Your guide to Sky Stream
There used to be a choice, but Sky Stream is now the default way to get Sky TV in the UK. In a nutshell, it provides a simpler, more flexible and often significantly cheaper way to get full access to Sky’s entire content library without requiring a satellite dish or the mess of cables running through your home. So let explore the specific benefits.
Before we begin, it’s worth noting that Sky’s streaming technology comes in two main types – Sky Stream (which uses a compact, plug-and-play set-top box called the Sky Stream Puck) and Sky Glass (a 4K smart TV with the Sky Stream hardware inside it). Beyond that, everything else we think you need to know to make the best choice is outlined below.
Sky Stream packages and benefits
Getting started with Sky Stream is fairly straightforward, though the menu of extra channels, streaming upgrades and hardware add-ons can become confusing quite quickly. So, rather than getting bogged down in every minor combination, let’s look at the core structure.
Sky Stream + Essential TV + Netflix
No dish neededNext day deliveryStream live TVPrice may change again during minimum term
-
Broadband not included
100+ TV channels
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£15.00 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
Prices may change during contract.
Sky Stream + Ultimate TV + Netflix
No dish neededNext day deliveryStream live TV
-
Broadband not included
150+ TV channels
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£24.00 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
Prices may change during contract.
All Sky Stream packages
Here's what comes as standard with every Sky Stream and Sky Glass package:
Optional Extras & Add-ons
Opting for the entry-level package can give you a surprisingly comprehensive channel lineup at a relatively low starting price. However, when you start adding premium channel bolt-ons, multiroom feature and picture quality upgrades, your monthly cost will adjust accordingly. Accordingly upwards.
While key bundle variations appear in our comparison table at the top of this page, you’ll also encounter several other optional extras during the sign-up process. Although these do change over time, here's a general summary of what you can add and how those extra costs break down:
Note: Prices change constantly, so this table should be viewed as a general guide. Add-ons are generally available on both 24-month and flexible 31-day contracts. Price ranges are shown where we expect variable pricing dependent on factors such as these contract lengths, or bundle discounts. Unlike most providers with fixed annual increases, Sky reserves the right to increase pricing at any time. But in this circumstance you have the right to leave without penalty.
Why Choose Sky Stream or Sky Glass?
Why choose a cloud-streamed TV platform like Sky Stream or Sky glass? The satellite TV system was working perfectly well wasn't it? Well, aside from bypassing the need for an ugly (and inevitably rusting) dish on your wall, streaming directly from the internet offers several key advantages:
- Next Day Delivery and Easy Set up: Order Sky Stream on its own today, and the Sky Stream Puck usually arrives via next-day courier. You just plug it into power and HDMI, connect to your home Wi-Fi and start watching. No engineer visits required. Unless you're a new customer to Sky broadband, you could be watching Sky TV tomorrow.
- Ultra-Compact Hardware: The Sky Stream Puck is tiny (about 10cm by 10cm). It can slide behind wall-mounted TVs or onto narrow shelves without creating clutter. Less is more.
- Intuitive User Interface: Live TV, catch-up apps and streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer) are all presented via a single, simple home screen. You can even use voice search.
- 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
- 4K HDR & Dolby Atmos Ready: Sky Stream fully supports 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Atmos spatial audio (remember though, that requires the UHD/Dolby Atmos add-on, plus a compatible 4K TV and audio setup).
- Flexible Contract Options: Sky Stream offers an optional 31-day rolling contract version across most packages alongside the standard 24-month plan.
- 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 every other broadband and TV provider, which all require you to subscribe to their own broadband to use their TV boxes, Sky Stream works flawlessly over any broadband provider. Just bear in mind that you'll need a connection speed of at least 25Mbps.
Sky Stream and Sky Broadband
While you can run Sky Stream on any internet connection from whatever provider you choose, you can also bundle it directly with a Sky Broadband full fibre package. And, of course, Sky make it a cost-efficient option to do so – you can make a decent saving. Plus, they know that just for simplicity, most people would much rather just pay one bill.
