Best Sky TV Deals (May 2022): Sky Glass and Sky Q Discounts

Looking to upgrade your telly with 300 paid-for channels, some of the most talked-about boxsets and films from HBO Max, Peacock and Netflix, as well as the latest sports fixtures and blockbuster movies? If so, Sky TV is a great choice. But without a good deal, prices can quickly spiral – so you’ll want to make sure you secure the best Sky deal.

Fortunately, there are some brilliant discounts available right now, including the award-winning Sky Q box, which can pause and rewind live television and store up to 500 hours of recorded telly, from just £26 a month. For that, you’ll unlock access to exclusive tv channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, a dizzying number of kids channels, 500 on-demand boxsets from HBO, Sky Originals, and Peacock, as well as a Netflix subscription.

You can also watch shows and films from Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video on the Sky Q box too. You’ll need an existing superfast broadband connection to watch on-demand content in High Definition or 4K Ultra High Definition, but this can be with any broadband provider – you’re not limited to Sky Broadband.

That’s easily the best Sky Q deal you’ll find right now, but if you want the latest kit from Sky’s R&D lab, you will need the best Sky Glass deal. For those who don’t know, Sky Glass is a custom-designed 4K QLED television that can access all of the same tv channels and on-demand boxsets as Sky Q – but without the need for a satellite dish.

Instead, everything is beamed wirelessly via Wi-Fi. It also offers a few new features that you won’t find on Sky Q, including hands-free voice commands and a built-in sound system with support for Dolby Atmos for bombastic sound during your next movie night. Prices for Sky Glass start from £13 a month for the smallest 4K TV (43-inch). However, if you want to watch any content from Sky (without an additional subscription, you can still tune in to Freeview channels, sign in to streaming apps like Disney+, and connect external HDMI devices) you’ll need to add the same £26 a month Ultimate TV bundle as above, bringing the total to £39 a month.

No matter what bundle you pick with Sky TV, Netflix will be included for free. If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’ll be able to keep your existing account with its recommendations and viewing history.

For everything else – from the latest Premier League and F1 fixtures on Sky Sports, to brand-new Sky Originals and Hollywood blockbusters from Sky Cinema, to watching in ultra-crisp 4K Ultra HD – we’ve rounded every Sky TV bundle to compare the best deals available today.

If you’re struggling to choose between the latest hardware from the satellite broadcaster, you could read our Sky Q review and Sky Glass review, or see how these set-top boxes compare to the latest Stream and TV 360 boxes from rival Virgin Media. As well as the latest Sky TV deals, we’ve rounded up answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Sky Q and Sky Glass, including the best way for existing Sky TV customers to negotiate better deals, further down this article. Scroll down to find the best Sky Broadband deals too.

Cheapest Sky TV Deal in May 2022

Looking for the cheapest Sky TV deal available right now? The most affordable way to bring the exclusive selection of satellite channels available from Sky, including the likes of Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Sky Crime, to your telly is the Ultimate TV bundle. This £26 a month package brings together the Sky Q set-top box, hundreds of paid-for channels, a Netflix subscription, and installation of the satellite dish required to beam the High Definition and 4K Ultra High Definition (for an extra cost) content to your screen. It’s worth noting that Ultimate TV bundle doesn’t arrive with a broadband connection, so you’ll need to have a separate broadband contract with Sky or another provider to access on-demand content (Sky includes access to 500 on-demand boxsets with this package) and the shows and movies included with your Netflix subscription.

The Sky Q Lite bundle represents even better value for those who don’t have a broadband connection as this brings together a fibre broadband connection (up to 36Mbps download speeds), the award-winning Sky Q set-top box, and access to hundreds of Freeview channels, for £30 a month. If you decide to add exclusive paid-for channels from Sky at a later date, it’s possible to add the Signature TV package after the fact – although the total cost will likely be more than opting for the Ultimate TV bundle above as a new customer.

Best Sky TV Deals With Netflix in May 2022

Since October 2019, Sky has included a complete Netflix subscription with some of the telly bundles. Currently branded as the Ultimate TV bundle, this includes access to a wide selection of live satellite channels as well as 500 on-demand boxsets from Sky and a Netflix subscription that unlock access to the entire library of series and movies available from the popular streaming service. So, you’ll be able to stream some of the most talked-about shows of the last few years, including Sex Education, The Witcher, Bridgerton, The Haunting Of Hill House, Making A Murderer, Tiger King, Queer Eye, Selling Sunset, The Good Place, and more. Netflix is tightly integrated into Sky Q and Sky Glass, with new shows and films suggested on the homepage all of the time. Sky will track what you’re watching and recommend similar shows from across its own channels, on-demand content, and Netflix. 

You can use the voice search functionality built into Sky to check Netflix’s catalogue too – so you won’t need to worry about the hassle of typing out the name of a show, actor, or director with the alphanumeric keypad at the bottom of your Sky TV remote! Whenever you search on your Sky box, the software will check upcoming TV listings, the catalogue of 500 on-demand boxsets included with the Ultimate TV bundle, Sky Store, as well as Netflix’s catalogue. So you’ll never have to worry about accidentally renting something on Sky Store that you later discover was included in your Netflix subscription.

Finally, the Netflix subscription included as part of this bundle is exactly the same as the one bought directly from Netflix. So, you’ll be able to download Netflix apps to your smartphone, tablet, games console, or Smart TVs in other rooms of the house (if you don’t pay extra for Sky Multiscreen, which brings small satellite set-top boxes to other TVs in your house with access to the complete Sky experience, including the recordings made on your main Sky Q box or Sky Glass telly) and watch the same shows and films. Netflix synchronises playback across devices too, so you can start bingeing a boxset on your Sky Q box, then pick up at the exact spot where you left off on your iPhone on the train to work, for example.

As well as Netflix, the Ultimate TV bundle also arrives with access to exclusive shows and films from streaming service Peacock. Available as a standalone subscription in the United States, Sky has partnered with Peacock to incorporate its entire back catalogue as well as upcoming exclusive boxsets and movies into its Ultimate TV bundle at no extra cost.

That means you’ll be able to tune in to the Saved by the Bell revival as well as Rutherford Falls, Punky Brewster, The Girl in the Woods, Five Bedrooms, and Vanderpump Rules. Upcoming Peacock shows, like the dramatisation of the events covered in the Tiger King documentary broadcast on Netflix (also available for Ultimate TV subscribers) dubbed Joe Exotic and starring Kate McKinnon and Kyle MacLachlan, will be coming to Sky Q and Sky Glass very soon. All-new shows like Vampire Academy, Irreverent, The Innocent, The Resort, The Missing, The Best Man, Angelyne, Ted, and Battlestar Galactica, that appear exclusively to Peacock subscribers in the United States, will appear soon on Sky set-top boxes.

Other highlights from the Peacock library include The Office (US), Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Psych, Superstore, A.P. Bio, The Mindy Project, Will & Grace, Mr. Mayor, Young Rock, and Saturday Night Live, alongside popular dramas such as Battlestar Galactica, Monk, Bates Motel, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, 12 Monkeys, Downton Abbey, House, Suits, Quantum Leap, Warehouse 13, The Equalizer, and Grimm, and talked-about unscripted hits like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Million Dollar Listing, Below Deck and The Real Housewives.

Peacock also packs some must-watch movies, including Brüno, Bulletproof, Children of Men, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Game, Hanna, Hannibal, The Last House on the Left, MacGruber, A Million Ways to Die in the West, Meet Joe Black, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Seed of Chucky, A Simple Wish, The Skeleton Key, Tower Heist, United 93, Very Bad Things, What Dreams May Come, and You, Me, and Dupree.

