The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
You’re just a few steps away from seeing our best deals where you live.
Deals last updated: 18th August 2024
This type of broadband deal combines your broadband and TV service into one convenient subscription. Packages can include live TV channels, streaming services and superfast broadband.
You could save up to 39 per cent by choosing a broadband and TV package. You don’t need to stick with the same broadband provider when switching to a broadband and TV package; our expert team has compared the best broadband providers and everything you should look out for when searching for an integrated TV package that suits your needs and budget.
It depends on how you prefer to get your TV fix. Ask yourself these questions:
Are you a live TV watcher? If watching the latest TV shows and live sports is your thing – a TV package with a large catalogue of channels is for you.
Are you a streaming fan? Check if the package includes the streaming services you use. Of course, you can purchase these separately, but combining the two saves you money.
Are you a frequent switcher? Separate services might offer more flexibility and better deals.
Broadband and TV deals are a great way to save money and providers are more likely to offer discounts when you bundle services.
Yes, if you can access a full-fibre connection or cable connection (Virgin Media).
No, if your connection is ADSL or fibre – both deliver internet via the old copper wire system.
However, with the rollout of full-fibre broadband nationwide – phone lines will no longer be required for TV services. According to Ofcom, 62 per cent of homes in the UK now have access to full-fibre broadband.
There are two alternatives for broadband without line rental – mobile broadband deals or a separate broadband-only deal and a separate TV package. Mobile broadband operates on the 4G or 5G network and therefore doesn’t require a line rental.
There are several TV channels that you can benefit from with a broadband and TV deal; some channels are exclusive to certain providers, while some are more widely available.
Some of the best broadband providers offer TV services alongside an internet connection. Our experts recommend comparing providers to get the best deals and TV features for your needs.
We surveyed over 2,000 broadband customers about their current broadband service and this, alongside our team’s expertise, has informed the following judgements on the different bundle providers.
Sky Broadband
Sky Broadband offers bundles with a wide range of TV channels, streaming services and ultrafast broadband speeds for eligible households. According to our survey, 82 per cent of customers are happy with the service they receive from Sky.
What we like: most deals include a standard Netflix plan and only one of six deals requires a satellite dish.
What we don’t like: these deals are not widely available. Some of Sky’s broadband and TV package deals are available to less than 50 per cent of the UK – dependent on fibre availability in your area.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media is well-known for its extensive range of broadband and TV packages. The company also offers a variety of other services, such as broadband and phone deals. Although Virgin Media offers some of the best TV bundles – broadband customers from our survey rated it ‘less than satisfactory’ – scoring just (54 per cent) overall for its customer service.
What we like: TV bundles include Virgin TV Go which allows you to stream on up to five different devices. All deals come with a TV 360 box – it’s 4K ready and has a voice control remote.
What we don’t like: Virgin’s TV bundles are expensive compared to competitors. Basic plans don’t include Sky Cinema, Sky Sports or any streaming platforms.
BT Broadband
As the largest provider in the UK, BT offers a wealth of broadband and TV deals. Plenty of services can be added to existing packages, including NOW TV and various sports channels. In our survey, most broadband customers were satisfied with BT’s speed – 62 per cent of customers rated it as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.
What we like: BT has the most sports channels compared to other providers’ deals and most packages come with a Netflix plan and NOW Entertainment.
What we don’t like: contracts run for 24 months. The provider’s packages are quite expensive and come with a pricey setup fee.
TalkTalk
TalkTalk is one of the most affordable providers operating in the UK, offering eligible residents ultrafast broadband connections alongside Freeview channels and subscriptions to streaming services. In our survey, TalkTalk did not score highly for customer service (53 per cent) compared to other broadband and TV providers such as EE (73 per cent) and Sky (64 per cent).
What we like: affordable packages that come without lengthy contracts. You can also add NOW or Netflix to your plan to get several subscriptions in one monthly bill.
What we don’t like: limited live TV channels compared to BT, Sky and Virgin Media.
EE
EE offers both broadband-only and broadband and TV deals, with the choice between standard broadband and full fibre. EE was rated third best (73 per cent) for value for money out of the broadband and TV providers included in our survey.
What we like: you can flex your TV bundle up or down monthly, so you never pay for the channels you don’t watch. EE TV comes with two extra mini boxes for you to set up in any room of your home.
What we don’t like: no streaming subscriptions included in TV deals.
Vodafone
Vodafone provides a host of broadband deals, with the option to add an Apple TV 4K device and a 24-month subscription to Apple TV+ for an extra £14 per month. Vodafone is our best value for money provider – customers rated it the highest in our survey (76 per cent).
What we like: if you add Vodafone Xtra to any broadband deal, you’ll receive an Apple TV 4K, which allows you to watch TV in 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
What we don’t like: lengthy contracts and no live TV options available.
