Compare the Best TV Packages for Sports

Compare the latest deals and best TV packages for Sports.
We take a closer look at what’s on offer for April 2024. Find details on monthly and upfront costs.

Comparing and buying TV best for Sports

There’s lots of choice when it comes to choosing a TV package with Sports in-mind. Sky, Virgin Media, BT, NOW TV and TalkTalk all offer dozens of combinations between them. Once you eliminate your broadband and phone requirements, you are faced with the question of which TV service is best for the kind of sports you want to watch.

As well as being offered direct from Sky – Sky Sports is available from all major providers. But you’ll have to look at the details of each package, as prices vary and you may not receive all of the channels you want to watch. For example, you can only get two Sky Sports channels with BT TV, and BT Sport is not available direct from Sky as part of their packages. You have to sign-up separately direct with BT using your Sky Viewing card number.

How to get Sky Sports and BT Sport in one package

The Virgin Media Full House and VIP bundles are the only packages on the market to include both Sky Sports and BT Sport as standard. You can also personalise a bundle from other providers which include both of these services but as add-on’s, meaning you need to deal with more than one provider.

What can I get from different providers?

Provider BT NOW TV Sky TalkTalk Virgin Media
Channels 2^ 10 10 10 10
Monthly Cost £30.00 SD^
£36.00 HD^
£33.99 HD* £23.00 HD £34.00 SD £31.75 SD
£38.75 HD
Abbreviations: SD = Standard Definition | HD = High Definition | ^Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Extra
Provider BT NOW TV Sky TalkTalk Virgin Media
Channels 4 4 4 4
Monthly Cost Included SD
£6.50 HD
£29.99 SD
£36.49 HD
£29.99 SD £57.00~
Abbreviations: SD = Standard Definition | HD = High Definition | *Free for BT Broadband customers for 12 months, then £16.75 SD / £21.75 HD | – Not available with NOW TV | Included in Full House bundle

How does Sky Sports and BT Sports compare?

Looking at the nations favorite sport, Football – both services offer lots of choice. Sky Sports does hold the crown for Premier League games, with 125 games versus 52 from BT Sport. With Sky you can also add-on fan channels such as MUTV and Chelsea TV. For a more in-depth look into football services – please read or Best TV Packages for Football article.

BT Sport as the upper hand for European football, with rights to UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.

How about other Sports such as Golf, Ruby, F1, Cricket and Boxing?

Both Sky Sports and BT Sport share a comprehensive list covering sport the world over. You can check our chart below to see who is showing what. But if you are an avid all-round sports fan, then there’s only one choice – you need to consider subscribing to both services.

BT Sport Sky Sports
Football Premier League, Scottish Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, Australian A-League, Bundesliga, FA Cup, FA Trophy, Ligue 1, Serie A, UEFA Europa League, Women’s Super League, Vanarama National League, Liga NOS Premier League, Scottish Premier League, EFL, Scottish Cup, La Liga, Championship, League 1, League 2, Eredivisie, MLS League, Chinese Super League
Ruby Aviva Premiership, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup Heineken Cup, Champions Cup, RFU, IRB Sevens, Super 15, Super League, Guinness Pro 12
Golf None European Tour, Ryder Cup, US PGA Tour, World Golf Championships
Cricket Ashes, Big Bash League Cricket World Cup, County Championship, international cricket, Yorkshire Bank 40
Motor Racing MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, World Rally Championship, IndyCar Series, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Supercars Championship Formula One, GP2, GP3, Speedway
Tennis WTA ATP World Tour, French Open
Boxing & Wrestling World, European, British and Commonwealth Championship boxing, Red Bull Crashed Ice, UFC IBF, WBA, WBO, WWE
USA NBA, NCAA College Basketball, NCAA College Football, Major League Baseball, American College Sports, Major League Lacrosse MLS League
Visit

Conclusion

Sky Sports and BT Sport both offer something different. Making it impossible to recommend a best service. Sure, Sky has three quarters of the Premier League football rights – but what if your teams matches are on BT Sport or vice-versa? It really comes down to what you want to watch. Can you afford to take the plunge and go for both services? Are you better off dipping in-and-out when a must see match is on – either with a NOW TV Pass, or a 1 month contract with another provider? Look at current offers from all providers above, weigh up the costs and get a package that is right for you.

Popular Frequently Asked Questions:


How long is a Sky Sports contract?

You can get Sky Sports from most providers on a 30 day rolling contract (including Sky). However, some bundles which offer Sky Sports at a discounted rate – including the Complete Sports Pack from Sky – require you to sign-up to a 12-18 month contract. You should refer to the terms and conditions of the bundle/package you are interested in to confirm current contract details.


How long is a BT Sport contract?

BT Sport is also available on a 1 month rolling contract. Again, if you sign-up to a longer term, then you normally receive a discount for your loyalty.


How to get BT Sport on Sky?

If you are a Sky TV customer and want to watch BT Sport, you need to add this service independently. You’ll need your Sky viewing card number handy, then simply see this guide. To clarify, your BT Sport bill will be separate from your Sky bill.


How long does it take to get BT Sport on Sky?

As a Sky TV customer, once you have signed-up you can be watching BT Sport within minutes. However, like all telecom services, be prepared for unforeseen delays which may keep you waiting all day. If you are really stuck with an issue, you can find all the relevant providers contact details on our site.


Can I watch BT Sport on Sky Multiscreen?

BT Sport is available on more than one screen in your home with Sky Multiscreen. However, this comes at an additional cost of £6.00 per month billed by BT.


Which is best for Premier League?

Sky Sports has the rights to 126 Premier League matches, while BT Sport has the rights to 42 Premier League matches. So while Sky has this one mainly covered, you still need to keep an eye on the televised fixture list. If you are on a budget, it could be an idea to sign-up to one or both of these services on a 1 month contract. Just choose the right time to cover the fixtures you want to watch.


What is the cheapest way to get Sky Sports?

NOW TV offer day, week and month Passes, so you are not tied into a longer term contract. However,
Sky Sports channels are not in full HD (720p), which may not bother most people.

Sky themselves offer the ‘Complete Sports Pack’ at a discounted rate if you take this on a 18 month contract. Alternatively, the standard monthly price for all channels costs £27.50, subject to a 1 month rolling contract. Remember, Sky now allow customers to choose from 1, 2, 3 or 10 channels from £18.00 a month on 1 month contract, but only if you subscribe direct with them.

It’s also worth checking current offers from other providers, to see if you can grab a discount on your Sky Sports subscription.


What is the cheapest way to get BT Sport?

At the time of writing, BT are currently offering BT Sport free for 12 months with certain packages. Or for a small monthly charge with some others. You are definitely at an advantage if you are a BT Broadband / TV customer.


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