Best Sky TV Deals with Sky Sports in May 2022 

One of the best perks of picking up a Sky TV subscription is access to its unrivalled sports coverage. Sky Sports has exclusive rights to a number of Premier League matches, award-winning coverage of the Formula 1, live coverage of golf, cricket, tennis, NFL, and more. Sky has rebranded its Sky Sports channels based on the sport they primarily cover – of course, these can change throughout the year, but for now, subscribers will be able to access Sky Sports Main Event HD (the biggest fixture of any sport taking place right now), Sky Sports Premier League HD, Sky Sports Football HD, Sky Sports NFL HD, Sky Sports F1 HD, Sky Sports Golf HD, Sky Sports Cricket HD, and Sky Sports Arena HD (this broadcasts all of the action from sports not represented by dedicated channels, including rugby, boxing, tennis, and a number of other sports).

As always, you’ll be able to pause and rewind the action as it takes place with your Sky Q or Sky Glass kit – so you’ll never miss a moment. If you’ve added a Sky Sports bundle to your account, this will be reflected in the recommendations made on the main menu of your box. So, if there’s a major sports fixture taking place, you’ll see shortcuts to jump into the action when you switch on your telly in the morning. Sky Glass refreshes its suggestions six times a day to make sure they’re always as timely as possible, while older Sky Q boxes provide a similar experience.

Unlike with the standard Ultimate TV bundle, you won’t need to pay extra for High Definition for the Sky Sports channels. By default, all eight channels will be available in the pixel-packed format. You can pay extra to boost this quality to 4K Ultra HD though.

Best Sky TV Deals With Sky Cinema in May 2022

Want to bring the multiplex to you? Then, you’ll want to add Sky Cinema to your Sky TV subscription. Previously known as Sky Movies, this bundle of channels brings some of the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Sky also produces a number of ‘Sky Original’ films, including the Academy Award-winning Promising Young Woman, which took home the gong for Best Original Screenplay earlier this year. The part-psychological thriller, part-black comedy is available to anyone who subscribes to Sky Cinema and can be viewed in up to 4K Ultra HD quality.

Sky Original films are released to Sky Cinema subscribers on the same day as they launch on the silver screen in your local multiplex.

Sky Cinemas has a rotating selection of films, with a new addition every day. These can be downloaded on-demand to your Sky Q or Sky Glass kit, downloaded to a smartphone or tablet to watch on-the-move for those who pay extra for Sky Go, or viewed as they air live on the Sky Cinema channels, which include Sky Cinema Premiere, Sky Cinema Greats, Sky Cinema Disney, Sky Cinema Family, Sky Cinema Action, Sky Cinema Comedy, Sky Cinema Sci-Fi and Horror, and more.

Sky also launches a number of themed live channels, such as Sky Cinema Tom Cruise and Sky Cinema Harry Potter, which stick to their theme 24-hours a day.

Movie fans can also use the voice search features included with Sky Q and hands-free with Sky Glass to test their knowledge. While the feature lets you shout the name of the film, actor, or director you’re looking for… it also lets you say well-known quotes from movies to find the title. For example, shouting “Where’s the money?” into your remote will load the listing for Jerry Maguire. Movie buffs can have a lot of fun working out which films in Sky Cinema’s pretty expansive catalogue have been updated to support this feature.

Coupled with the original films included as part of the bundled Netflix subscription, there should be no shortage of movies to watch with these deals.

Best Sky TV Deals: Latest News, And Commonly Asked Questions About Sky TV

Want more information on the latest changes from Sky TV? Have some questions about the latest deals from Sky? Express.co.uk has rounded up the latest announcements from the satellite company on its hardware, including the award-winning Sky Q and all-new Sky Glass, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions for those considering signing up for the paid-for television service for the first time…

Sky Launches Fastest-Ever Broadband Speeds

If you want to ensure you never see any buffering when you start a new boxset on Netflix, download a blockbuster from Sky Cinema, or tune-in to a live channel on Sky Glass… you could benefit from the new Gigafast plan launched by Sky Broadband. The full-fibre package was launched to new and existing Sky customers on April 6. Sky Broadband charges £55 a month for the plan, which offers download speeds up to 900Mbps – that’s 12x faster than the average home broadband speed in the UK.

To put that eye-watering speed into context, Sky Glass recommends a minimum download speed of 10Mbps to stream on the satellite dish-free telly. With 900Mbps at your fingertips, you’ll be able to watch in pixel-packed 4K Ultra HD, make video calls, back-up your photos to the cloud, download software updates, control smart thermostats and video doorbells without the hint of stutter. Even busy households at peak times will struggle to max out that enormous bandwidth.

If you want to see how Sky Broadband’s new Gigafast plan compares to the cloest competition, check out our in-depth guide to the best UK broadband deals.

Sky Q Deal Just Got Better Overnight …And It Has Nothing To Do With Sky

If you missed the news, Netflix is increasing prices for all UK subscribers, with the “Basic” and “Standard” subscription tiers increasing by £1 to £6.99 and £10.99, respectively. Meanwhile, the “Premium” plan, which includes the ability to watch on four screens simultaneously and watch in 4K Ultra HD quality, has risen by £2 to £15.99 a month. The price hikes for UK subscribers follow a similar move in the United States.

What has all of this got to do with Sky TV, you ask?

Well, Sky has not tweaked the cost of its entry-level Sky Q package, which includes a “Basic” subscription plan to Netflix as part of its basic bundle of channels. Overnight, that makes this bundle a much better deal – saving you £12 a year compared to subscribing to Netflix separately with the new higher monthly bills. Sky hasn’t confirmed whether it’s £26 a month bundle will increase at a later date, but for now, those who add this deal to their basket will be locked-in at that price for the next 18-months.

Speaking about the price rise, which has already kicked-in for new subscribers, a spokesperson for Netflix revealed: “We have always been focused on providing our members both quality and clear value for their membership. Our updated prices reflect the investment we have made in our service and catalogue, and will allow us to continue making the series, documentaries and films our members love as well as investing in talent and the creative industry. We offer a range of plans so members can choose a price that works best for them.”

Sky Launches New Speaker Fascias For Sky Glass, But Some Colours Are Still Out Of Stock

After months of “high demand” for Glass forcing customers to place their names on a waiting list for this custom-designed QLED TV, Sky Glass is finally available to add to your online shopping basket without delay. Since its launch back in October 2021, this all-new telly has been notoriously tough to buy. Starting from mid-January 2022, the situation seems to be improving, with the ability to order today added across the Sky Store. However, Sky is still warning all customers that low stock might mean you aren’t able to order your first-choice colour option right away. So, it seems some unlucky customers will still be forced to wait. After all, it seems Sky Glass is still experiencing immense demand right now.

One thing is for sure …if you’ve had your eye on this all-in-one television from Sky since it was announced last year, it’s worth placing your order as soon as possible as there’s no guarantee stock will be around for long! Some colours seem to be fairing better than others when it comes to stock levels.

During the checkout process, you can pick between five colours: Anthracite Black, Ocean Blue, Racing Green, Dusky Pink, and Ceramic White. The same five colours are available for the body of the QLED television as well as the speaker fascia. But default, Sky will colour-matched this decorative grill, which covers the components of the Dolby Atmos-certified speaker system built into the chin of the telly, but it’s possible to select any of the four other colours (at an additional cost) to create a more personalised, contrasting look.

Sky recently launched a number of additional colours – Marble, Jade, Onyx, Sapphire, Quartz and Geometric – that are available exclusively via Amazon UK. The satellite company first pledged to introduce new colour options and designs during the Sky Glass launch event last year. These new designs start from £39.99 for the 43-inch Sky Glass model and max-out at £59.99 for a speaker fascia for the largest 65-inch television panel.

If you wished you had created a colour-contrasted look during the checkout process of your initial Sky Glass order, this is a great way to rectify that after-the-fact. Inversely, if you’re now regretting a dramatic clashing look between your shiny new telly and its speaker covering, Sky sells all five original colours via Amazon UK too, so you can get a perfect match between Sky Glass and its speaker fascia.

Sky Q vs Sky Glass: What Is The Best Choice For You? 

