Finding the Best Broadband and TV Deals and Bundles: Providers, Offers and Tariffs

What is a broadband and TV bundle deal?

Broadband and TV bundle deals combine your broadband contract and TV service in one package from one provider. This can be a convenient option that lets you save money on your contract.

What type of TV packages are available?

Customers can choose from a range of TV contracts offering different ways to watch live or pre-recorded TV.

Satellite TV

Satellite TV packages allow you to watch live TV programmes through a satellite dish attached to your building. This requires a satellite-enabled TV.
In the UK, there are two major satellite TV providers: Sky and Freesat.
Although phasing out its satellite TV service, you can use Sky’s satellites to watch live TV. It offers a subscription-free service which provides access to over 240 digital TV channels. This involves a one-off charge of £175.

Freesat delivers over 170 TV channels into your home via satellite, including those from the BBC and ITV. You can access this service without fees or a contract, enabling you to watch popular channels such as BBC One, ITV News, Sky News, and Channel 4 for free.

Cable TV

A cable TV connection provides access to a range of TV programmes through a network of underground fibre-optic cables. These cables can also deliver an Internet connection to your home, which is why you’ll find so many fibre and broadband TV deals.

In the UK, Virgin Media is the only major provider of cable TV on a nationwide scale. It offers a range of bundles which include landline, fibre broadband and TV deals.
Virgin Media’s TV services are available to UK homes in areas with cable coverage. You can check whether you’re in a cable area using its target.

Streaming services

Unlike TV packages such as cable TV and Freeview, these on-demand services do not broadcast live television programmes. Instead, they offer an ever-changing selection of TV series and movies to watch at any time, from a range of smart devices. Customers can enjoy pre-recorded TV and films by subscribing to streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

To entice customers who enjoy streaming, some providers offer broadband deals with the free gift or inclusion of subscriptions to streaming services. For instance, TalkTalk offers fibre broadband bundles that include a Netflix subscription instead of a TV deal.

IPTV

Internet Protocol Television, or IPTV, allows you to watch TV through an Internet connection, rather than via cable or satellite. IPTV usually requires a set-top box and uses a private broadband connection to display catch-up TV, on-demand video, and a range of live TV programming.
Some of the most popular IPTV services include:

• Sky On Demand
• BT TV
• TalkTalk TV

Freeview

Freeview is a television service that uses an aerial to display live broadcasts directly to your TV. This enables you to watch channels from broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. It doesn’t require users to hold a subscription – but they do need to pay for a https://www.gov.uk/tv-licence.

You can access Freeview directly from your TV’s interface, or by using set-top boxes or downloadable apps on smart devices. 98.5% of UK households can access the main channels, such as BBC One, through Freeview.

YouView

YouView is a television service that enables you to watch live TV and on-demand content. It’s similar to Freeview in that it delivers programming into your home through a connection to an aerial. It also doesn’t require a monthly subscription – but you do need a valid TV licence to use it.
BT and TalkTalk offer a range of bundles with YouView boxes.

Can I get streaming services through my TV bundle?

Internet service providers (ISPs) are increasingly offering streaming services as part of their broadband and TV deals, as many of today’s customers depend solely on streaming content.
The table below outlines which major providers offer broadband and streaming deals.

Can I get a bundle with broadband, TV, and a landline?

It’s possible to receive your broadband, TV, and landline services from one provider as part of a bundle. Landline, broadband and TV deals can end up being cheaper than obtaining these services separately.

What are the best broadband and TV deals?

To get the best broadband and TV deals of 2022 in the UK, you’ll need to consider price, contract length, availability, and whether the deal includes any upfront costs or free gifts.
Below, we outline the best broadband and TV deals, including the best bundles offered by each major UK broadband provider.

Which Internet providers offer broadband and TV deals?

Internet providers that bundle broadband and TV services (including streaming and on-demand content) in one deal include:

• Sky
• Virgin Media
• BT
• EE
• NOW Broadband
• Plusnet
• TalkTalk
• Vodafone

Which providers offer the cheapest broadband and TV package?

