Quick overview of TV channels packages with premium channels
Here's how the main packages stack up before we get into the detail.
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Always confirm current pricing before you switch.
| Provider | Package | Contract Length | Sky Sports | Sky Cinema | TNT Sports | Sky Atlantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EE (BT) |
Entertainment | 24 months | Add-on from +£34.99 p/mo | Add-on from +£9.99 p/mo | Add-on from +£25 p/mo | Included |
|
EE (BT) |
Big Entertainment | 24 months | Add-on from +£34.99 p/mo | Included | Add-on from +£25 p/mo | Included |
|
EE (BT) |
Sport | 24 months | Add-on from +£34.99 p/mo | Add-on from +£9.99 p/mo | Included | Add-on from +£9.99 p/mo |
|
EE (BT) |
Big Sport | 24 months | Included | Included | Included | Add-on from +£9.99 p/mo |
|
EE (BT) |
Full Works | 24 months | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Sky |
Essential TV | 24 months / 1 month | Add-on from £20 p/mo | Add-on from £10 p/mo | Add-on from +£28 p/mo | Included |
|
Sky |
Ultimate TV | 24 months / 1 month | Add-on from £20 p/mo | Add-on from £10 p/mo | Add-on from +£28 p/mo | Included |
Virgin Media |
Flex TV | 1 month | Separate subscription required | Separate subscription required | Separate subscription required | Separate subscription required |
| Virgin Media |
Entertainment | 24 months | Add-on from £31.75 p/mo | Add-on from £21 p/mo | Add-on from £25 p/mo | Included |
| Virgin Media |
Cinema | 24 months | Special bundle offer. Add-on from £7 p/mo | Included | Add-on from £25 p/mo | Included |
| Virgin Media |
Sport | 24 months | Included | Special bundle offer. Add-on from £7 p/mo | Add-on from £25 p/mo | Included |
| Virgin Media |
Max Volt | 24 months | Included | Included | Add-on from £25 p/mo | Included |
TalkTalk |
TalkTalk TV | 1 month | Separate subscription required |
Separate subscription required |
Separate subscription required |
Separate subscription required |
Find a package by what you want to watch
Best for sport
You’ll need to decide between Sky Sports, TNT Sports… or both!
You can add a sport TV package either to a Sky, Virgin Media, EE or BT package, or choose a NOW TV pass for maximum flexibility.
Best TV packages for movies
Sky Cinema is a must. It’s available as an add-on with Sky, Virgin Media, EE and BT, or as a standalone NOW TV pass (6-month or rolling monthly) if you’d rather not commit to a full bundle. Bundling can still work out cheaper in the long run, though.
Best TV packages for kids' channels
Sky Kids gives you access to channels like Disney Jr, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon for £6 per month on a rolling monthly basis.
Virgin Media’s Max Volt package includes Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Boomerang as standard.
Which provider has the most TV channels?
It’s a close call. Both Virgin Media and Sky offer hundreds of channels. Virgin Media’s Max Volt bundle offers the most channels under one contract.
Best for flexibility (no contract)
Virgin Media Flex TV and TalkTalk TV both run on a rolling monthly basis. You can mix and match your TV subscriptions as you want them per month and add NOW TV passes.
You pay around £5 per month for the privilege of getting a decent TV streaming box.
Cheapest overall
Virgin Media is usually the cheapest way to get a decent channel count. Its Entertainment bundle (Sky Atlantic and Discovery HD included) plus Netflix comes in under £25 a month with fast broadband to boot!
Virgin Media Flex TV is cheaper still, but you’ll pay for any premium subscriptions separately.
What channels are on EE TV? (included with BT)
EE Entertainment + Netflix
Includes: NOW Entertainment & HBO Max + Netflix Standard (with ads).
Channel highlights: Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Max, Gold, Comedy Central.
Does not include: Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports (though available as an add-on).
Additional tips: This Netflix subscription allows you to watch and download content on two screens at a time, in full HD.
- Speed: 67Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£40.99 per month
£46.99 from 31st March 2027
£52.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 1.6Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£51.99 per month
£57.99 from 31st March 2027
£63.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£40.99 per month
£46.99 from 31st March 2027
£52.99 from 31st March 2028
EE Big Entertainment + Netflix
Includes: NOW Entertainment & HBO Max + Netflix Standard (with ads) + Sky Cinema.
Channel highlights: All Entertainment channels, Sky Cinema.
Does not include: Sky Sports, TNT Sports (though available as an add-on).
EE Sport
Includes: All 4 TNT Sports Channels and TNT Sports on HBO Max.
Channel highlights: TNT Sports.