It used to be pretty easy to recommend Sky as there was only one option. For years, the Sky Q box has won every award going thanks to its mammoth hard-drive capable of storing thousands of hours of television, its dizzying number of tuners that allow you to record six shows simultaneously, and the intuitive remote control that includes voice search capabilities – so you can say your favourite actor or director and be thrown to search results of all of their output across Sky’s terrestrial channels, Sky Store, Netflix, and other streaming services on your box.

However, things are a little more complicated following the launch of Sky Glass back in October 2021. This custom-designed 4K TV boasts (almost) all of the features that helped Sky Q clinch all of those gongs, but drops the need for a satellite dish. For those who don’t want to affix a dish to their roof or wall, those in rented properties who aren’t allowed to drill into the outside walls even if they wanted to, and those in high-rise apartments without a communal dish… Sky Glass means they can finally experience what Sky Q owners have been raving about for years!

Sky has also supercharged a few of our favourite features from Sky Q, including the fact that voice control is now available hands-free (so you don’t even need to get up and find the remote, you can just say “Hello, Sky” and then request a new channel, a streaming app, or quote from a film to be sent to the listing (“Show Me The Money!” will load Jerry Maguire in a blink, for example).

At £13 a month, Sky Glass is pretty reasonable. Although, there are some reasons you might prefer to stick with the tried-and-tested Sky Q, which is still available to buy. First off, if you’re already perfectly happy with your television, there’s no need to buy another one. While £13 a month might seem low for a new telly, there’s no point paying that at all if you’ve recently splashed out on a shiny new OLED TV, which will have a better picture than the QLED panel used in Sky’s custom-built set.

I’m Already A Sky TV Customer, How Do I Reduce The Cost Of My Current Sky TV Package?

When you sign-up to one of the deals currently on offer from Sky, there’s a minimum term for the contract. Usually set at 18-months, this is the period in which you’ll have to stick with the bundle that you added to your shopping basket on the day you signed-up. However, as soon as that period is over, you’ll be out-of-contract and able to renegotiate a new contract with Sky TV, continue paying each month without committing to a new minimum contract term (you’ll usually find the monthly bills are quite a bit higher in this scenario), or leave Sky TV for another provider.

Under the current Ofcom rules, Sky has to alert you when you’re nearing the end of your current contract and have the above options open to you. It’s at this stage in your contract when you’ll be able to drop certain bundle of channels – like Sky Cinema, for example – to lower your monthly bills. It’s likely that Sky will fight hard for your custom, anecdotally, Sky customers often recount securing huge discounts and sweetheart deals when attempting to reduce the size of their telly package. After all, Sky wants to keep its existing customers …it doesn’t want to boost the subscribers with Virgin Media’s rival TV 360 set-top box. Of course, nothing is guaranteed. However, once out-of-contract, you will be able to sign-up to the most affordable Sky TV package available at that time – reduce the size, and cost, of your Sky TV package.

Next up, Sky Glass doesn’t have a physical hard-drive inside it. Instead, everything is streamed from the cloud. So, instead of recording a series like I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out Of Here! on the spinning disk-drive inside your set-top box, Sky Glass will stream the show from ITV Hub when you want to watch it after-the-fact. For most people, that’s fine. But those who want to keep their recordings for years, or like to re-watch old episodes of Match Of The Day (due to rights, BBC can only keep one episode on its iPlayer catch-up service at a time), you’d be better with Sky Q.

And finally, if you want to start watching Sky television right now, you’d better stay away from Sky Glass too. The new all-in-one television is experiencing a huge surge in demand at the moment. For months after its announcement, Sky was forced to put customers on a waiting list. It’s now possible to add Sky Glass to your online shopping basket right away, but Sky is still warning that low stock might force you to wait for the colour you want. By comparison, since there’s only one Sky Q box, it’s available to buy right now with no low stock warnings in sight. In fact, you’ll be able to take delivery of the box within days if you’ve previously owned Sky.

New customers will need to wait until the next available visit from the engineers, but that shouldn’t be too long.

As mentioned above, Sky Q shares a number of popular features with Sky Glass, so you won’t be missing out too much by opting for this traditional set-top box and satellite dish set-up. You’ll still be able to watch movies, live sport fixtures and boxsets in crisp Ultra HD 4K picture quality with Dolby Atmos surround sound (provided you’ve got the right speakers plugged into the back of your telly). There are also voice commands, the ability to start from the beginning of a show when you drop in halfway through, pause and rewind live television, built-in apps for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Fiit, Spotify, and many more. And you can download recordings from your Sky Q box to take with you on an iPhone or iPad ready for your next longhaul flight, commute, or simply to watch in bed.

Can You Get Sky TV For Free?

Unfortunately, unlike some streaming services – like Amazon’s Prime Video – there’s no free trial available with Sky TV. That’s because the satellite company will need to send out the hardware to tune in. With Sky Q, that means a satellite dish on the side of your house and set-top boxes, and with Sky Glass, that means the all-in-one 4K TV. 

That said, there is a way to get a seven-day free trial to enjoy the exclusive boxsets and movies available from Sky. The company’s contract-free streaming service, NOW (formerly NOW TV) offers a week-long trial of its service, which is available on smartphones, tablets, games consoles, Smart TVs, and more.

What Is The Cheapest Way To Get Sky TV?

If you’re looking for the lowest monthly bills, Sky-owned NOW (formerly NOW TV) offers contract-free streaming to the same catalogue of exclusive TV shows, blockbuster movies and sports that you’ll find on Sky Q and Sky Glass. For example, NOW Entertainment Membership unlocks access to Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Comedy, Sky Max, and other paid-for channels for £9.99 a month – with no commitment to stick around for more than a month. For those who want flexibility, this can be a great option.

However, it’s worth remembering that with its entry-level Ultimate TV package for Sky Q, you’re not only getting access to Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Comedy, Sky Max, but you’re getting a mammoth bundle of 300 satellite channels, including the likes Comedy Central, MTV, Syfy, Alibi, Gold, Discovery, Discovery History, and more. Not only that, but you’re getting a Netflix subscription to watch via the Sky Q box (or your smartphone, tablet, or other streaming gadgets) as well as the Sky Q hardware, with its capabilities to record 500 hours of telly to watch later.

At £26 a month, the Ultimate TV + Sky Q bundle is certainly pricier than the £9.99 a month subscription with NOW. But if you don’t have a streaming gadget that supports NOW and will need to buy a Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Apple TV… you’ll need to factor in that cost too. Not to mention a subscription with Netflix, which is included with Sky Q, provided you want to watch shows and films from the popular streaming service.

If you want a deeper drive in the differences between NOW and Sky TV, we’ve got a comprehensive face-off below…

Sky TV vs NOW TV: What’s The Difference?

Sky-owned NOW, formerly known as NOW TV, unlocks access to many of the same shows and movies as Sky Q and Sky Glass. You’ll be able to watch all of the same exclusive US boxsets, including award-winning series like Succession, Mare Of Easttown, and Euphoria, as well as Sky-produced originals, like Landscapers with Olivia Colman and David Thewlis, and Brassic with Michelle Keegan. Many of these shows are only available via Sky Atlantic, which isn’t even available to those who pay extra to add Sky channels (like Sky Comedy, Sky History, and Sky Crime) to their Virgin TV 360 set-top box. It’s only available to watch via Sky Q, Sky Glass, and NOW.

So, what is the difference? Well, NOW is contract-free, so you won’t need to worry about any minimum contract terms. Instead, like Netflix and Disney+, you’ll pay for access to the service each month via direct debit and can cancel and walk away at any time. Better yet, you can switch between the NOW Memberships available at any time. So, if you’ve finished bingeing a must-watch series and want to watch a few movies instead, you can switch from the Entertainment bundle to Sky Cinema for a month. Then, switch back whenever you want.

NOW is the perfect solution for anyone who needs that extra flexibility. But if you’re looking for the best way to watch all of the latest-and-greatest shows, movies and sports… you’d be better looking at Sky Q or Sky Glass. While the latter options support picture quality up to 4K Ultra HD, you’ll need to pay extra to get 1080p HD from NOW. Not only that, you can’t replicate features like Series Link, which automatically records new additions to a series whenever episodes air.

