We take a look at all the different factors so you can make the best decision.
Sky packages
Sky's basic package is Sky Signature which comes with over 300 channels, over 40 catch up channels and 500 box sets. Sky Ultimate TV includes the base Sky Signature pack, plus the Ultimate TV add on (Netflix basic).
TV channels include regulars like Fox, Gold, MTV and Discovery, but also dedicated Sky channels including Sky One, Sky Witness, Sky Arts and Sky Atlantic. In fact, Sky Atlantic is only available through Sky and NOW TV.
One good point about Sky is that you are able to take TV as a standalone product, leaving you free to shop around for your broadband provider if you prefer.
BT packages
All BT TV packages must be taken with BT broadband. There is currently no option to get your broadband from a different supplier.
BT TV has flexible TV packages to pick from which include NOW Memberships, bringing the Sky channels to your TV.
Their basic Entertainment package comes with Freeview channels, AMC (exclusive to BT), plus Sky Atlantic, Sky One, Comedy Central and more entertainment channels with a NOW Entertainment Membership. Upgrade this to Big Entertainment to get all the Sky Cinema channels via a NOW Sky Cinema Membership.
The Sport package comes with Freeview channels, AMC, all 4 BT Sport channels and BoxNation. Upgrade to Big Sport to get all 11 Sky Sports channels with a NOW Sports Membership and Eurosport 1 & 2 for pure sporting heaven.
The VIP package combines everything from the Big Sport and Big Entertainment packages.
Boxes and equipment
BT TV operates via a YouView box which can record up to 300 hours worth of TV, record 2 channels at once, as well as support HD and Ultra HD viewing. Of course you will need to add the HD bolt on to your package to actually watch in HD.
Sky customers will receive the Sky Q Box, which has 1Tb storage (around 500 hours of standard definition TV), and allows you to record up to 6 channels at once.
Based on the storage and options for simultaneous recording, Sky does take the lead in this section.
Package costs
As BT TV is only available with BT broadband, it's only fair we compare them to a Sky TV and broadband bundle. Let's start with the basic TV packages.
Sky TV + Broadband Superfast + Netflix is currently £46 per month (at time of writing), compared to £46.99 per month for BT Entertainment + Fibre 1.
If we go to the other extreme and select BT Sport, Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, alongside the same broadband as above, we get Sky currently at £97 per month, and BT VIP at £103.99.
The prices between Sky and BT tend to be very close, so you need to consider which channels you actually want to watch. Of course, prices do change and there are often special new customer offers to be had. With the large number of options available from each provider, it's best to start by considering what your absolute must-haves are, and go from there.
Current deals
Customer service
Sky has consistently scored better than BT in the Ofcom Telecoms and Pay TV Complaints Report, being top of the leaderboard in the pay TV category for 2020.
In the latest Report from Q1 2022, Sky received just 1 complaint per 100,000 customers, well below the industry average of 4, while BT received 5 complaints per 100,000 customers.
| Ofcom complaints per 100,000 | Q1 2022 | Q4 2021 | Q3 2021 | Q2 2021 | Q1 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| BT | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Our verdict
Winner - Sky
Sky and BT are pretty evenly matched. They are both strong providers with lots going for them, but overall we feel Sky just takes the lead.
If you are looking for a basic package with the flexibility of choosing your own broadband provider then you can’t really go wrong with Sky. Their strong customer service record, good channel count and reasonable monthly cost makes them a great option for a basic all round TV package.
However that said, Sky can get pretty costly if you start to add on all the extras such as movies and sports. Remember that quantity doesn’t always mean quality, Likewise, there is no point going simply for the cheapest option if there's nothing in the package you want to watch.