Sky TV review 2025: Is it any good and should you buy it?

Dan Howdle • February 17th, 2025

Sky pretty much never stops tinkering with the formula when it comes both to how and what is offered in its market-leading TV packages. That's why at least once a year it's a good idea to stop, take stock and ask: is Sky TV any good? Here's our take for 2025, as Sky has now fully dropped satellite TV for new customers in favour of the convenience of Sky Stream.

Is Sky TV any good?

Key features

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect to find in a Sky TV package:

Prices from	£20 per month
Number of channels	300+
Audio	Dolby Digital (surround or stereo), Dolby Atmos (with add-on)
Video	4K HDR, 2160p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p
Simultaneous recording	No recording options (Sky Stream)
Voice control	Yes
Storage	For apps only (Sky Stream)
Parental controls	Yes
Technology	Sky Stream Puck
Packages	TV only, TV and broadband
Set-top boxes	Sky Stream Puck

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Channels

Sky has two TV packages as of pretty recently: Sky Ultimate TV and Sky Essential TV. Sky Ultimate TV gives you a bigger selection of channels, including Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky History, and Sky Showcase. It also includes Sky Atlantic, where you’ll find shows like House of the Dragon. You get Netflix Standard with no ads included, and you can add extras like Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Sky Cinema if you want them.

Sky Essential TV is a cheaper, more stripped-back option. You still get over 100 channels, including Sky Atlantic, Sky Mix, and a mix of entertainment, factual, and news channels, but not the full range of Sky-branded ones mentioned above. It comes with Netflix Standard with ads, so you’ll get a few interruptions while watching. If you want more channels, you can bolt them on, but Essential TV is really aimed at those who want a simple package without paying for extras they won’t use.

Highlights

Sky Atlantic – Sky Atlantic is the jewel in the crown when it comes to Sky's offered channels. Until recently you had to subscribe to Sky TV (or NOW TV, Sky's other, less fully-featured streaming service), but it's currently being offered as part of BT/EE's Entertainment and Big Entertainment packages, which is a welcome development. However, you can't get it via Virgin Media. In terms of programming, Succession, Yellowjackets, Gangs of London, Dune Prophecy and House of the Dragon are exclusive to Sky Atlantic to name but a few. Sky Atlantic remains the place to watch these and many other triple-A titles first without buying the DVD/Blu-ray (soon not to be an option either) or the streamable version via something like Apple iTunes or Amazon Prime. Even if you buy the series you like individually in this way (expensive) you'll still have to wait till Sky has finished showing every episode before it's available.

Sky Box Sets – Previously only available as a paid-for add-on, Sky Box Sets is also now included with Sky Stream Ultimate TV, but not with Essentials. This collection of over 500, mostly excellent, TV series from Sky, HBO, AMC and more means you’ll never be without something to watch. Watch, for example, Succession, Billions, Fortitude, The Affair, Big Little lies, Dexter and many, many, many more.

Netflix – As a bonus, you also now get free access to Netflix as part of your package, with no additional requirement for a subscription payment. You can watch all Netflix content for free on any device where you watch your Sky service, from your TV to your phone. Do bear in mind that this is the basic tier of Netflix, though. This means you'll only be able to watch on one device, and you won't have access to high-end audiovisual features like 4K, HDR or Dolby Atmos.

It's worth noting though, that if you already have a higher-tier Netflix subscription and you opt for a Sky bundle that includes one, you will be able to knock the cost of your Sky Netflix subscription off of that from your existing one if you port over your existing account. So there's some benefit there even for households already subscribed to Netflix.

Indian and Asian channels – Sky includes an almost-inconceivable amount of stuff in its Stream packages, including 19 Indian and Asian channels for free. So if that's what your household enjoys, or if you've never sat and enjoyed a Bollywood movie before then, well, you're in for a treat.

Sky Sports+ is included for free. Note this is not the fully-featured 'Sky Sports' add-on consisting of nine channels, but an individual channel named Sky Sports+, which features selected EFL games, Rugby Super League matches and tournaments across the US Open, ATP and WTA tours. It's a taster, but nice to have added at no cost nonetheless.

Set-top boxes

The Sky Stream Puck

Sky's diminutive (little) streaming Puck has one big advantage right out the gate. It's tiny – about 1cm by 10cm. You can reasonably tuck it behind most wall-mounted TVs, so you'll never need to actually see it or worry about where to store it. If you're using it over Wi-Fi, the fact that you don't need a satellite dish for Sky Stream means you're only going to need the included power cable and the included HDMI cable. It's all very neat.

Mainly though, its biggest selling point is that you no longer need a satellite dish to get Sky TV, just a reasonably competent internet connection – also available from Sky and there's money to be saved by bundling. The little 'Puck' is capable of 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos, but you'll need to pay more to have these added onto your package (in typical Sky style).