Voice controls are supported on both Sky Q, Sky Glass and NOW …although only Glass supports hands-free commands. If you’re watching NOW via an Apple TV or Fire TV, you’ll have access to the same streaming services already available on Sky’s own set-top boxes, including the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and more. However, unless you’re subscribed to Sky Q or Sky Glass, you’re not going to be able to bundle all of these subscriptions into a single monthly payment.

Does Sky TV Offer Discounts For Pensioners?

Unfortunately, neither Sky TV nor its contract-free sister brand, NOW (formerly NOW TV), currently offers a special discount for pensioners. So, those hoping to secure a discount will be left disappointed. However, Sky offers a number of promotions throughout the year, so older viewers will likely be able to claim a discount in the sales, which will last the duration of the minimum term of their contract, which is usually 18-months or so.

But while there isn’t a specific savings scheme for pensioners with Sky TV, the satellite telly firm does offer a number of extra provisions to help older customers. On a help page, Sky advises “We’ve a range of support tools for customers who, for example, are elderly and need a little extra help, or who have particular accessibility needs (visual, hearing, cognitive or motor impairment)”. It also has a dedicated page to support those who are struggling to pay their bills. 

“Managing a budget can be hard at the best of times and, when circumstances change, paying bills on time might be difficult. If your payment’s late, we’ll send you reminders and give you another chance to pay us. We’ll also add other safeguards to protect your interests. If a debt’s left unpaid and is passed on to one of our debt collection agencies, they’ll work with you to agree a fair and affordable repayment plan,” it advises. “Please let us know if you have trouble paying so we can help you. We understandably see our customers turning to family or friends to help them manage their affairs but, whether you’re supporting someone else or need support yourself, it’s best to act sooner rather than later.”

“And if you’re also struggling to pay other bills because, for example, your income’s been lowered or you’ve taken on some unexpected costs, it’s always better to act as soon as you can to avoid falling further into debt. And whatever you need to do, we’re here to help.”

Is Sky About To Increase Prices For TV And Broadband Customers?

Unfortunately, yes. Like most broadband and paid-for television providers in the UK, Sky increases prices each year according to a set formula …and this year is no different. From April 1, the average Sky customer will need to pay an extra £43 a year for the same download speeds and selection of channels. But while the average increase is roughly £3.60 extra a month, the exact amount you’ll need to pay depends on the products you’re signed up for.

For example, the cost of Sky’s Signature TV bundle will increase from £26 to £27, while those who have added BT Sport to their telly bundle will see prices rise from by £1 as well to £28 a month. If you want to watch in High Definition, you’ll face an extra £1 a month charge. If you subscribe to all three, you’ll see prices increase by much more than those who only have access to the basic selection of Sky channels with their Sky Q or Sky+ HD set-top box.

For comparison, BT has already confirmed a price rise of 9.3 percent for all customers that will kick in from March 31, while the average Virgin Media customer will see monthly bills rise by £4.70 a month in the coming weeks.

What Are The Best Sky TV Deals For Existing Customers?

The Sky TV deals page available on the Sky website here only lists prices for new customers – that’s anyone who doesn’t currently have a Sky TV contract, including those who were previously Sky TV customers and are looking to rejoin. Unfortunately, existing customers might not be able to access the same prices and bundles visible on this page.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any great Sky TV deals available for existing customers. Logging into your account, Sky will present a number of exclusive deals tailored to you. This could include an upgrade, such as adding optional extras like 4K Ultra HD picture quality, Sky Cinema or Sky Sports to your current package, or switching to the latest Sky Glass hardware from an older set-top box. Sky VIP – the reward scheme available to all Sky customers – also offers a number of freebies and upgrades, with those who have been with the company for the longest period unlocking the most valuable goodies.

If you’re unhappy with your current monthly bills, it’s worth talking to Sky’s customer service team. It’s possible they’ll match some of the deals currently available to new customers if you’ve been with the company for a while. And if you’re out-of-contract, mentioning that you’re thinking of leaving Sky TV could be a good way to unlock some new discounts… but you didn’t hear that from us, alright?

What Is The Minimum Sky TV Package?

The entry-level bundle from the satellite firm is called Ultimate TV and bundles together 100 channels not available on Freeview, including exclusive channels like Sky Atlantic as well as Sky Max, Sky History, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, MTV, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, and more. There are also 500 on-demand boxsets to download, including the likes of The Sopranos, Gangs of London, The White Lotus, Mare Of Easttown, Broad City, The Newsroom, Band of Brothers, Boardwalk Empire, Succession, Game of Thrones, and Chernobyl.

You’ll also enjoy a basic Netflix subscription (worth £5.99 a month) for complete access to the US streaming service’s catalogue. And that’s not all. Thanks to new partnerships across the Atlantic, exclusive boxsets and movies from US-only streaming services like Peacock and Paramount+ as coming to Sky customers at no extra cost too. This includes shows like the Tina Fey-produced comedy Girls 5 Eva and the dramatisation of the Netflix documentary Tiger King, called Joe vs. Carole.

It costs £26 a month and comes with an 18-month minimum contract and a one-off £20 upfront cost.

But while technically this is the entry-level bundle of channels that forms the foundation of all new bundles …it is possible to secure Sky TV without this package. For example, Sky currently offers a so-called Q Lite bundle, which includes the award-winning Sky Q set-top box with more than 250 Freeview channels. You’ll still be able to take advantage of features like voice controls, the ability to pause and rewind live television, and the built-in integration with Prime Video, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Disney+.

And if you buy Sky Glass outright, there’s no obligation to order any bundle of channels. You can order the custom-designed television just like any set from Samsung, Sony or Philips. Of course, if you don’t want to be stuck with only Freeview channels, you’ll need to order a package from Sky at some point in the future.

Best Sky Broadband Deals (May 2022)

What makes Sky’s broadband offering so brilliant is how effortlessly simple the satellite company makes it for you. There are just three options – Superfast 35, Ultrafast, Ultrafast Plus, and Gigafast. These packages unlock average download speeds of either 36Mbps, 145Mbps (that’s over twice as fast as the average home broadband speed in the UK), 500Mbps (more than 7x faster than most in the UK), or 900Mbps (more than 12x faster than the average home broadband connection).

Sky charges £25, £32, £45, and £55 a month for these broadband speeds, respectively. However, if you sign up for your new Sky deal using our broadband links, Sky Broadband will waive the one-off postage and set-up cost of £19.95 – not too shabby!

All of the broadband plans arrive with unlimited downloads, so you’ll never need to worry about extra charges no matter how much data you’ve used over the last month. For those who sign-up for the Superfast and Ultrafast bundles, you’ll be provided with an optional landline. Sky also offers a speed guarantee – if your internet connection drops below this minimum threshold, the satellite company will refund you for the month.

It’s worth noting that Ultrafast Plus and Gigafast are only available in areas that have been upgraded to full-fibre connections by Openreach, which is around 20 percent of all homes in the UK. BT-owned Openreach, which installs and manages the broadband infrastructure for Sky, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, Vodafone and more, hopes to upgrade 25 million homes to next-generation full-fibre broadband by December 2026. You can check whether your street has been upgraded to full-fibre here.

What Broadband Speed Do You Need?

If you have a busy household with multiple people making video calls, streaming boxsets from Netflix, Disney+ or Sky, backing up photos to the cloud, or downloading software updates for their smartphones, laptops, tablets, and games consoles… we really wouldn’t recommend opting for anything less than the Ultrafast bundle.

Not only does that boast at least 145Mbps download speeds, but you’ll also get faster upload speeds of 27Mbps, which is important when making video calls and uploading data to online storage, like iCloud, Google Drive or Microsoft Teams. If you want to see how the offering from Sky compares to the rest of the market, you can check out the best UK broadband deals on the market right now.

