Your guide to Sky Stream
Dan Howdle
Sky Stream has been around for a while now. In a nutshell, it provides a different, cheaper, and in most ways better way of getting Sky TV that requires neither a satellite dish bolted onto your house nor the cabling mess that goes with it. We'll talk about the advantages further down the page.
Before we dive in, know this. There are a wide variety of configurations when it comes to Sky Stream, including two discrete ways to receive it on your home: Sky Stream, which uses the Sky Stream Puck (a small set-top box), and Sky Glass, an actual television offered in various screen sizes that has the Sky Stream tech built in. Beyond that, everything you need to know to select the right package for your needs is contained in this page.
Sky Stream packages and benefits
There are two forms of Sky Stream available: Sky Stream, and Sky Glass. And that's before we get into the many permutations, bundles and add-ons. It's quite the task to explain everything that's available and there's a good chance we'll all become lost along the way if we do that in writing. So instead, let's take a look from a wider perspective.
Sky
Sky Stream + Essential TV + Netflix
-
-
Monthly cost
£15.00
-
One-off cost
£0.00
-
TV channels
100+
-
HD channels
0
-
-
Monthly cost
£15.00
-
One-off cost
£0.00
-
Minimum contract length
24 months
-
£20.00 installation charge if a new line is required. Available to new customers only.
Sky
Sky Stream + Ultimate TV + Netflix
-
-
Monthly cost
£22.00
-
One-off cost
£0.00
-
TV channels
150+
-
HD channels
0
-
-
Monthly cost
£22.00
-
One-off cost
£0.00
-
Minimum contract length
24 months
-
Monthly cost after 24 months
£28.00
-
£20.00 installation charge if a new line is required. Available to new customers only.
All Sky Stream packages
Here's what comes as standard with every Sky Stream and Sky Glass package:
Optional extras
As you can see, opting for the entry-level option is pretty straightforward, and represents the cheapest way in. It's when you get into all the optional extras that things start to get both more complex, and more expensive.
Some optional extras you will find bundled into the package variations in the comparison table at the top of this page. This allows you to quickly compare how the cost will shake down. However, there are more options and extras that you'll find during the sign-up process with Sky. Here's what you can add, and what it'll cost at the time of writing:
Pricing correct at the time of writing. add-ons such as Sky Sports and Sky Cinema also have one-month rolling contract options, which cost a little more. Prices change regularly, so this table should be viewed as a snapshot.
Sky Stream benefits
So why get Sky Stream (or indeed Sky Glass?). What's wong with the old satellite TV system we've all known and loved for getting on for 35 years? You may be surprised to learn that there are oodles of benefit beyond simply not having to bolt an ugly dish to your house. Here's a look:
- Next Day Delivery/Installation: Enjoy the convenience of next-day delivery and installation of Sky Stream, ensuring a quick setup process. You can literally be watching Sky Stream the day after ordering unless you're getting a deal that bundles Sky Broadband
- Ease of Installation: Easy installation process, allowing you to set up Sky Stream effortlessly and in record time
- Functionality: The Sky Stream Puck or Sky Glass TV are very intuitive and easy to use
- Size of Sky Stream Puck: The Puck is extremely small (about 10cm by 10cm), and thin enough to slip behind you telly even, in most cases, if it's wall mounted
- Tech Features: Everything present and correct, with capability for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos sound (requires monthly add-on, though – also bear in mind you need Atmos speakers for Atmos and a 4K HDR TV for 4K HDR)
- Low Price: Sky Stream is an absolute steal at entry level. It does get more expensive as you add some of the more desirable features, however
- Short Contracts: Excluding Sky Glass, which requires a 48-month subscription to spread the cost of the television, Sky Stream offers an optional one-month rolling contract version at a slightly elevated monthly cost
- No Need for Sky Broadband: Unlike BT or Virgin Media you do not have to take out Sky's own broadband to get Sky Stream
Sky Stream and Sky Broadband
You can bundle in any Sky Broadband package/speed with both Sky Stream and Sky Glass. But, importantly, unlike its competitors, Sky won't make you. You can gt Sky Stream or Sky Glass on its own without the need for Sky Broadband. Bundles can be selected from the comparison above by narrowing the search using the various filters. You will save money bundling Sky Broadband and Sky Stream together.
Do I need Sky Broadband to get Sky Stream?
No. Unlike BT (EE TV) and Virgin Media (Virgin TV), Sky will not force you to take out Sky Broadband in order to get Sky TV (Sky Stream). However, you can save money by bundling your Sky Stream and Sky Broadband together, so if you're in the market for both it's a good idea to do so.
What are the benefits of Sky Broadband with Sky Stream?
Sky Broadband and TV bundles that include either Sky Stream or Sky Glass are cheaper than if you bought them separately and likely cheaper than if you continued with your existing broadband deal and took out Sky Stream separately. It's also just that little bit more convenient getting a single bill from the same provider each month.
Sky Stream discounts, cashback and gifts
Depending on when you look, you'll often find a range of deals on Sky Stream, Sky Glass and Sky bundles that include broadband designed to tempt in new customers. These are typically:
- Cashback rewards: These offer a reward card you can spend anywhere that you'll need to claim after you're set up and your cancellation period has expired (so about a month after installation)
- Gift cards: Same as reward cards, but you'll have to spend these in a specific shop or online outlet. Usually you'll have a choice of card when you sign up – Amazon, John Lewis etc.
- Free gifts: These are rarer with Sky packages, but they do occur occasionally. These are usually digital rewards such as a six-month subscription to Xbox Gamepass rather than physical items like headphones and smat speakers you sometimes get with other providers
- 'X' months free: Sometimes you'll see offers where you get your first few months free of charge. Sometimes these cover the whole package, sometimes only one part of it
- Lower price for 'X' months: Similar to above, but you'll pay less for the set period – usually half price because it makes a more easily understood headline
Sky Stream installation
One of the best things about Sky Stream is just how easy it is to get installed:
Installing Sky Stream on its own
If you order Sky Stream on its own today, you can be watching it tomorrow. It's that fast because there's no need for an engineer visit. Sky will send you the Puck on next-day delivery, you plug it in, connect it to your wifi, set up your account and you're away. No other TV provider makes things this quick and easy.
Installing Sky Stream with Sky Broadband
Things are a little different if you order a bundle because as above you should get your Sky Stream Puck(s) or Sky Glass TV very quickly, while it takes about two weeks to switch your broadband provider. It is completely safe to go ahead and set up your Sky Stream on your existing broadband connection in the meantime, but of course, you'll be waiting two weeks or thereabouts to have everything you ordered up and running.
Sky Whole Home (Sky Stream multiscreen)
Previously called Sky Multiscreen, multiroom or some other variant, piping Sky Stream to more than one TV is now called 'Sky Whole Home'.
Sky Whole Home: How it works
Basically, every extra TV you want to bring Sky Stream to requires an extra Sky Stream Puck. Each Puck has a one-off 'set-up' cost of £39.95. In addition to that you'll need to subscribe to the Sky Whole Home add-on at an additional £13 per month. You cna have up to six Pucks total, and here's an example of how that breaks down:
Sky Stream channels
Woah there! This is a huge question. There are some 200-odd channels available to Sky Stream subscribers, and we're pretty sure you don't want to sit poring through that mind-boggling list. If you do, however, we have a guide showing every single channel you get and every single channel you don't.
See our full list of Sky Stream channels.
