BT TV, the TV platform offered by BT to its broadband customers, has recently raised the pricing of all of its TV bundles, which include flexible subscriptions to several streaming services and premium channels, along with BT’s 4K YouView recorder box, the BT TV Pro.
This is the second time some of these prices have gone up since the new Netflix-included bundles were introduced last year.
When BT pushed its aggressive Black Friday discounts last month, these price increases were already baked into the offers – as customers were getting 6 months for half price, with the remaining months already taking into account the new pricing.
BT’s TV bundles include subscriptions to popular streaming services and sports, and all come with BT’s 4K Youview recorder box, which also lets you watch Freeview without an aerial.
With the recent price rise, all TV bundles now cost £2 extra each and every month, compared to when they launched back around November 2021, or £1/month extra compared to the previous price hike from earlier this year.
So, for example, BT’s Entertainment Bundle offers the “Basic” Netflix subscription, Sky’s NOW Entertainment (which includes Sky Atlantic) membership, and the 4K Pro box.
It used to cost £16/month when it launched – and is now £18/month.
At these prices, you’re now paying MORE than you would have by subscribing to some of these services directly, unless you take into account the 4K Pro Box (which is a loan, not a purchase) – see our full comparison below.
Also, remember that all the bundles come with a 24-month contract, so over the course of the full two years, Cord Cutting would, in almost every case, come out cheaper.
BT’s TV Platform Explained
BT has been bundling Netflix into its TV packages since last year, shortly after launching its 4K BT TV Box Pro box. In addition, it lets you add Sky’s NOW streaming memberships, or choose sports add-ons.
The box is a 4K/HDR YouView-based device with streaming apps and plenty of storage for Freeview recordings.
It supports Dolby Atmos sound, has 4 tuners (so you can record up to 3 shows on separate channels and watch a fourth), 1TB of storage, a Bluetooth remote and WiFi/Ethernet connectivity.
The BT TV Box Pro also has a long list of supported streaming apps – Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, NOW, Britbox, BT Sport, BT Player, Milkshake and more, as well as all the standard catch-up streaming apps – BBC iPlayer, All4, My5, UKTV Play, S4C, STV Player and BBC Sounds.
As of this writing, it doesn’t have the new ITVX app (which replaces ITV Hub) – but will probably be getting it soon, and it also doesn’t support Discovery+ (with its Eurosport content on-demand) yet.
Recently, the box got upgraded with a new ‘Internet Mode’ – which finally lets you watch some Freeview channels without an aerial.
This makes BT’s bundles a tempting offer for those who can’t use an aerial (due to bad reception), and is in direct competition with Sky’s standalone Stream box, and Virgin Media’s Stream Box – both of which also let you stream Freeview channels via broadband.
For those who want to watch in additional rooms – BT offers the BT TV Mini Box, which also includes streaming apps and the ability to stream Freeview channels via broadband – but it doesn’t have any recording capabilities.
BT’s “Flexible” TV packages are attached to BT’s broadband plans (you can’t get BT TV on its own, except for BT Sport, which is also available as a monthly pass and on Sky and Virgin Media).
The BT TV packages, along with BT’s broadband, come with a 24-months contract – so in practice, they’re not very “flexible” – not as flexible as standard streaming services, at least.
But the flexible part does come from being able to change your TV package every 30 days – switch from Entertainment to Sports, cancel one and add another, or just get the VIP package which includes everything (but you can’t cancel the TV contract completely until your contract is up).
In addition to seamlessly switching between packages, customers can also attach stand-alone add-ons to their packages – such as more of Sky’s NOW streaming plans, Amazon’s Prime Video, and more – or upgrade to Netflix’s higher tiers (to get 4K content, for example).
BT TV Bundles – New Pricing
All of BT’s TV plans are available to both new and existing customers – but either way, you must also be subscribed to BT’s broadband, and you can’t take any of the TV packages without it.
Also, note that all packages include a one-time £39.99 upfront fee, and come with a 24-month contract.
Entertainment: £18 per month
This plan used to cost £16 when it first launched, then £17 – and now £18/month with the most recent price increase.
The “Entertainment Package” includes:
- Sky’s streaming service – NOW – with its Entertainment Membership, which includes Sky’s TV channels such as Sky Atlantic and Sky Max.
- Netflix’s Basic Plan – This plan lets you watch on one device at a time, with 720p picture quality. Note that this isn’t Netflix’s Basic with Ads tier – so you won’t be seeing adverts.
- The AMC Channel, which is exclusive to BT TV and includes American shows and films.
- The BT TV 4K Pro Box
In the past, we saw deals where BT offered this bundle for just £6/month, for the entire duration of the contract. It’s possible we’ll see similar limited-time offers in the future.
Without BT, the Basic Netflix plan normally costs £6.99/month (after this year’s price increase), and the NOW Entertainment membership costs £9.99/month if you buy it directly – so £16.98/month in total.
Furthermore, Netflix recently launched its ad-supported tier, which costs £4.99/month – so if you’re willing to watch adverts, you’ll pay even less.
So, at the new price of £18/month, not only are you not saving money with the BT Entertainment Package – you’re actually paying more, unless you take into account the BT TV Pro 4K box.
A similar Freeview recorder, which also includes streaming apps, like the Humax Aura (see our review), costs around £250. So you’re basically getting an expensive recorder/streaming box for “free” (but you have to give it back if you leave BT).
Sport: £17 per month
This plan used to cost £15 last year, then £16 – and now £17/month with the most recent price increase.
- All 4 BT Sport channels – with exclusive Premier League games and every UEFA Champions League match.
- Discovery+ / Eurosport (which is now free for BT Sport subscribers, but there’s no app on the BT box yet!).
- The AMC Channel
- The BT TV 4K Pro Box
Note that this package doesn’t include Netflix. On its own (on a monthly pass) – BT Sport costs £25/month.
So, with sports, this bundle is still better priced than getting BT Sport as a standalone service – but, remember that you’re signing up for 24 months, and must also get BT’s broadband.
Big Entertainment: £28 per month
Used to cost £26/month last year.
- Sky’s NOW Entertainment Membership
- Sky’s NOW Cinema Membership – which includes Sky’s 11 Cinema Channel and on-demand films.
- Netflix’s Basic Plan
- The AMC Channel
- The BT TV 4K Pro Box
Without BT, these services cost £26.97/month.
Big Sport: £42 per month
Used to cost £40/month last year.
- Sky’s NOW Sports Membership – Includes all 11 Sky Sports channels and some on-demand sports content.
- All 4 BT Sport Channels
- Discovery+ / Eurosport (which is now free for BT Sport subscribers, but there’s no app on the BT box yet!).
- The AMC Channel
- The BT TV 4K Pro Box
This bundle doesn’t include Netflix. On its own (NOW Sports + BT Sport monthly pass), it would cost £58.99/month.
As with the Sport bundle, this one is cheaper than getting the two services on their own – but you’re signing up for a 24 months contract, and must remain with BT’s broadband.
VIP: £75 per month
Used to cost £73/month last year.
- Sky’s NOW Sports Membership
- 4 BT Sport Channels
- Sky’s NOW Entertainment
- Sky’s NOW Cinema
- Netflix’s Standard Plan (with Full HD content, and up to 2 screens at the same time).
On its own, this collection would cost £89.96/month.
Since this bundle includes sports, then – thanks to that – it’s somewhat cheaper than getting all these services on their own – but remember the long-term contract, and the fact that you have to stay with BT Broadband.
I cannot imagine how anyone would take BT TV – overpriced, under spec’d, overlong tie-in – basically a no no.