Sky has just launched a new budget TV package that’s caught our attention – Essential TV bundles Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+ for just £15 a month – and it also comes with the company’s streaming box – Sky Stream (or you can get it with Sky Glass).
The new plan slashes £14 off Sky’s regular Ultimate TV package price (if you’re willing to sign up for 24 months – otherwise it costs more), and naturally, there are some trade-offs.
While you get the coveted Sky Atlantic (home to HBO shows), plus Netflix Standard With Ads, Discovery+ Basic and Freeview channels over broadband thrown in, you’ll miss out on quite a few Sky channels.
Is it worth considering? Let’s break down exactly what you get, what you don’t get, and how this new “lite” package compares to Sky’s other TV streaming service – NOW.
What Are Sky Stream and Sky Glass?
If you haven’t been keeping up with Sky’s broadband-based devices, here’s a quick refresher: Sky Q is still around with its satellite dish (though probably not for long), but Sky now has two streaming-based alternatives that only need broadband to work.
Sky Stream (see my review) is a small streaming box that connects to any TV via HDMI. Unlike streaming sticks like Amazon’s Fire TV or Roku, though, it’s designed specifically for Sky’s service – so you get their full interface and features.
Sky Glass (see my review) goes a step further – it’s an actual TV with Sky built into it, plus a Dolby Atmos soundbar. You just plug it into power and connect to broadband – no additional boxes needed.
Both use Sky’s Entertainment OS interface, which brings together live channels and streaming apps in one place, with voice control and personal playlists that work across different services.
Sky’s streaming OS can’t quite replace fully-featured streaming devices like the Firesticks – because its app selection is limited – but most of the major UK streaming apps are available via Sky Glass / Sky Stream.
Also, unlike similar boxes from other providers like Virgin Media and EE TV – Sky Stream can work with any broadband provider.
Sky Stream’s Pricing Structure
Until now, Sky Stream’s base package has been Sky Ultimate TV, which starts at £28/month with a 24-month contract or £31/month on a rolling 31-day contract (though it’s currently discounted for the holiday season).
Sky Ultimate includes Sky Entertainment channels (like Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Comedy and more), Netflix Standard with Ads, and Freeview channels streamed via broadband.
On top of that base package, you can add various extras like Sky Sports (£25/month extra), Sky Cinema with Paramount+ (£11/month), Sky Kids (£6/month) and TNT Sports (£28/month).
You’ll also need to pay £6/month extra if you want 4K and Dolby Atmos quality, £5/m if you want to fast-forward adverts, and £13/m if you want to add additional Stream boxes.
The New Essential TV Plan
The new Essential TV package, which was announced today, significantly undercuts that pricing – at £15/month with a 24-month contract or £18/month rolling.
But there’s a catch – you get fewer channels than with Ultimate TV.
Essential TV includes Sky Atlantic (home to big HBO shows), Netflix Standard with Ads, and Discovery+ (the Standard plan – which also includes Eurosport, but not TNT Sports).
You also get the main Freeview channels via broadband, plus Sky News and Sky Arts.
But you miss out on channels like Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries and premium channels like Comedy Central and Gold.
Sky Showcase, Sky Witness, Sky Max, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries, Sky Comedy, Sky Nature, Sky Arts (HD), Sky History, Sky Sci-Fi HD, alibi, GOLD, Comedy Central, Comedy Central Extra, MTV, Crime & Investigation, Sky History 2, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Sky Replay, Movies24, Movies24+, MTV MUSIC, MTV HITS, MTV 90s, MTV 80s, GINX TV HD, Utsav Bharat, Utsav Plus, Utsav GOLD, SONY TV, SONY MAX, SONY SAB, SONY MAX 2, Colors, Colors Rishtey, Colors Gujarati, B4U Movies, B4U Music, Zee Cinema HD, Zee TV HD
Think of Essential TV as Sky’s “lite” package – perfect if you mainly watch Sky Atlantic for the HBO shows, use Netflix regularly, and are happy with Freeview channels for everything else. The inclusion of Discovery+ is a nice bonus too.
Plus, you’re getting the Sky Stream box with the Essential plan (as a loan – you have to send it back if you leave Sky).
You can still add all the usual Sky extras to Essential TV – like Sports, Cinema and Kids – but the base package is much cheaper than before.
Though remember – as with all Sky contracts these days, prices typically go up each April, and with a 24-month contract you’ll likely face two price hikes before you can leave.