Looking to upgrade your telly with 300 paid-for channels, some of the most talked-about boxsets and films from HBO Max, Peacock and Netflix, as well as the latest sports fixtures and blockbuster movies? If so, Sky TV is a great choice. But without a good deal, prices can quickly spiral – so you’ll want to make sure you secure the best Sky deal.

Fortunately, there are some brilliant discounts available right now, including the award-winning Sky Q box, which can pause and rewind live television and store up to 500 hours of recorded telly, from just £26 a month. For that, you’ll unlock access to exclusive tv channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, a dizzying number of kids channels, 500 on-demand boxsets from HBO, Sky Originals, and Peacock, as well as a Netflix subscription.

You can also watch shows and films from Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video on the Sky Q box too. You’ll need an existing superfast broadband connection to watch on-demand content in High Definition or 4K Ultra High Definition, but this can be with any broadband provider – you’re not limited to Sky Broadband.

That’s easily the best Sky Q deal you’ll find right now, but if you want the latest kit from Sky’s R&D lab, you will need the best Sky Glass deal. For those who don’t know, Sky Glass is a custom-designed 4K QLED television that can access all of the same tv channels and on-demand boxsets as Sky Q – but without the need for a satellite dish.

Instead, everything is beamed wirelessly via Wi-Fi. It also offers a few new features that you won’t find on Sky Q, including hands-free voice commands and a built-in sound system with support for Dolby Atmos for bombastic sound during your next movie night. Prices for Sky Glass start from £13 a month for the smallest 4K TV (43-inch). However, if you want to watch any content from Sky (without an additional subscription, you can still tune in to Freeview channels, sign in to streaming apps like Disney+, and connect external HDMI devices) you’ll need to add the same £26 a month Ultimate TV bundle as above, bringing the total to £39 a month.

No matter what bundle you pick with Sky TV, Netflix will be included for free. If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’ll be able to keep your existing account with its recommendations and viewing history.

For everything else – from the latest Premier League and F1 fixtures on Sky Sports, to brand-new Sky Originals and Hollywood blockbusters from Sky Cinema, to watching in ultra-crisp 4K Ultra HD – we’ve rounded every Sky TV bundle to compare the best deals available today.

If you’re struggling to choose between the latest hardware from the satellite broadcaster, you could read our Sky Q review and Sky Glass review, or see how these set-top boxes compare to the latest Stream and TV 360 boxes from rival Virgin Media. As well as the latest Sky TV deals, we’ve rounded up answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Sky Q and Sky Glass, including the best way for existing Sky TV customers to negotiate better deals, further down this article. Scroll down to find the best Sky Broadband deals too.

Cheapest Sky TV Deal in May 2022

Looking for the cheapest Sky TV deal available right now? The most affordable way to bring the exclusive selection of satellite channels available from Sky, including the likes of Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Sky Crime, to your telly is the Ultimate TV bundle. This £26 a month package brings together the Sky Q set-top box, hundreds of paid-for channels, a Netflix subscription, and installation of the satellite dish required to beam the High Definition and 4K Ultra High Definition (for an extra cost) content to your screen. It’s worth noting that Ultimate TV bundle doesn’t arrive with a broadband connection, so you’ll need to have a separate broadband contract with Sky or another provider to access on-demand content (Sky includes access to 500 on-demand boxsets with this package) and the shows and movies included with your Netflix subscription.

The Sky Q Lite bundle represents even better value for those who don’t have a broadband connection as this brings together a fibre broadband connection (up to 36Mbps download speeds), the award-winning Sky Q set-top box, and access to hundreds of Freeview channels, for £30 a month. If you decide to add exclusive paid-for channels from Sky at a later date, it’s possible to add the Signature TV package after the fact – although the total cost will likely be more than opting for the Ultimate TV bundle above as a new customer.

Best Sky TV Deals With Netflix in May 2022

Since October 2019, Sky has included a complete Netflix subscription with some of the telly bundles. Currently branded as the Ultimate TV bundle, this includes access to a wide selection of live satellite channels as well as 500 on-demand boxsets from Sky and a Netflix subscription that unlock access to the entire library of series and movies available from the popular streaming service. So, you’ll be able to stream some of the most talked-about shows of the last few years, including Sex Education, The Witcher, Bridgerton, The Haunting Of Hill House, Making A Murderer, Tiger King, Queer Eye, Selling Sunset, The Good Place, and more. Netflix is tightly integrated into Sky Q and Sky Glass, with new shows and films suggested on the homepage all of the time. Sky will track what you’re watching and recommend similar shows from across its own channels, on-demand content, and Netflix. 

You can use the voice search functionality built into Sky to check Netflix’s catalogue too – so you won’t need to worry about the hassle of typing out the name of a show, actor, or director with the alphanumeric keypad at the bottom of your Sky TV remote! Whenever you search on your Sky box, the software will check upcoming TV listings, the catalogue of 500 on-demand boxsets included with the Ultimate TV bundle, Sky Store, as well as Netflix’s catalogue. So you’ll never have to worry about accidentally renting something on Sky Store that you later discover was included in your Netflix subscription.

Finally, the Netflix subscription included as part of this bundle is exactly the same as the one bought directly from Netflix. So, you’ll be able to download Netflix apps to your smartphone, tablet, games console, or Smart TVs in other rooms of the house (if you don’t pay extra for Sky Multiscreen, which brings small satellite set-top boxes to other TVs in your house with access to the complete Sky experience, including the recordings made on your main Sky Q box or Sky Glass telly) and watch the same shows and films. Netflix synchronises playback across devices too, so you can start bingeing a boxset on your Sky Q box, then pick up at the exact spot where you left off on your iPhone on the train to work, for example.

As well as Netflix, the Ultimate TV bundle also arrives with access to exclusive shows and films from streaming service Peacock. Available as a standalone subscription in the United States, Sky has partnered with Peacock to incorporate its entire back catalogue as well as upcoming exclusive boxsets and movies into its Ultimate TV bundle at no extra cost.

That means you’ll be able to tune in to the Saved by the Bell revival as well as Rutherford Falls, Punky Brewster, The Girl in the Woods, Five Bedrooms, and Vanderpump Rules. Upcoming Peacock shows, like the dramatisation of the events covered in the Tiger King documentary broadcast on Netflix (also available for Ultimate TV subscribers) dubbed Joe Exotic and starring Kate McKinnon and Kyle MacLachlan, will be coming to Sky Q and Sky Glass very soon. All-new shows like Vampire Academy, Irreverent, The Innocent, The Resort, The Missing, The Best Man, Angelyne, Ted, and Battlestar Galactica, that appear exclusively to Peacock subscribers in the United States, will appear soon on Sky set-top boxes.

Other highlights from the Peacock library include The Office (US), Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Psych, Superstore, A.P. Bio, The Mindy Project, Will & Grace, Mr. Mayor, Young Rock, and Saturday Night Live, alongside popular dramas such as Battlestar Galactica, Monk, Bates Motel, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, 12 Monkeys, Downton Abbey, House, Suits, Quantum Leap, Warehouse 13, The Equalizer, and Grimm, and talked-about unscripted hits like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Million Dollar Listing, Below Deck and The Real Housewives.

Peacock also packs some must-watch movies, including Brüno, Bulletproof, Children of Men, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Game, Hanna, Hannibal, The Last House on the Left, MacGruber, A Million Ways to Die in the West, Meet Joe Black, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Seed of Chucky, A Simple Wish, The Skeleton Key, Tower Heist, United 93, Very Bad Things, What Dreams May Come, and You, Me, and Dupree.