Sky Stream Puck specifications

Here's a quick look at some of the Sky Stream Puck's specs and features:

• 4K HDR support – Enjoy stunning visual quality with high-resolution and high dynamic range content (with add-on subscription)
• Dolby Atmos ready – Immerse yourself in cinematic soundscapes with Dolby Atmos audio support
• HDMI 2.1 – Benefit from the latest HDMI standard for enhanced audio and video connectivity
• Ethernet – Connect your device directly to your network for stable and fast wired internet
• Wi-Fi – Stay connected wirelessly to your network for convenience and flexibility
• Voice remote – Control your streaming experience using voice commands for added convenience
• 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8cm – Compact and sleek design that fits well in any entertainment setup
• One-year warranty – Enjoy peace of mind with a one-year warranty for your device
• Anthracite Black – Stylish color option that complements various interior aesthetics

Sky Glass – the other, other Sky TV option

We won't go into excruciating detail on this one – no need. Sky Glass is the same as Sky Stream with one important difference. Well, two, but the main one gives rise to the second. It comes with a TV. Yes, an actual physical screen with what is essentially a Sky Stream Puck built into it.

That other difference? The contract length. If you opt for Sky Glass, you're opting for a service that includes a moderately expensive television, and it's going to take Sky quite a long time to recover the cost of that. Which is why Sky Glass contracts are an excruciatingly long 48 months (four years!). Whether this is the right choice for you or not, only you can decide.

Sky has just recently updated Sky Glass to Sky Glass Gen 2 – a more up to date TV with better picture and sound quality. Tech-heads can read our lowdown here.

Add-ons

Sky Cinema

Sky Cinema (previously referred to as Sky Movies) is Sky's perennial movie offering. It consists of 11 movie channels showing movies around the clock, plus access to around a thousand movies on demand (you'll need an internet connection) at any given time.

It's not all new stuff. To keep things fresh, Sky likes to rotate all the classics throughout the year as well as making bunches of films available around certain themes. For example, when a new Bond film is coming out, Sky Cinema will often put out some of the Bond films to date to watch for free. Maybe even all of them. Or in mid-February, you'll find there is invariably a 'Valentine' collection.

Sky Cinema is a worthwhile add-on for movie fans, but with Sky Box Sets and Netflix already included Sky Stream Ultimate, there will be some duplication here, so we’d advise thinking carefully before signing up.

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Sky Sports

Does this add-on not speak for itself? Football, cricket, rugby, boxing, NFL, golf, Formula 1. You know if you love the sport enough to pay the large monthly fee on this one. It costs about twice as much as Sky Cinema thanks to the extortionate licensing fees Sky has to pay, primarily for the Premier League.

TNT Sports

Sky offers the full suite of TNT Sports channels as an add-on for a pretty substantial additional monthly cost. Sport is by far the most expensive type of programming to add to your package.

Sky Kids

For very little, Sky will let you bolt on not only 11 additional kids channels but also on-demand access to over 5,000 episodes of classic and current kids' TV shows. If you do have children in the household, this is a no-brainer.

Sky Multiroom (Sky Whole Home)

With Sky Stream you'll need to do two things to get multiroom. First, you'll have to add on Sky's 'Whole Home pack' (£12 per month at the time of writing). Second, you'll have to buy additional Sky Stream Pucks at around £40 per puck, though the first additional Puck is free. Simply enough, but potentially it's going to add up.

UHD & Dolby Atmos

If you want these technologies being pumped out of your set-top box or puck, you'll need to pay extra for them. There's a narrow justification for this from Sky's end, we suppose. Higher-end audio and high resolution video requires more download speed (bandwidth) and causes more strain on their servers (the machines sending you the video). That costs money, and it's not entirely unlike competing services which also demand you choose a top-tier package level to get these high-tech features.

Packages and bundles

Bundles with broadband

Sky offers both standard and fibre broadband packages that you can choose to bundle up with your Sky TV package. There are a few good reasons you might want to bundle up (one bill, less hassle etc.) but the number one reason has to be cost. Bundles are notoriously cheaper compared to what you'd have to pay if you separated out broadband, TV and phone between different providers. Best advice we can give is to always consider a bundle first.

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TV on its own

Sky is unique in offering TV on its own. In comparison, Virgin Media TV comes through the same cable as its broadband, which is why you cannot get Virgin Media TV without broadband.

Not only can you just sign up for Sky TV only, but these solo packages work in exactly the same ways as the ones that come bundled with broadband: you get the Essential or Ultimate package, then you add on anything else you want, from UHD and Dolby Atmos to Sky Sports. Simple.

Our verdict: Excellent

Sky continues to lead the pack when it comes to digital TV. With the Sky Stream Ultimate TV package now including Netflix, Sky Box Sets, Sky Sports+, and Indian and Asian channels as standard, as well as the 30-day catch-up service. And the ability to get a bit less for less money in the form of Sky Stream Essential TV is certainly a welcome addition.

Ultimately, Sky offers a lot for not much – which also happens to be what just about all of us want. Just be aware that the price can quickly add up when you start adding premium channels, ad-free viewing, 4K, or multiroom.

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