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Deals last updated: 15th July 2024
You could save up to 39 per cent on your broadband deal by choosing a broadband and TV package. Not only does this make it easier to keep up with your monthly subscriptions, but it can also save you money in the long run.
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.
This type of package includes a broadband connection and TV services. Deals can be tailored, with most providers offering a wide range of fibre broadband (FTTC) and full fibre (FTTP) packages bundled with TV services.
Broadband and TV packages can be hassle-free and save you money. Our home tech experts have shared their top tips on how to decide if a broadband and TV package is right for you:
Choose a broadband and TV deal if:
Don’t choose a broadband and TV deal if:
Some of the best broadband providers offer TV services alongside an internet connection. It’s important to compare each provider to find out which offers the best value for money and the best 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 offers bundles with a wide range of TV channels, streaming services and ultrafast broadband speeds for eligible households.
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 packages. Although Virgin Media offers some of the best TV bundles – broadband customers from our survey rated it ‘less than satisfactory’ (54 per cent) for its customer service.
As the largest provider in the UK, BT offers a wealth of broadband and TV packages. Plenty of services can be added to existing packages, including NOW TV and various sports channels.
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. TalkTalk was not rated highly for its customer service (53 per cent) by broadband customers from our survey.
EE offers both broadband-only and broadband and TV packages, with the choice between standard broadband and full fibre. EE was rated third (73 per cent) for value for money out of the broadband and TV providers included in our survey.
Vodafone provides a host of broadband offers, 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).
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.
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.
There are several TV channels that you can benefit from with a broadband and TV package; some channels are exclusive to certain providers, while some are more widely available.
If you don’t have full fibre or a cable connection (Virgin Media), you’ll likely need an active phone line. ADSL and partial fibre use your phone line to send data, while full fibre and mobile broadband don’t.
However, this is set to change. With the rollout of full fibre broadband, phone lines will no longer be required for TV services.
What if I don’t want a landline?
There are two alternatives for broadband without line rental – mobile broadband deals or taking out a broadband-only deal and a TV package separately. Mobile broadband operates on the 4G or 5G network and therefore doesn’t require a line rental.
Broadband and TV packages 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.
Your package should fit your budget and be good value for money. Of course, choosing an ultrafast broadband package will cost you more than a standard fibre package, 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 package you’d like.
We asked over 2,000 people how they felt about their broadband service and if they felt their current package 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.
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.
*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.
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.
Explore our picks of the best broadband and TV deals in July
Deals checked by Gemma Ryles, our broadband expert
With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Gemma to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.