Best Sky TV Deals with Sky Sports in May 2022 

One of the best perks of picking up a Sky TV subscription is access to its unrivalled sports coverage. Sky Sports has exclusive rights to a number of Premier League matches, award-winning coverage of the Formula 1, live coverage of golf, cricket, tennis, NFL, and more. Sky has rebranded its Sky Sports channels based on the sport they primarily cover – of course, these can change throughout the year, but for now, subscribers will be able to access Sky Sports Main Event HD (the biggest fixture of any sport taking place right now), Sky Sports Premier League HD, Sky Sports Football HD, Sky Sports NFL HD, Sky Sports F1 HD, Sky Sports Golf HD, Sky Sports Cricket HD, and Sky Sports Arena HD (this broadcasts all of the action from sports not represented by dedicated channels, including rugby, boxing, tennis, and a number of other sports).

As always, you’ll be able to pause and rewind the action as it takes place with your Sky Q or Sky Glass kit – so you’ll never miss a moment. If you’ve added a Sky Sports bundle to your account, this will be reflected in the recommendations made on the main menu of your box. So, if there’s a major sports fixture taking place, you’ll see shortcuts to jump into the action when you switch on your telly in the morning. Sky Glass refreshes its suggestions six times a day to make sure they’re always as timely as possible, while older Sky Q boxes provide a similar experience.

Unlike with the standard Ultimate TV bundle, you won’t need to pay extra for High Definition for the Sky Sports channels. By default, all eight channels will be available in the pixel-packed format. You can pay extra to boost this quality to 4K Ultra HD though.

Best Sky TV Deals With Sky Cinema in May 2022

Want to bring the multiplex to you? Then, you’ll want to add Sky Cinema to your Sky TV subscription. Previously known as Sky Movies, this bundle of channels brings some of the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Sky also produces a number of ‘Sky Original’ films, including the Academy Award-winning Promising Young Woman, which took home the gong for Best Original Screenplay earlier this year. The part-psychological thriller, part-black comedy is available to anyone who subscribes to Sky Cinema and can be viewed in up to 4K Ultra HD quality.

Sky Original films are released to Sky Cinema subscribers on the same day as they launch on the silver screen in your local multiplex.

Sky Cinemas has a rotating selection of films, with a new addition every day. These can be downloaded on-demand to your Sky Q or Sky Glass kit, downloaded to a smartphone or tablet to watch on-the-move for those who pay extra for Sky Go, or viewed as they air live on the Sky Cinema channels, which include Sky Cinema Premiere, Sky Cinema Greats, Sky Cinema Disney, Sky Cinema Family, Sky Cinema Action, Sky Cinema Comedy, Sky Cinema Sci-Fi and Horror, and more.

Sky also launches a number of themed live channels, such as Sky Cinema Tom Cruise and Sky Cinema Harry Potter, which stick to their theme 24-hours a day.

Movie fans can also use the voice search features included with Sky Q and hands-free with Sky Glass to test their knowledge. While the feature lets you shout the name of the film, actor, or director you’re looking for… it also lets you say well-known quotes from movies to find the title. For example, shouting “Where’s the money?” into your remote will load the listing for Jerry Maguire. Movie buffs can have a lot of fun working out which films in Sky Cinema’s pretty expansive catalogue have been updated to support this feature.

Coupled with the original films included as part of the bundled Netflix subscription, there should be no shortage of movies to watch with these deals.

Best Sky TV Deals: Latest News, And Commonly Asked Questions About Sky TV

Want more information on the latest changes from Sky TV? Have some questions about the latest deals from Sky? Express.co.uk has rounded up the latest announcements from the satellite company on its hardware, including the award-winning Sky Q and all-new Sky Glass, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions for those considering signing up for the paid-for television service for the first time…

Sky Launches Fastest-Ever Broadband Speeds

If you want to ensure you never see any buffering when you start a new boxset on Netflix, download a blockbuster from Sky Cinema, or tune-in to a live channel on Sky Glass… you could benefit from the new Gigafast plan launched by Sky Broadband. The full-fibre package was launched to new and existing Sky customers on April 6. Sky Broadband charges £55 a month for the plan, which offers download speeds up to 900Mbps – that’s 12x faster than the average home broadband speed in the UK.

To put that eye-watering speed into context, Sky Glass recommends a minimum download speed of 10Mbps to stream on the satellite dish-free telly. With 900Mbps at your fingertips, you’ll be able to watch in pixel-packed 4K Ultra HD, make video calls, back-up your photos to the cloud, download software updates, control smart thermostats and video doorbells without the hint of stutter. Even busy households at peak times will struggle to max out that enormous bandwidth.

If you want to see how Sky Broadband’s new Gigafast plan compares to the cloest competition, check out our in-depth guide to the best UK broadband deals.

Sky Q Deal Just Got Better Overnight …And It Has Nothing To Do With Sky

If you missed the news, Netflix is increasing prices for all UK subscribers, with the “Basic” and “Standard” subscription tiers increasing by £1 to £6.99 and £10.99, respectively. Meanwhile, the “Premium” plan, which includes the ability to watch on four screens simultaneously and watch in 4K Ultra HD quality, has risen by £2 to £15.99 a month. The price hikes for UK subscribers follow a similar move in the United States.

What has all of this got to do with Sky TV, you ask?

Well, Sky has not tweaked the cost of its entry-level Sky Q package, which includes a “Basic” subscription plan to Netflix as part of its basic bundle of channels. Overnight, that makes this bundle a much better deal – saving you £12 a year compared to subscribing to Netflix separately with the new higher monthly bills. Sky hasn’t confirmed whether it’s £26 a month bundle will increase at a later date, but for now, those who add this deal to their basket will be locked-in at that price for the next 18-months.

Speaking about the price rise, which has already kicked-in for new subscribers, a spokesperson for Netflix revealed: “We have always been focused on providing our members both quality and clear value for their membership. Our updated prices reflect the investment we have made in our service and catalogue, and will allow us to continue making the series, documentaries and films our members love as well as investing in talent and the creative industry. We offer a range of plans so members can choose a price that works best for them.”

Sky Launches New Speaker Fascias For Sky Glass, But Some Colours Are Still Out Of Stock

After months of “high demand” for Glass forcing customers to place their names on a waiting list for this custom-designed QLED TV, Sky Glass is finally available to add to your online shopping basket without delay. Since its launch back in October 2021, this all-new telly has been notoriously tough to buy. Starting from mid-January 2022, the situation seems to be improving, with the ability to order today added across the Sky Store. However, Sky is still warning all customers that low stock might mean you aren’t able to order your first-choice colour option right away. So, it seems some unlucky customers will still be forced to wait. After all, it seems Sky Glass is still experiencing immense demand right now.

One thing is for sure …if you’ve had your eye on this all-in-one television from Sky since it was announced last year, it’s worth placing your order as soon as possible as there’s no guarantee stock will be around for long! Some colours seem to be fairing better than others when it comes to stock levels.

During the checkout process, you can pick between five colours: Anthracite Black, Ocean Blue, Racing Green, Dusky Pink, and Ceramic White. The same five colours are available for the body of the QLED television as well as the speaker fascia. But default, Sky will colour-matched this decorative grill, which covers the components of the Dolby Atmos-certified speaker system built into the chin of the telly, but it’s possible to select any of the four other colours (at an additional cost) to create a more personalised, contrasting look.

Sky recently launched a number of additional colours – Marble, Jade, Onyx, Sapphire, Quartz and Geometric – that are available exclusively via Amazon UK. The satellite company first pledged to introduce new colour options and designs during the Sky Glass launch event last year. These new designs start from £39.99 for the 43-inch Sky Glass model and max-out at £59.99 for a speaker fascia for the largest 65-inch television panel.

If you wished you had created a colour-contrasted look during the checkout process of your initial Sky Glass order, this is a great way to rectify that after-the-fact. Inversely, if you’re now regretting a dramatic clashing look between your shiny new telly and its speaker covering, Sky sells all five original colours via Amazon UK too, so you can get a perfect match between Sky Glass and its speaker fascia.

Sky Q vs Sky Glass: What Is The Best Choice For You? 

