Ahead of the upcoming launch of Sky Sports+, which will provide subscribers with an expanded lineup of live sports streams and events, Sky is bringing back for a limited time one of its most tempting Sky Sports deals.
The bundle, based on Sky Stream (Sky’s broadband-based box), includes Sky’s premium channels, Netflix, Freeview channels via broadband, Sky Sports, and the Ultra HD (4K) add-on.
Normally, this bundle costs £52/month. But to celebrate the launch of Sky Sports+, Sky is now offering it for just £43/month – its lowest price ever.
Having said that, we HAVE seen this price point before for the same bundle – but it was never lower than this. So if you missed this offer last time it was around, you have a chance to snag it again.
To get the offer, you have to sign a 24-month contract (Sky recently upped its contract length from 18 months to 24), but the discount will stick around for the entire length of the contract (unless you cancel).
However, as is always the case, prices WILL go up annually (around March), and with a 24-month contract, this means you’ll be facing two in-contract price increases.
And if you’re not in the mood for sports, there are some limited-time discounts on other bundles as well – see below for the full details.
What is Sky Sports+?
Sky Sports+, set to launch on August 8, 2024, will significantly expand Sky’s existing sports offering.
Rather than being a separate service, Sky Sports+ integrates into current Sky platforms including Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q (if you have the full sports subscription), as well as being available to NOW customers with sports passes.
While a linear channel is part of the new platform – most of the new broadcasts will only be available via streaming.
Sky Sports+ will include:
Expanded Live Coverage: Sky Sports+ promises to deliver over 50% more live sports compared to the previous year. The service will have the capability to stream up to 100 live events simultaneously, providing subscribers with an unprecedented level of choice.
Dedicated Linear Channel: A new Sky Sports+ linear channel will replace Sky Sports Arena, showcasing selected content from the expanded streaming offering.
Enhanced EFL Coverage: Football fans will see a substantial increase in EFL matches, with Sky Sports+ offering four times as many games. All 72 EFL teams are set to be featured over 20 times a season, and every match from the men’s Super League will be available.
Additional Sports Content: Beyond football, Sky Sports+ will provide expanded coverage of events such as the ATP and WTA Tours, the US Open, and the PGA Tour.
New Features: The service introduces live pause and rewind functionality on all concurrent streams, including – for the first time – on NOW. The ‘Recap’ feature, previously available for Premier League and Championship games, will be extended to EFL games shown on the Sky Sports+ linear channel.
Early Access to Documentaries: Subscribers will get exclusive early access to Sky’s sports documentaries, at least two weeks before general release.
Mobile Integration: An updated Sky Sports mobile app will offer improved navigation, personalization features, and access to all Sky Sports+ live streams via event centres.
Sky Sports+ will be automatically available to existing Sky customers with a full Sky Sports subscription at no extra cost. However, those with individual sports packs will need to upgrade to access the new service.
The streaming aspect will be accessible on Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Q, and NOW, as well as on Virgin Media’s TV 360 and Stream boxes, and EE TV’s 4K Pro Box and custom Apple TV box (via NOW).
However, older devices like Sky+ boxes and Virgin Media’s V6 box are not supported, so they will only offer the new linear channel.
Sky Stream’s Pricing Explained
The new limited-time discounts are offered for those who purchase Sky’s streaming device – Stream.
Sky Stream (see my review) is a standalone 4K streaming box, also known as the “puck”, launched by Sky in late 2022.
Unlike Sky’s traditional devices (such as Sky Q), Sky Stream doesn’t require a satellite dish – and instead, uses broadband to stream TV shows to you (including Freeview channels) – positioning itself alongside the likes of Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Google’s Chromecast in the streaming device market.
What sets Sky Stream apart is its unique combination: it offers both the hardware and Sky’s TV service under a single subscription.
Once you sign up for Sky’s service, you get all of Sky’s TV channels (depending on your subscription), as well as third-party channels and some Freeview channels, streamed to the box via broadband (so you don’t need a satellite dish, and you don’t need an aerial).
Sky Stream also includes apps for most of the major streaming services available in the UK, including Disney+, Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Paramount+
Another major difference between Stream and Sky Q, is that Sky Stream doesn’t require a long-term contract. The basic contract is a rolling 31-day agreement that you can cancel at any time without penalty charges.
However, a 24-month contract option is also available – and most of the discounts, including the current Sports bundle – require the long-term contract.
- Also See: Sky Stream Questions Answered
The minimum basic package for Sky Stream users is Sky Ultimate, which includes Sky Entertainment (a pack of channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, and others), Freeview, and the standard ad-supported Netflix plan (it used to be the basic, no-adverts plan – but Sky changed this last year).
The rolling-contract version of this package on Sky Stream normally costs £31/month, and the same plan, with the 24-month contract, is £28/month (but, as with many broadband and pay-TV providers, prices will, unfortunately, change during your contract period – usually in line with inflation, and sometimes more than that).
In addition to the standard Sky Ultimate bundle, you can add more packs and channels from Sky and third parties, such as Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, Sky Kids, and TNT Sports.
If you want to add 4K and Dolby Atmos, it’s normally £6/month. And if you want to fast-forward adverts, it’s £5/month.
Lastly, if you want to watch in other rooms, you need the “Whole Home” add-on, which is normally £13/month. The first Whole Home puck (so the second for you in total) is free for now, but you will have to pay £39.95 for additional ones.
Sky Sports Bundle Offer
With the launch of Sky Sports+, Sky has brought back its lowest-ever price on the bundle that includes:
- The Sky Stream box
- Sky Ultimate (Sky’s premium TV channels and Freeview via broadband)
- Netflix (Standard with Ads)
- Sky Sports
- Ultra HD Add-on
Normally, this bundle costs £52/month with the 24-month contract.
From now until August 21, you can get this bundle for just £43/month.
You can then add additional discounted add-ons on top – for example, Sky Cinema for £10/month (instead of £13/m), and TNT Sports for £25/month (instead of £30/m).
The Ultra HD (4K) add-on is already included (technically it’s £1/month which is already taken into account).
The Whole Home pack, which lets you add Stream boxes and watch in additional rooms, is currently £5/month (instead of £13/m) – with one additional Stream puck being free.
If you’re not looking for sports, there are a few additional limited-time discounts with a 24-month contract – though these are not the lowest-ever prices we’ve seen for these bundles (but they’re close) –
- Sky Stream Ultimate – with Netflix – For £23/month – You can then add the content add-ons on top – or just stay with the Ultimate plan.
- Sky Stream Ultimate with Netflix and Sky Cinema – Now for just £31/month
As always, the downside is that by signing up for 24 months, you lose the flexibility cord cutting normally gives you, to mix and match streaming services across different periods.
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“However, as is always the case, prices WILL go up annually (around March),”
Darn, I thought this practice had been banned but, I guess, that may only be mobile phone bills.
My biggest gripe with the Sky deal is the cost, I’d rather see the old pack, without Sports+ but at half the price.
A trick which I e discovered. Come March if you ring them and renew your contract then you don’t normally get affected by the price home. Decent if your happy staying in the contract.