Does not include: NOW Cinema, NOW Entertainment & HBO Max, Sky Sports (though available as an add-on).
EE Big Sport
Includes: All 4 TNT Sports HD Channels and TNT Sports Ultimate in 4K UHD, Sky Sports.
Channel highlights: TNT Sports.
Does not include: NOW Cinema, NOW Entertainment & HBO Max (though available as an add-on).
EE Full Works
Includes: NOW Entertainment & HBO Max + Netflix Standard (with ads), Sky Cinema, Sky Sport, TNT Sports.
Channel highlights: All 4 TNT Sports channels in HD, all 12 Sky Sports channels with NOW Sports membership, all now content in HD with NOW Boost.
- Speed: 74Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£42.99 per month
£48.99 from 31st March 2027
£54.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 500Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£46.99 per month
£52.99 from 31st March 2027
£58.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 300Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£43.99 per month
£49.99 from 31st March 2027
£55.99 from 31st March 2028
Other add-ons available with EE TV
Asian Mix
- 8 premium Asian channels - +£5 per month (rolling contract).
Edge Extra Box
- Allows you to watch in a second room - £10 per month (rolling contract).
Read more:
- BT vs. Sky Broadband: which is better?
- BT vs. Virgin Media: which broadband provider is better in 2026?
- Alternatives to BT Broadband and TV
Get TV, broadband + phone together
What channels are on Sky TV?
Essential TV
Includes: Sky Stream puck (allows you to connect to subscriptions such as iPlayer, Prime Video, Apple TV), Netflix Standard (with ads), discovery+, Sky Entertainment.
Channel highlights: Access to separate, free Sky channels including Sky Arts, Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports Classics, Sky Sports Vault, Sky Sports Stories.
Does not include: Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports, Sky Kids (although all available as an add-on).
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£35 per month
Price may rise during contract
- Speed: 300Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£55 per month
Price may rise during contract
Ultimate TV
Includes: Sky Stream puck, Netflix Standard (with ads), Disney+, HBO Max, Hayu, discovery+.
Channel highlights: All Essential TV channels plus Sky Comedy, National Geographic, Sky History, Sky One, Sky Witness.
Does not include: Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports, Sky Kids (available as an add-on).
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£41 per month
Price may rise during contract
- Speed: 500Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£41 per month
Price may rise during contract
Other add-ons available with Sky TV packages
- Sky Kids: +£6 per month (rolling contract)
Includes: Sky Kids, Disney Jr, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon.
- Sky Sports: +£27 per month (rolling contract) or £20 per month (24-month contract)
Includes: Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sport F1, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports +, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Tennis.
- TNT Sports: +£28 per month (rolling contract)
Includes: UEFA European Club + FA Cup football, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing.
- Sky Cinema channels: +£13 per month (rolling contract) or +£10 per month (24-month contract)
Includes: Sky Cinema, Sky Premiere, Disney+ Cinema, Paramount+ Basic (with ads), two free Vue tickets every month.
Read more:
What channels come with Virgin Media?
Virgin Media works a little differently.
Flex TV
+£5 per month (plus one off £10 set-up fee)
Includes: Freeview live channels, easy access to premium subscriptions like Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports, Sky Entertainment, Disney+, Netflix, Racing TV (all subs are separate).
- Speed: 132Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£28.99 per month
£32.99 from 1st April 2027
£36.99 from 1st April 2028
- Speed: 264Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£33.99 per month
£40.49 from 1st April 2027
£46.99 from 1st April 2028
Entertainment
Includes: Sky Atlantic, Comedy Central, Discovery HD, Sky One, Netflix Standard (with ads)
Does not include: Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports (although all available as an add-on).
- Speed: 362Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£33.99 per month
£37.99 from 1st April 2027
£41.99 from 1st April 2028
Cinema
Includes: Sky Atlantic, Sky Cinema Premiere HD, Comedy Central, Sky Sci-Fi, National Geographic, Discovery HD
Does not include: Sky Sports, TNT Sports (although all available as an add-on).
- Speed: 362Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£46.99 per month
£50.99 from 1st April 2027
£54.99 from 1st April 2028
Sport
Includes: Sky Atlantic, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League HD, Sky Sports Football HD, Sky Sports+ HD, Sky Sports Cricket HD, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Tennis HD, Sky Sports Action HD, Comedy Central, Discovery HD, National Geographic
Does not include: TNT Sports, Premier Sports, Racing TV, (although all available as an add-on).