It used to be pretty easy to recommend Sky as there was only one option. For years, the Sky Q box has won every award going thanks to its mammoth hard-drive capable of storing thousands of hours of television, its dizzying number of tuners that allow you to record six shows simultaneously, and the intuitive remote control that includes voice search capabilities – so you can say your favourite actor or director and be thrown to search results of all of their output across Sky’s terrestrial channels, Sky Store, Netflix, and other streaming services on your box.

However, things are a little more complicated following the launch of Sky Glass back in October 2021. This custom-designed 4K TV boasts (almost) all of the features that helped Sky Q clinch all of those gongs, but drops the need for a satellite dish. For those who don’t want to affix a dish to their roof or wall, those in rented properties who aren’t allowed to drill into the outside walls even if they wanted to, and those in high-rise apartments without a communal dish… Sky Glass means they can finally experience what Sky Q owners have been raving about for years!

Sky has also supercharged a few of our favourite features from Sky Q, including the fact that voice control is now available hands-free (so you don’t even need to get up and find the remote, you can just say “Hello, Sky” and then request a new channel, a streaming app, or quote from a film to be sent to the listing (“Show Me The Money!” will load Jerry Maguire in a blink, for example).

At £13 a month, Sky Glass is pretty reasonable. Although, there are some reasons you might prefer to stick with the tried-and-tested Sky Q, which is still available to buy. First off, if you’re already perfectly happy with your television, there’s no need to buy another one. While £13 a month might seem low for a new telly, there’s no point paying that at all if you’ve recently splashed out on a shiny new OLED TV, which will have a better picture than the QLED panel used in Sky’s custom-built set.

I’m Already A Sky TV Customer, How Do I Reduce The Cost Of My Current Sky TV Package?

When you sign-up to one of the deals currently on offer from Sky, there’s a minimum term for the contract. Usually set at 18-months, this is the period in which you’ll have to stick with the bundle that you added to your shopping basket on the day you signed-up. However, as soon as that period is over, you’ll be out-of-contract and able to renegotiate a new contract with Sky TV, continue paying each month without committing to a new minimum contract term (you’ll usually find the monthly bills are quite a bit higher in this scenario), or leave Sky TV for another provider.

Under the current Ofcom rules, Sky has to alert you when you’re nearing the end of your current contract and have the above options open to you. It’s at this stage in your contract when you’ll be able to drop certain bundle of channels – like Sky Cinema, for example – to lower your monthly bills. It’s likely that Sky will fight hard for your custom, anecdotally, Sky customers often recount securing huge discounts and sweetheart deals when attempting to reduce the size of their telly package. After all, Sky wants to keep its existing customers …it doesn’t want to boost the subscribers with Virgin Media’s rival TV 360 set-top box. Of course, nothing is guaranteed. However, once out-of-contract, you will be able to sign-up to the most affordable Sky TV package available at that time – reduce the size, and cost, of your Sky TV package.

Next up, Sky Glass doesn’t have a physical hard-drive inside it. Instead, everything is streamed from the cloud. So, instead of recording a series like I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out Of Here! on the spinning disk-drive inside your set-top box, Sky Glass will stream the show from ITV Hub when you want to watch it after-the-fact. For most people, that’s fine. But those who want to keep their recordings for years, or like to re-watch old episodes of Match Of The Day (due to rights, BBC can only keep one episode on its iPlayer catch-up service at a time), you’d be better with Sky Q.

And finally, if you want to start watching Sky television right now, you’d better stay away from Sky Glass too. The new all-in-one television is experiencing a huge surge in demand at the moment. For months after its announcement, Sky was forced to put customers on a waiting list. It’s now possible to add Sky Glass to your online shopping basket right away, but Sky is still warning that low stock might force you to wait for the colour you want. By comparison, since there’s only one Sky Q box, it’s available to buy right now with no low stock warnings in sight. In fact, you’ll be able to take delivery of the box within days if you’ve previously owned Sky.

New customers will need to wait until the next available visit from the engineers, but that shouldn’t be too long.

As mentioned above, Sky Q shares a number of popular features with Sky Glass, so you won’t be missing out too much by opting for this traditional set-top box and satellite dish set-up. You’ll still be able to watch movies, live sport fixtures and boxsets in crisp Ultra HD 4K picture quality with Dolby Atmos surround sound (provided you’ve got the right speakers plugged into the back of your telly). There are also voice commands, the ability to start from the beginning of a show when you drop in halfway through, pause and rewind live television, built-in apps for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Fiit, Spotify, and many more. And you can download recordings from your Sky Q box to take with you on an iPhone or iPad ready for your next longhaul flight, commute, or simply to watch in bed.

Can You Get Sky TV For Free?

Unfortunately, unlike some streaming services – like Amazon’s Prime Video – there’s no free trial available with Sky TV. That’s because the satellite company will need to send out the hardware to tune in. With Sky Q, that means a satellite dish on the side of your house and set-top boxes, and with Sky Glass, that means the all-in-one 4K TV. 

That said, there is a way to get a seven-day free trial to enjoy the exclusive boxsets and movies available from Sky. The company’s contract-free streaming service, NOW (formerly NOW TV) offers a week-long trial of its service, which is available on smartphones, tablets, games consoles, Smart TVs, and more.

What Is The Cheapest Way To Get Sky TV?

If you’re looking for the lowest monthly bills, Sky-owned NOW (formerly NOW TV) offers contract-free streaming to the same catalogue of exclusive TV shows, blockbuster movies and sports that you’ll find on Sky Q and Sky Glass. For example, NOW Entertainment Membership unlocks access to Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Comedy, Sky Max, and other paid-for channels for £9.99 a month – with no commitment to stick around for more than a month. For those who want flexibility, this can be a great option.

However, it’s worth remembering that with its entry-level Ultimate TV package for Sky Q, you’re not only getting access to Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Comedy, Sky Max, but you’re getting a mammoth bundle of 300 satellite channels, including the likes Comedy Central, MTV, Syfy, Alibi, Gold, Discovery, Discovery History, and more. Not only that, but you’re getting a Netflix subscription to watch via the Sky Q box (or your smartphone, tablet, or other streaming gadgets) as well as the Sky Q hardware, with its capabilities to record 500 hours of telly to watch later.

At £26 a month, the Ultimate TV + Sky Q bundle is certainly pricier than the £9.99 a month subscription with NOW. But if you don’t have a streaming gadget that supports NOW and will need to buy a Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Apple TV… you’ll need to factor in that cost too. Not to mention a subscription with Netflix, which is included with Sky Q, provided you want to watch shows and films from the popular streaming service.

If you want a deeper drive in the differences between NOW and Sky TV, we’ve got a comprehensive face-off below…

Sky TV vs NOW TV: What’s The Difference?

Sky-owned NOW, formerly known as NOW TV, unlocks access to many of the same shows and movies as Sky Q and Sky Glass. You’ll be able to watch all of the same exclusive US boxsets, including award-winning series like Succession, Mare Of Easttown, and Euphoria, as well as Sky-produced originals, like Landscapers with Olivia Colman and David Thewlis, and Brassic with Michelle Keegan. Many of these shows are only available via Sky Atlantic, which isn’t even available to those who pay extra to add Sky channels (like Sky Comedy, Sky History, and Sky Crime) to their Virgin TV 360 set-top box. It’s only available to watch via Sky Q, Sky Glass, and NOW.

So, what is the difference? Well, NOW is contract-free, so you won’t need to worry about any minimum contract terms. Instead, like Netflix and Disney+, you’ll pay for access to the service each month via direct debit and can cancel and walk away at any time. Better yet, you can switch between the NOW Memberships available at any time. So, if you’ve finished bingeing a must-watch series and want to watch a few movies instead, you can switch from the Entertainment bundle to Sky Cinema for a month. Then, switch back whenever you want.

NOW is the perfect solution for anyone who needs that extra flexibility. But if you’re looking for the best way to watch all of the latest-and-greatest shows, movies and sports… you’d be better looking at Sky Q or Sky Glass. While the latter options support picture quality up to 4K Ultra HD, you’ll need to pay extra to get 1080p HD from NOW. Not only that, you can’t replicate features like Series Link, which automatically records new additions to a series whenever episodes air.