Although many customers look for the lowest monthly cost, you should consider factors beyond this, such as set-up costs, contract length and inflation.
The cheapest broadband and TV package in the UK is currently the Unlimited Fibre 65 and Phone Line + TV deal from TalkTalk. It costs £22 per month, including broadband with no limits, 88 TV channels, and landline. It doesn’t involve any set-up costs, and over the 18-month contract it costs £396 altogether.
The table below shows the cheapest broadband and TV packages in the UK.

Which bundles offer the most sports channels?

You can get a broadband and TV bundle with the most sports channels from either BT or Virgin. They both include fibre broadband and TV with 18 sports channels, including those from Sky, BT, and Eurosport. The table below shows these sports-focussed bundles.

Sky TV and broadband bundles

Sky offers a range of bundles, including broadband, TV and landline deals.

Virgin Media digital TV and broadband bundles

Virgin Media offers a variety of deals, including broadband and TV bundles with access to sports and entertainment channels.

BT Broadband and TV bundles

BT’s selection of broadband and TV bundles allow customers to pay for the Internet speeds and TV channels they want.

EE Broadband and TV bundles

EE no longer offers combined broadband and TV deals in the traditional sense, but customers can choose to add Apple TV 4K and BT Sport to their EE contracts.

NOW Broadband and TV bundles

NOW presents a range of broadband and entertainment bundles, with on-demand and streaming options.

Plusnet Broadband and TV bundles

Plusnet can offer broadband and landline bundles – but no TV bundles. However, it does sell BT Sport subscriptions, and has some of the cheapest broadband and landline bundles.

TalkTalk Broadband and TV bundles

TalkTalk has a range of broadband, TV and landline deals on offer currently.

Vodafone Broadband and TV bundles

Although Vodafone’s broadband and TV deals do not include traditional TV broadcasting, they feature on-demand content through Apple TV. These bundles include a 4K Apple TV set-top box, as well as a landline service.
Currently, Vodafone does not have any available broadband and TV deals, but it will introduce new bundles soon.

What to look out for with broadband and TV deals

Customers have plenty of choice in terms of price, the type of broadband and TV services they receive, and even any free gifts included in contracts.

What to look out for in a broadband deal?

These are the most important factors to consider when searching for the best broadband and TV deals.

What’s important in a TV deal?

To find the best TV deal near you, you’ll need to consider your household’s unique needs.
You can find a range of TV packages tailored to types of viewers – for instance, bundles with live sports, kids’ or film channels. It’s also important to check the other features included in a TV deal, such as the ability to record programmes.
If you’re not interested in live TV, you should check whether a TV deal includes access to on-demand or streaming content.

What channels can I get with my broadband and TV deal?

For broadband and TV customers, it’s important that they have access to their favourite TV channels. However, the available TV channels will vary depending on the provider and bundle.
Across providers, bundles which offer live TV (rather than just streaming/on-demand content) will usually support the essential Freeview channels. Popular channels available through Freeview include:

• BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC News, CBBC and CBeebies
• ITV, ITV2 and ITV3
• Channel 4
• Sky News
• Film 4
• Dave

Customers can legally watch these channels for free, regardless of their provider (as long as they have a valid TV licence). Customers paying for a TV service from their provider can access these free-to-air channels through their TV boxes.
Of course, when customers pay for broadband and TV deals, they’re paying for extra channels that aren’t available for free. This includes premium entertainment channels such as Sky Atlantic, or sports channels such as Sky Sports and BT Sport – which are both broadcasters of the Premier League.