Do I need Sky Broadband to get Sky Stream?
No. As we say, Sky is the only provider which offers both broadband and TV services to not insist you buy their broadband if you want their TV. Both Sky Stream and Sky Glass are what you might call 'connection-neutral'. Just feed them electricity and a fast enough Wi-Fi connection and you're good. If only more providers took this approach.
What are the benefits of Sky Broadband with Sky Stream?
So,although they don't insist you do this, bundling Sky's Broadband together with Sky Stream almost always lands you a discounted combined rate compared to buying broadband and TV separately from different providers. It also simplifies your household admin by keeping your internet, TV, and optional home phone line consolidated onto a single monthly bill.
Sky Stream Discounts, Rewards and Promotional Offers
Sky frequently runs promotional offers for new customers joining Sky Stream, Sky Glass, or combined broadband packages. The picture changes all the time, but the most common deals we see include:
- Reward cards: Pre-paid reward cards (usually offered via their partner GiftCloud) that you can claim online once your account has been active past the standard cancellation window. Generally, Sky promotes these exclusively on their broadband-only packages. But if you go through that route, you can add-on TV services on the Sky site. So you can have your cake, and eat it.
- Free gifts: These are rarer with Sky packages, but they do pop up occasionally. These are usually digital rewards such as a six-month subscription to Xbox Gamepass rather than physical items like headphones and smart 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.
- Discounted Introductory Rates: Lower monthly bills for a set period (such as half-price channel add-ons or discounted base tiers for the first 3 to 6 months of a 24-month contract).
The above is a general guide to the kind of promotions Sky offers. But far more commonly (particularly when it comes to their TV or Broadband and TV bundles) are simple price reductions. Often not even heralded as special offers, we see Sky frequently move pricing around meaning that if you're prepared to bide your time and keep an eye out, a suitable bundle may suddenly be available a much more attractive price. It can really pay to just keep looking with Sky TV.
Sky Stream installation
One of the best things about Sky Stream is just how easy it is to get it up and running:
Installing Sky Stream on its own
If you order Sky Stream as a standalone product, your Sky Stream Puck should arrive via next-day courier. You simply connect the HDMI cable to your TV, plug the puck into the wall, follow the on-screen Wi-Fi prompts, and log into your Sky account. Or create one, if you're new to the provider. You can literally be up and running within 24 hours of placing an order. FNo other TV provider makes things this quick and easy.ew
Installing Sky Stream with Sky Broadband
If you select a package that includes both Sky Stream or Glass and Sky Broadband, your hardware (the router and the Stream Puck or Sky Glass TV) usually arrives quiet quickly (although there have been delays for Sky Glass in the past). Switching broadband providers typically takes around 10 to 14 days to complete. But that's more or less standard for any UK fixed-line broadband provider.
Sky Whole Home (Multiroom for Sky Stream)
If you want to watch Sky in multiple rooms, Sky Stream uses a feature called Sky Whole Home (which replaces the old Sky Multiscreen system).
How Sky Whole Home works
To watch Sky Stream on additional TVs around your home, you'll need to subscribe to the Sky Whole Home monthly add-on (around £12 to £13 per month) and request extra Sky Stream Pucks for each room. Each additional Puck carries a standard one-off activation fee (currently £39.95 per box, although sometimes the first one is discounted). You can connect up to six Sky Stream Pucks to a single account across your home network.
One point to bear in mind here – despite that cost, you never actually 'own' the Sky pucks. They remain the property of Sky themselves and you'll need to return them if, or when, you decide to move away from Sky. There are hefty fees payable otherwise, so it's worth looking after them.
Sky Stream channels
Sky Stream gives you access to over 300 live channels alongside thousands of hours of on-demand content and integrated catch-up apps. The core package includes flagship entertainment channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Showcase, Sky Comedy, and Sky Documentaries, plus full Freeview lines in high definition.
For a detailed breakdown of every channel included in the standard plan—as well as those available via Sports, Cinema, and Kids add-ons—check out our complete Sky Stream channel guide.
