Sky Essential TV: Price, features and channels

Dan Howdle • June 16th, 2025

Sky Essential TV is Sky's entry-level television package, delivered via broadband on its modern Sky Stream puck. It's designed for households who want the premium experience and features of Sky's hardware, including access to the coveted Sky Atlantic channel and a Netflix subscription, but without the higher cost of a full channel line-up. In this guide, we'll cover the key features, who it's for, and what we think of the package overall.

Key features

Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect with Sky Essential TV.

Price	£15 per month
Upfront cost	£0.00
Channels	100+, including Freeview channels, Sky Atlantic, Sky Sports Mix, and Discovery+
Streaming apps	Includes Netflix (Standard with Ads plan). Access to Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, etc.
Hardware	Sky Stream puck with voice-controlled remote
Broadband requirement	Minimum 25Mbps from any provider (30Mbps for UHD)
Contract length	24 months or 31-day rolling contract options

Who is Sky Essential TV for?

Sky Essential TV is an ideal choice for a few specific types of viewer. It bridges the gap between basic Freeview and a full, premium TV subscription.

• Fans of Sky Originals – If the main reason you want Sky is for exclusive, high-quality shows on Sky Atlantic like House of the Dragon or Gangs of London, this is the cheapest way to get it
• Streaming-first households – For those who primarily use apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, the Sky Stream puck elegantly combines all these services with live TV into a single, voice-searchable interface. This package includes Netflix and Discovery+ as standard
• Those without a satellite dish – Because it works over any broadband connection, it's perfect for people who can't or don't want a satellite dish installed
• Cost-conscious buyers – At £15 per month, it provides access to Sky's ecosystem and its most popular channel at a much lower entry price than the full Sky Ultimate TV package

How does Sky Essential TV compare?

What's included with Sky Essential TV?

Sky Stream Puck and remote

The service is delivered through the Sky Stream puck, a small box that connects to your TV via an HDMI cable. It's incredibly discreet and powerful for its size.

• 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos sound – The hardware is capable of outputting video in stunning 4K HDR (including Dolby Vision) and supports immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Note that a monthly subscription add-on is required to unlock this feature for Sky content
• Voice Controlled remote – The included remote features a microphone for voice commands, allowing you to search for shows, actors, or apps with your voice
• Playlist feature – Instead of a traditional hard drive for recording, you can add shows from live TV or on-demand apps to a personal "Playlist" in the cloud to watch anytime
• Connectivity – The puck can connect to your broadband via either Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port for the most stable connection
• Dimensions – The puck is very compact at just 10.8cm x 10.8cm x 1.8cm

Channels and apps

Sky Essential is a curated package that focuses on delivering the most popular channels at a lower price point.

• Live TV – You get over 100 channels, including all the standard Freeview channels (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 etc.), plus premium channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Sports Mix, Sky News, and the Discovery suite of channels
• Netflix included – The package comes with a 'Netflix Standard with Ads' subscription (worth £4.99 per month), which you can upgrade to an ad-free or premium plan for an extra fee
• Discovery+ included – You also get access to the Discovery+ Basic streaming service at no extra cost
• Optional add-ons – You can add premium packs like Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, and Sky Kids to the Essential package at the same price as on the Ultimate TV plan

What we think

Sky Essential TV is an excellent and compelling package for the right customer. It successfully lowers the barrier to entry for Sky's premium ecosystem, offering the award-winning Sky Atlantic and the slick Sky Stream interface for a very competitive price.

The inclusion of Netflix and Discovery+ as standard makes it outstanding value for money. While it lacks the breadth of entertainment channels found in the full Sky Ultimate TV package, it provides more than enough content for users who were previously only watching Freeview or for those who get most of their shows from streaming apps.

If you want the best of Sky's original programming and a top-tier streaming experience without committing to a high monthly cost, Sky Essential TV is one of the strongest options on the market.

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