How to choose the best broadband and TV package

There are many aspects to consider when finding the best broadband and TV deal for you. These include:

• whether a given broadband or TV bundle is available near you
• how often you use the Internet and how much data you need for your online activities
• how much broadband speed matters to your household
• the length of your contract and any early cancellation costs
• the monthly and total cost of your broadband and TV package
• whether the TV service is compatible with your home’s TV infrastructure, e.g. your existing satellite dish or cable connection
• what type of TV programmes you watch and whether a deal includes on-demand content
• whether you’ll need a home landline and if this is included as part of your deal

Should I get a broadband and TV bundle?

Broadband and TV deals are a convenient way to access broadband and TV services from just one provider.

The pros and cons of a TV and broadband bundle

These are the main benefits of a broadband and TV bundle:

• You get both services from the same provider, which makes them easier to manage as you’ll have just one contract and one monthly payment.
• A broadband and TV deal usually costs less than obtaining the two services separately.
• Many deals come with a free gift, such as a voucher or a subscription to a streaming service.
• If you need a home phone service, you can often get it as part of a landline, broadband and TV deal, which works out cheaper than getting it provided separately.

However, customers should be aware of the downsides to these bundles, such as:

• You might pay for services that you aren’t using enough to justify the cost – such as TV channels you don’t watch.
• There could be less flexibility about exiting your contract or removing parts of the bundle you no longer need.
• It’s not always cheaper to get a broadband and TV bundle – which is why it’s important to add up your existing bills before switching.

How are broadband and TV bundles installed?

It’s important that customers understand the broadband installation process so they can get set up with minimal stress.

Will my broadband and TV bundle need to be installed?

The answer depends on the broadband and TV deal you’ve signed up for.
For many suppliers, you can now opt for self-installation of your broadband router and set-top TV box (if included). This means you won’t need to pay for engineers – although some providers may charge an activation fee to get you online.

However, if you purchase a Virgin Media broadband and TV deal, you’ll need a special kind of cable infrastructure and wall socket for your router and TV box. If your property already has this infrastructure, you have the option of self-installation.
Similarly, if you sign up to a Sky broadband and TV deal, you’ll need an engineer to install a satellite connection – unless you or your home’s previous owner was also a Sky TV customer.

Are there any upfront costs?

If you choose a broadband and TV deal without upfront costs (such as charges for set-up or equipment), you won’t pay anything until your services are up and running. Whether you face upfront costs depends on the provider and bundle:

It’s important to note that some providers will waive set-up fees for a limited time only. Your supplier might make their money elsewhere however, e.g. through the monthly costs.

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

Line rental is essentially a maintenance charge for the line that brings landline, broadband, and (sometimes) TV services to your property. Some providers now offer broadband and TV deals that don’t depend on this line, allowing customers to avoid these charges.

For example, a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) service provides a separate fibre connection directly to your home, bypassing line rental charges. However, this is likely to be a costly option.
Oher options are using wireless mobile broadband routers or satellite broadband, which is rarely provided and expensive.

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

Providers such as Virgin Media offer broadband-only deals, but specific broadband and TV deals without a phone line are harder to find. At the moment, the cheapest deal with just broadband and TV service is the Sport + Fibre 2 bundle from BT.

In case you need more information on this topic, don’t hesitate to follow these links:

• Choosing the Best Broadband Deal
• How to Compare Broadband Deals
• What are the best broadband, TV and phone deals?

FAQ

🤔 Can I get a broadband, TV, and phone bundle?

Yes. Many UK providers offer landline, broadband, and TV deals which combine all three services; this includes Virgin Media, BT, and Sky.

📺 Why choose a broadband and TV package?

Broadband and TV deals usually work out cheaper than buying broadband and TV separately. Getting them both from one provider also means you have fewer monthly bills.

👷 Does a broadband and TV package require installation?

Yes – you’ll need to set up your new router and TV box before you can use them. Many providers allow you to self-install these devices for free, however, if your package requires changes to the cables or wall sockets in your home, you might need an engineer’s help.

📞 Can I get broadband and TV without a telephone line?

Yes. Many providers recognise that UK telecoms customers don’t need a landline phone anymore, and so you can usually buy a broadband and TV bundle without needing a phone line.