Voice controls are supported on both Sky Q, Sky Glass and NOW …although only Glass supports hands-free commands. If you’re watching NOW via an Apple TV or Fire TV, you’ll have access to the same streaming services already available on Sky’s own set-top boxes, including the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and more. However, unless you’re subscribed to Sky Q or Sky Glass, you’re not going to be able to bundle all of these subscriptions into a single monthly payment.

Does Sky TV Offer Discounts For Pensioners?

Unfortunately, neither Sky TV nor its contract-free sister brand, NOW (formerly NOW TV), currently offers a special discount for pensioners. So, those hoping to secure a discount will be left disappointed. However, Sky offers a number of promotions throughout the year, so older viewers will likely be able to claim a discount in the sales, which will last the duration of the minimum term of their contract, which is usually 18-months or so.

But while there isn’t a specific savings scheme for pensioners with Sky TV, the satellite telly firm does offer a number of extra provisions to help older customers. On a help page, Sky advises “We’ve a range of support tools for customers who, for example, are elderly and need a little extra help, or who have particular accessibility needs (visual, hearing, cognitive or motor impairment)”. It also has a dedicated page to support those who are struggling to pay their bills. 

“Managing a budget can be hard at the best of times and, when circumstances change, paying bills on time might be difficult. If your payment’s late, we’ll send you reminders and give you another chance to pay us. We’ll also add other safeguards to protect your interests. If a debt’s left unpaid and is passed on to one of our debt collection agencies, they’ll work with you to agree a fair and affordable repayment plan,” it advises. “Please let us know if you have trouble paying so we can help you. We understandably see our customers turning to family or friends to help them manage their affairs but, whether you’re supporting someone else or need support yourself, it’s best to act sooner rather than later.”

“And if you’re also struggling to pay other bills because, for example, your income’s been lowered or you’ve taken on some unexpected costs, it’s always better to act as soon as you can to avoid falling further into debt. And whatever you need to do, we’re here to help.”

Is Sky About To Increase Prices For TV And Broadband Customers?

Unfortunately, yes. Like most broadband and paid-for television providers in the UK, Sky increases prices each year according to a set formula …and this year is no different. From April 1, the average Sky customer will need to pay an extra £43 a year for the same download speeds and selection of channels. But while the average increase is roughly £3.60 extra a month, the exact amount you’ll need to pay depends on the products you’re signed up for.

For example, the cost of Sky’s Signature TV bundle will increase from £26 to £27, while those who have added BT Sport to their telly bundle will see prices rise from by £1 as well to £28 a month. If you want to watch in High Definition, you’ll face an extra £1 a month charge. If you subscribe to all three, you’ll see prices increase by much more than those who only have access to the basic selection of Sky channels with their Sky Q or Sky+ HD set-top box.

For comparison, BT has already confirmed a price rise of 9.3 percent for all customers that will kick in from March 31, while the average Virgin Media customer will see monthly bills rise by £4.70 a month in the coming weeks.

What Are The Best Sky TV Deals For Existing Customers?

The Sky TV deals page available on the Sky website here only lists prices for new customers – that’s anyone who doesn’t currently have a Sky TV contract, including those who were previously Sky TV customers and are looking to rejoin. Unfortunately, existing customers might not be able to access the same prices and bundles visible on this page.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any great Sky TV deals available for existing customers. Logging into your account, Sky will present a number of exclusive deals tailored to you. This could include an upgrade, such as adding optional extras like 4K Ultra HD picture quality, Sky Cinema or Sky Sports to your current package, or switching to the latest Sky Glass hardware from an older set-top box. Sky VIP – the reward scheme available to all Sky customers – also offers a number of freebies and upgrades, with those who have been with the company for the longest period unlocking the most valuable goodies.

If you’re unhappy with your current monthly bills, it’s worth talking to Sky’s customer service team. It’s possible they’ll match some of the deals currently available to new customers if you’ve been with the company for a while. And if you’re out-of-contract, mentioning that you’re thinking of leaving Sky TV could be a good way to unlock some new discounts… but you didn’t hear that from us, alright?

What Is The Minimum Sky TV Package?

The entry-level bundle from the satellite firm is called Ultimate TV and bundles together 100 channels not available on Freeview, including exclusive channels like Sky Atlantic as well as Sky Max, Sky History, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, MTV, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, and more. There are also 500 on-demand boxsets to download, including the likes of The Sopranos, Gangs of London, The White Lotus, Mare Of Easttown, Broad City, The Newsroom, Band of Brothers, Boardwalk Empire, Succession, Game of Thrones, and Chernobyl.

You’ll also enjoy a basic Netflix subscription (worth £5.99 a month) for complete access to the US streaming service’s catalogue. And that’s not all. Thanks to new partnerships across the Atlantic, exclusive boxsets and movies from US-only streaming services like Peacock and Paramount+ as coming to Sky customers at no extra cost too. This includes shows like the Tina Fey-produced comedy Girls 5 Eva and the dramatisation of the Netflix documentary Tiger King, called Joe vs. Carole.

It costs £26 a month and comes with an 18-month minimum contract and a one-off £20 upfront cost.

But while technically this is the entry-level bundle of channels that forms the foundation of all new bundles …it is possible to secure Sky TV without this package. For example, Sky currently offers a so-called Q Lite bundle, which includes the award-winning Sky Q set-top box with more than 250 Freeview channels. You’ll still be able to take advantage of features like voice controls, the ability to pause and rewind live television, and the built-in integration with Prime Video, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Disney+.

And if you buy Sky Glass outright, there’s no obligation to order any bundle of channels. You can order the custom-designed television just like any set from Samsung, Sony or Philips. Of course, if you don’t want to be stuck with only Freeview channels, you’ll need to order a package from Sky at some point in the future.

Best Sky Broadband Deals (May 2022)

What makes Sky’s broadband offering so brilliant is how effortlessly simple the satellite company makes it for you. There are just three options – Superfast 35, Ultrafast, Ultrafast Plus, and Gigafast. These packages unlock average download speeds of either 36Mbps, 145Mbps (that’s over twice as fast as the average home broadband speed in the UK), 500Mbps (more than 7x faster than most in the UK), or 900Mbps (more than 12x faster than the average home broadband connection).

Sky charges £25, £32, £45, and £55 a month for these broadband speeds, respectively. However, if you sign up for your new Sky deal using our broadband links, Sky Broadband will waive the one-off postage and set-up cost of £19.95 – not too shabby!

All of the broadband plans arrive with unlimited downloads, so you’ll never need to worry about extra charges no matter how much data you’ve used over the last month. For those who sign-up for the Superfast and Ultrafast bundles, you’ll be provided with an optional landline. Sky also offers a speed guarantee – if your internet connection drops below this minimum threshold, the satellite company will refund you for the month.

It’s worth noting that Ultrafast Plus and Gigafast are only available in areas that have been upgraded to full-fibre connections by Openreach, which is around 20 percent of all homes in the UK. BT-owned Openreach, which installs and manages the broadband infrastructure for Sky, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, Vodafone and more, hopes to upgrade 25 million homes to next-generation full-fibre broadband by December 2026. You can check whether your street has been upgraded to full-fibre here.

What Broadband Speed Do You Need?

If you have a busy household with multiple people making video calls, streaming boxsets from Netflix, Disney+ or Sky, backing up photos to the cloud, or downloading software updates for their smartphones, laptops, tablets, and games consoles… we really wouldn’t recommend opting for anything less than the Ultrafast bundle.

Not only does that boast at least 145Mbps download speeds, but you’ll also get faster upload speeds of 27Mbps, which is important when making video calls and uploading data to online storage, like iCloud, Google Drive or Microsoft Teams. If you want to see how the offering from Sky compares to the rest of the market, you can check out the best UK broadband deals on the market right now.