

What we don’t like: Virgin’s TV bundles are expensive compared to competitors. Basic plans don’t include Sky Cinema, Sky Sports or any streaming platforms. 

BT Broadband

As the largest provider in the UK, BT offers a wealth of broadband and TV deals. Plenty of services can be added to existing packages, including NOW TV and various sports channels. In our survey, most broadband customers were satisfied with BT’s speed – 62 per cent of customers rated it as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.  

What we like: BT has the most sports channels compared to other providers’ deals and most packages come with a Netflix plan and NOW Entertainment.

What we don’t like: contracts run for 24 months. The provider’s packages are quite expensive and come with a pricey setup fee.

TalkTalk

TalkTalk is one of the most affordable providers operating in the UK, offering eligible residents ultrafast broadband connections alongside Freeview channels and subscriptions to streaming services. In our survey, TalkTalk did not score highly for customer service (53 per cent) compared to other broadband and TV providers such as EE (73 per cent) and Sky (64 per cent).

What we like: affordable packages that come without lengthy contracts. You can also add NOW or Netflix to your plan to get several subscriptions in one monthly bill.

What we don’t like: limited live TV channels compared to BT, Sky and Virgin Media. 

EE

EE offers both broadband-only and broadband and TV deals, with the choice between standard broadband and full fibre. EE was rated third best (73 per cent) for value for money out of the broadband and TV providers included in our survey. 

What we like: you can flex your TV bundle up or down monthly, so you never pay for the channels you don’t watch. EE TV comes with two extra mini boxes for you to set up in any room of your home.

What we don’t like: no streaming subscriptions included in TV deals. 

Vodafone

Vodafone provides a host of broadband deals, with the option to add an Apple TV 4K device and a 24-month subscription to Apple TV+ for an extra £14 per month. Vodafone is our best value for money provider – customers rated it the highest in our survey (76 per cent).  

What we like: if you add Vodafone Xtra to any broadband deal, you’ll receive an Apple TV 4K, which allows you to watch TV in 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

What we don’t like: lengthy contracts and no live TV options available.

NOW Broadband

NOW Broadband offers four broadband packages, all of which come with the option to include NOW subscriptions, including Entertainment, Sports and Cinema channels. 76 per cent of NOW broadband customers from our survey agreed the service is good value for money.

What we like: affordable broadband and TV package with short contracts – 12 months minimum for broadband and 6 months minimum for your NOW Entertainment package. 

What we don’t like: there are no live TV packages available. 

The top three driving factors when choosing a broadband and TV provider, are speed, price and TV services offered. It’s also helpful to know how happy current customers are with their service.

Our top recommended broadband providers
Hyperoptic
Ultrafast speeds at affordable prices
Plusnet
Fast speeds & reliable customer service
Vodafone
Perks for existing mobile customers
BT Broadband
The UK’s largest broadband provider

The top three driving factors when choosing a broadband and TV provider, are speed, price and TV services offered. It’s also helpful to know how happy current customers are with their service.
The chart below shows the number of customer complaints the Big Four broadband and TV providers received per 100,000 customers during the fourth quarter of 2023.  

Rachel Sadler new profile April 2024

Consider which type of TV you watch the most. Our home tech experts recommend these providers: 

  • for live TV, Sky offers the best deals as they’re more affordable than BT and still include premium channels such as Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and TNT Sports. 
  • the best TV package we’ve found for streaming is Vodafone Xtra Broadband – combined with any fibre deal you’ll receive 24 months of Apple TV Plus and an Apple TV 4K.

How to find the best broadband deal for you?

Broadband and TV deals are a great way to combine your digital services and can even save you money, but not every bundle will be right for you. 

  1. What’s available in your area

To find out which broadband deals are available in your area use our postcode checker at the top of this page. 

  1. Finding the right broadband speed for your usage

For streaming and 4K video content, the ideal broadband speed is 100Mbps to 500Mbps. For streaming and gaming on numerous devices and uploading large files, 500Mbps to 1,000Mbps is best.  

Our survey data found over half (57 per cent) of broadband users surveyed who use their connection mostly for gaming and streaming have an ultrafast full-fibre package.  

  1. Price of the deal

Your deal should fit your budget and be good value for money. Of course, choosing an ultrafast broadband deal will cost you more than a standard fibre deal, but you should compare like-for-like deals in terms of speed, TV channels and any add-ons to find the best price for the type of deal you’d like. 

We asked over 2,000 people how they felt about their broadband service and if they felt their current deal was good value for money. Of the providers who offer broadband and TV, these scored the highest – NOW broadband and Vodafone (76 per cent) and EE (67 per cent). 

  1. Contract length 

Longer contract lengths typically cost less per month, so choose this option if you don’t mind being tied in for up to 24 months. Renters and students may wish to consider a no-contract broadband deal, which you can cancel anytime with no cancellation fee. Alternatively, some providers do offer student broadband deals with nine-month contracts.

  1. TV content

Consider which type of TV you frequently watch. If you know that you only stream TV, NOW Broadband and Vodafone could be best suited for you. Sky and BT both cater to sports and movie fans’ TV needs. 

  1. Equipment 

You may have to pay for certain pieces of equipment to be installed, such as a satellite dish. Be aware that you may incur additional costs if your house doesn’t have the infrastructure. 

  1. Customer service 

Should you ever need to contact your provider with an issue, it’s crucial their customer service is up to the mark. Issues such as slow speeds and broadband outages are usually time-critical.

According to our survey, of the providers who offer broadband and TV services; EE was ranked first for customer service (73 per cent) followed by Vodafone (69 per cent) and Sky (64 per cent).

  1. Extras 

Some providers offer discounts on your monthly bill or provide other incentives such as cashback and vouchers. Any extras offered are nice to have and don’t have any bearing on your internet connection.

Is it easy to switch broadband and TV provider?

Yes, switching broadband providers is a relatively simple process if you’re switching all your services and you’re switching between providers who run on the same network. The majority of providers use the Openreach network – if both your new and old provider use this network your new provider will take care of the switch for you, including cancelling your old contract. 

Switching just one service can be costly and you may need to pay more than one exit fee. You’ll need to inform your current provider about your switch and which services you’d like to keep so that your contract and price can be updated. 

Compare TV & Broadband Deals with Independent Advisor

  1. Enter your postcode into our postcode checker and select your current provider
  2. Compare broadband and TV deals available to you
  3. Choose your new deal and sign-up 
Rachel Sadler new profile April 2024

The number of providers that offer broadband and TV deals is continually increasing. This is why you should compare packages available for you to bag the best deal. Through our research and a recent customer survey, we discovered that Sky offers great deals with the most channels at reasonable prices. For streaming we would recommend NOW Broadband, packages include Sky channels and streaming options at affordable prices.

*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24-64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents, totalling Sky (489), BT Broadband (412), Virgin Media (396), EE (134), Vodafone (124), Other (102), Plusnet (66), NOW Broadband (45), Three (31), Hyperoptic (14), Community Fibre (8), Unsure (7). Respondents were asked to rate each category on a five-point scale, from Very Poor to Excellent, or from Never to Always, with the option of selecting Don’t Know for all questions. For the third question (“What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider”) respondents could select from the following: Price Hikes, Slow Speeds, High Prices, Frequent Disconnections, Poor Customer Service, Billing Issues, Other and N/A. The questions used to calculate our score were: “How often, if at all, do you feel the actual speed of your broadband service matches the advertised speed,” “How would you rate your experience with customer service and support from your broadband provider,” ”What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider? (Select all that apply),” “How easy or difficult is it/would it be to reach your provider using your preferred method,” “How do you rate the value for money of your broadband service,” “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service”.

[1] Ofcom, Save money on your phone, broadband and pay-TV bills, January 2024
[2] Ofcom, Connected nations update: Spring 2024, April 2024

Frequently asked questions about broadband and TV packages

No, most deals will not include a TV licence. This means that if you watch live TV you must purchase a TV licence separately from your TV and broadband package.

Apple TV is a popular streaming service and numerous broadband providers now offer it as part of their package deals, including Vodafone, TalkTalk TV, and EE TV.

Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are obviously both offered in Sky’s broadband and TV packages. If you’re not so keen on Sky broadband, Virgin Media and BT and Now TV also offer Sky Sports and Sky Cinema in their broadband and TV deals.

Rachel Sadler new profile April 2024

Rachel Sadler

Home Tech Writer

Rachel is a seasoned writer who has been producing online and print content for seven years. 

As a home tech expert for Independent Advisor, Rachel researches and writes buying guides and reviews, helping consumers navigate the realms of broadband and home security gadgets. She also covers home tech for The Federation of Master Builders, where she reviews and tests home security devices. 

She started as a news and lifestyle journalist in Hong Kong reporting on island-wide news stories, food and drink and the city’s events. She’s written for editorial platforms Sassy Hong Kong, Localiiz and Bay Media. While in Hong Kong she attended PR events, interviewed local talent and project-managed photoshoots. 

Rachel holds a BA in English Language and Creative Writing and is committed to simplifying tech jargon and producing unbiased reviews.

Gemma Ryles new profile April 2024

Gemma Ryles

Home Tech Writer

Gemma Ryles is a BJTC and PPA-accredited journalist with three years of experience writing across various publications. As a home tech expert at Independent Advisor, Gemma tests, researches and writes about broadband and home security. 

Previously, Gemma reviewed and curated lists about consumer technology at Trusted Reviews, where she honed her skills in creating buying guides and features to help customers make informed decisions. She has previously worked at Yorkshire Post, BBC Yorkshire, Glitterbeam Radio and Bonus Stage. 

Gemma has a BA in Journalism and in her free time can be found writing short stories, gaming and crocheting.