Ben Case, Managing Director at Sky TV, said: “Our new TV pack makes it easier than ever to get the biggest and best shows from Sky, Netflix and Discovery+ all in one place, just in time for the Christmas TV season.”
How Does Sky Essential TV Compare To NOW?
NOW has always been Sky’s more flexible streaming option – but this new Essential TV package makes it a harder sell.
To get similar content on NOW, you’d need to spend £9.99/month for Entertainment (or £6.99 with a 6-month commitment), £4.99 for Netflix with ads, and £6.99 for Discovery+ Standard.
That’s already more than Essential TV – and we haven’t even counted NOW’s Full HD tax yet – yes, you’ll still need to pay an extra £6/month for NOW Boost if you want Full HD quality in 2024 (or £9/month for Ultra HD – compared to an extra £6/month on Sky Stream / Glass).
That means you’d pay £24.97–£27.97/month total with NOW (including HD) compared to £15/month or £18/month with Sky Essential TV.
It’s almost like they don’t want people to use NOW anymore…
That said, NOW does have some advantages – you can watch on phones and tablets, take it with you when you travel, and cancel anytime (usually) – and, if you don’t want Netflix and Discovery+ and just want NOW, then it’s the more obvious choice.
Plus, when there’s nothing good on, you can just pause your subscription – which is a bit more complicated with Sky Stream, even if you take the rolling contract (since you need to return the box).
Should You Get It?
Essential TV makes a lot of sense if you’re already paying for Netflix and use NOW mainly for Sky Atlantic.
The 24-month contract is a pain, and I don’t usually recommend long contracts for TV cord cutters – but even at £18/month for the rolling contract, there are decent savings here – IF you’re an avid Sky fan.
But it’s not for everyone. If you watch loads of different Sky channels, the Ultimate TV package might be worth the extra £7/month. And if you need maximum flexibility – NOW is still worth considering despite the higher cost.
Just keep in mind that the TV streaming world changes quickly these days.
Netflix keeps tweaking its plans, Discovery+ might merge with other services, and who knows what’ll happen to Sky Atlantic once Warner’s Max streaming service launches in the UK.
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Very interesting, thank you. How do I get Neflix WITHOUT ADS? As a separate subscription or is the a SKY one with Neflix without adds? I am a first time SKY subscriber with a limited budget and do not want to make a costly mistakes to last 24 months!
Joanna
Does this new package include “cloud recording” of programs on the Atlantic channel, or are you restricted to just watching the channel live?
You can’t “record” things – but you can watch anything that’s available on-demand, from the channels / packages you’re subscribed to.
Yes, that’s what I meant lol..On Demand. Cheers Or
I’ve still got 11 months left on my sky contract, as soon as it’s over I’ll be leaving sky and going back to NOW,am paying over £62 a month not including broadband, I’ve realised that I don’t watch most of those channels, so am paying for stuff I don’t watch, also NOW is flexible, I just wish Sky would let you pick your own premium channels list, instead of lumbering you with channels you know you won’t watch.
Sky are evidently beginning to feel the pinch by offering something like this. As someone who left Sky Stream earlier this year for 2 reasons – expense and the appalling ad-skipping service – it doesn’t really address my concerns. I want a service WITHOUT ADS. I also want a service that doesn’t build in an above inflation price increase every year (inflation, yes ok). Until Sky hears that message and introduces a recording facility so I can avoid the ads, then it’s of no use to me.
This is exactly why I left Sky. A confusion of pricing with a contact lock in.
We now use a streaming stick and subscribe on an ad-hoc basis if there’s something to watch.
We may be missing out on a few channels, but the world won’t end, and the money is still in our bank account.
If it included Netflix with out adverts, I might be tempted.. But with Ads! no chance, Plus as you say to forced price increases during the contract.. No Thanks..
Its a nice ploy by Sky to try and lock you into a 24month deal (To get the lowest price) for a pack that included Sky Atlantic when the channel looses HBO stuff in exactly a year from now and the glaring omission of Sky Max which is where alot more ‘Sky Originals’ are typically found (COBRA for example)
For me its a bit of a sly tactic really and will sucker people in for a low price that will rise several times over its duration for not alot of much.
Sky Arts?
There seems to be somne confusion here regarding Sky Arts.
In the article, you say that Sky Arts is included in the new Essentials package. However, the channel is also listed as one that is only available with the Sky Ultimate package.
Sky Arts is available Free-to-Air like ITV4 is or BBC Three.
As mentioned, Sky Arts is available free-to-air. So on the Sky Ultimate package list, they might have meant Sky Arts HD…