NOW Broadband
NOW Broadband offers four broadband packages, all of which come with the option to include NOW subscriptions, including Entertainment, Sports and Cinema channels. 76 per cent of NOW broadband customers from our survey agreed the service is good value for money.
What we like: affordable broadband and TV package with short contracts – 12 months minimum for broadband and 6 months minimum for your NOW Entertainment package.
What we don’t like: there are no live TV packages available.
The top three driving factors when choosing a broadband and TV provider, are speed, price and TV services offered. It’s also helpful to know how happy current customers are with their service.
The chart below shows the number of customer complaints the Big Four broadband and TV providers received per 100,000 customers during the fourth quarter of 2023.
“This depends on whether you’re interested in live TV channels or streaming. For live TV, Sky offers the best deals; they’re more affordable than BT and still include premium channels such as Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and TNT Sports. The best TV package we’ve found for streaming is Vodafone Xtra Broadband – combined with any fibre deal you’ll receive 24 months of Apple TV Plus and an Apple TV 4K.”
Broadband and TV deals are a great way to combine your digital services and can even save you money, but not every bundle will be right for you.
To find out which broadband deals are available in your area use our postcode checker at the top of this page.
For streaming and 4K video content – the ideal broadband speed is 100Mbps to 500Mbps. Streaming and gaming on numerous devices and uploading large files – 500Mbps to 1,000Mbps is best.
Our survey data found over half (57 per cent) of broadband users surveyed who use their connection mostly for gaming and streaming have an ultrafast full-fibre package.
Your deal should fit your budget and be good value for money. Of course, choosing an ultrafast broadband deal will cost you more than a standard fibre deal, but you should compare like-for-like deals in terms of speed, TV channels and any add-ons to find the best price for the type of deal you’d like.
We asked over 2,000 people how they felt about their broadband service and if they felt their current deal was good value for money. Of the providers who offer broadband and TV, these scored the highest – NOW broadband and Vodafone (76 per cent) and EE (67 per cent).
Longer contract lengths typically cost less per month – if you don’t mind being tied in for up to 24 months choose this. Renters and students may wish to consider a no-contract broadband deal – cancel anytime with no cancellation fee.
Consider which type of TV you frequently watch. If you know that you only stream TV, NOW Broadband and Vodafone could be best suited for you. Sky and BT both cater to sports and movie fans’ TV needs.
You may have to pay for certain pieces of equipment to be installed, such as a satellite dish – aware that you may incur additional costs if your house doesn’t have the infrastructure.
Should you ever need to contact your provider with an issue, it’s crucial their customer service is up to the mark. Issues such as slow speeds and broadband outages are usually time-critical.
According to our survey, of the providers who offer broadband and TV services; EE was ranked first for customer service (73 per cent) followed by Vodafone (69 per cent) and Sky (64 per cent).
Some providers offer discounts on your monthly bill or provide other incentives such as cashback and vouchers. Any extras offered are nice to have and don’t have any bearing on your internet connection.
Yes, switching broadband providers is a relatively simple process. Usually, your new broadband provider would help out with the transition, too. However, switching broadband providers before your current contract is due to end will most likely incur a cancellation fee. The best time to switch broadband providers is when your contract is due to end. When you sign up for a new provider you can choose an installation date that suits you; this minimises offline time and overpaying.
*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24-64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents, totalling Sky (489), BT Broadband (412), Virgin Media (396), EE (134), Vodafone (124), Other (102), Plusnet (66), NOW Broadband (45), Three (31), Hyperoptic (14), Community Fibre (8), Unsure (7). Respondents were asked to rate each category on a five-point scale, from Very Poor to Excellent, or from Never to Always, with the option of selecting Don’t Know for all questions. For the third question (“What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider”) respondents could select from the following: Price Hikes, Slow Speeds, High Prices, Frequent Disconnections, Poor Customer Service, Billing Issues, Other and N/A. The questions used to calculate our score were: “How often, if at all, do you feel the actual speed of your broadband service matches the advertised speed,” “How would you rate your experience with customer service and support from your broadband provider,” ”What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider? (Select all that apply),” “How easy or difficult is it/would it be to reach your provider using your preferred method,” “How do you rate the value for money of your broadband service,” “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service”.
Our home tech expert Rachel Sadler recommends checking the following things to save on your monthly bill.
No, most deals will not include a TV licence. This means that if you watch live TV you must purchase a TV licence separately from your TV and broadband package.
Apple TV is a popular streaming service and numerous broadband providers now offer it as part of their package deals, including Vodafone, TalkTalk TV, and EE TV.
Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are obviously both offered in Sky’s broadband and TV packages. If you’re not so keen on Sky broadband, Virgin Media and BT and Now TV also offer Sky Sports and Sky Cinema in their broadband and TV deals.
Explore our picks of the best broadband and TV deals in July
Deals checked by Rachel Sadler, our broadband expert
With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Rachel to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.