- Speed: 362Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£56.99 per month
£60.99 from 1st April 2027
£64.99 from 1st April 2028
Max Volt
Sport: Sky Sports Main Event HD, Sky Sports PL, Sky Sports Football HD, Sky Sports Cricket HD, Sky Sports Golf HD, Sky Sports F1 HD, Sky Sports NFL HD, Sky Sports Arena, Sky Sports News HD, Sky Sports Mix HD
Cinema: Sky Prem HD, Sky Comedy HD, Sky Hits HD and more.
Entertainment: Sky Witness, Comedy Central HD and more.
Kids: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and more.
Documentaries: History, Discovery, National Geographic, Sky Arts and more.
Does not include: TNT Sports, Premier Sports, Racing TV (although all available as an add-on)
- Speed: 1.1Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£78.99 per month
£85.49 from 1st April 2027
£91.99 from 1st April 2028
TalkTalk TV
Includes: Freeview channels, access to NOW Memberships only.
It’s a good option if you want to keep things cheap and flexible. There’s no long contract, and Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and TNT Sports are all still reachable through the NOW app if you want them.
Add TalkTalk TV within the checkout of any broadband package.
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£24 per month
£28 from 1st April 2027
NOW TV
NOW isn’t a bundled package, you pick individual memberships instead. Entertainment, Cinema and Sports are available on a rolling monthly basis or as a short-term pass. It’s the most flexible TV options if you don’t want a broadband bundle at all.
FAQs about TV packages and channels
-
What are the best TV packages for movies?
Film buffs are best signing up to Sky Cinema.
This is available as a NOW TV pass, either on a 6-month plan or flexible rolling monthly plan, so you don’t necessarily have to sign up to a dedicated broadband + Sky Cinema bundle.
However, bundle deals could save you money eventually.
Broadband deals from EE, BT, Virgin Media and Sky allow you to add on Sky Cinema during checkout.
-
Can I get Sky Atlantic on Virgin Media?
Yes. Sky Atlantic is included as standard on Virgin Media Entertainment, Cinema, Sport and Max Volt. Sky Atlantic HD is also now available on Virgin TV.
-
Can I get Sky Sports without Sky Broadband?
Absolutely! Some broadband packages allow you to include this as an add-on.
Alternatively, you can choose membership options (6-month or 1-day access) with a NOW TV pass.
-
Can I get Sky TV alongside another broadband provider?
Yes. EE, BT and Virgin Media all give you access to certain Sky TV channels.
You can also sign up to a huge selection of popular Sky TV channels with a NOW TV membership. You will then have the option to look for a broadband only deal from any provider.
As you won’t get a set-top box included this way, you’ll have to set yourself up with other ways to stream to a TV. Some ways of doing this include purchasing an Amazon Firestick, a Google Chromecast with Google TV, using an App on a Freeview box, using an app on a games console, or casting with a smartphone.
-
Do I need a TV licence for streaming?
You don’t need a TV licence to watch on-demand services other than BBC iPlayer. But you will need one if you plan to stream any live broadcast on a subscription channel. This includes sporting events like live football matches, even if they’re on repeat channels.
-
Is Virgin Media or Sky better for TV channels?
This depends on what you want to watch! Virgin offers a more flexible choice with the option to sign up to Flex TV (you sign up to subscriptions separately) as well as dedicated TV and broadband bundles. But the choice of channels are quite similar.
Sky comes with really good base packages and plenty of options to add on channels.
If you’re undecided, read our guide: Who's better between Sky and Virgin?
Switching broadband + TV bundles
Already have a broadband and TV package? Are your bills getting too high? Switching your broadband and TV bundles once your contract is over is the best way to keep your monthly costs low. The best deals are always reserved for new customers, and you can also make use of great reward offers such as high-value gift cards.
Here’s some of the best broadband and TV offers with free gifts available today:
- Speed: 300Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£35 per month
Price may rise during contract
- Speed: 300Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£41 per month
Price may rise during contract
- Speed: 1.6Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£51.99 per month
£57.99 from 31st March 2027
£63.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 900Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£43.99 per month
£49.99 from 31st March 2027
£55.99 from 31st March 2028
Compare broadband + TV bundles
How to cancel an existing TV package
Important: When you switch broadband packages, a process called ‘One-Touch Switch’ comes into play. This instructs your new provider to cancel your broadband package with your current provider. In theory, cuts out some of the admin but also minimises the risk of downtime when switching broadband.
Be aware, One-Touch Switch isn’t suitable for switching TV packages. Because of this, we recommend you get in touch to cancel your TV package yourself. Failure to do so could mean doubling up on your TV costs.
Find out your options today with our quick and easy postcode checker.
Remember, many broadband packages from providers listed here give you the scope to add on TV extras. You won’t commit to anything by working through the checkout and finding out your options, so it’s always worth exploring.
If you need any more help choosing the right broadband package, here are some other handy guides: