Bundling together your broadband, TV and telephone services can save you money and save you the hassle of dealing with three separate companies.
We’ve done some research (March 2022) to find out which broadband, phone and TV providers have the best bundles.
BEST ALL-ROUNDER
1. Virgin Media Bigger Bundle 4/5 stars
Average download speed: 362Mbps
No. of channels: 190+
Calls: Unlimited weekend calls to UK landlines and Virgin Mobile numbers. Inclusive weekend calls to 0870 numbers
Cost: £49/month
For £49 per month, Virgin Media offers ultrafast broadband at speeds of up to an average of 362Mbps, around 200 TV channels and inclusive weekend calls to UK landlines and Virgin Mobile phone numbers.
Be warned, however, the price almost doubles to £91 per month after 18 months, so you’ll want to be ready to switch to a cheaper deal at that point. Also, Virgin Media’s cable broadband is only available to around 54% of UK premises, so you may not be eligible, depending on where you live.
BEST FOR BROADBAND
2. Sky Ultimate TV, Netflix & Ultrafast Broadband 4/5 stars
Average download speed: 400Mbps (minimum)
No. of channels: 300+
Calls: Line rental only. PAYG calls
Cost: £60/month
Sky says you should get download speeds of between 470 and 515Mbps, but guarantees you’ll get at least 400Mbps. This being Sky, you’ll also get hundreds of channels, as well as Netflix access - although it’s capped at below full HD (480p) resolution. Line rental is included in the package, but calls are charged on a per-minute basis.
If you can’t get Virgin Media cable and you want both a large selection of channels and fast download speeds, this could be the package for you.
BEST FOR TV
3. Sky TV, Netflix & Superfast Broadband 4/5 stars
Average download speed: 36Mbps
No. of channels: 350+
Calls: Line rental only. PAYG calls
Cost: £44/month
If a wide selection of channels is more important to you than download speeds or inclusive calls, Sky’s £44 per month tariff comes with more than 350 stations plus access to Netflix.
You can’t stream in full 1080p HD or ultra-HD 4K resolution, but you’ll get channels like Sky One, Sky Atlantic, MTV, Discovery, Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports Racing and Comedy Central. However, the package does not include channels showing live sport or latest film premieres.
BEST FOR PHONE
4. NOW Super Fibre + Cinema Membership 4/5 stars
Average download speed: 72Mbps (minimum)
No. of channels: 11
Calls: Unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles
Cost: £29.99/month
This package doesn’t offer the most TV channels - though it does give you Sky’s 11 movie channels, including Premiere, Hits, Greats, Disney, Family, Action, Comedy, Romance, Thriller, Sci-Fi and Horror, and Select.
It also doesn’t offer the fastest download speeds at 72Mbps, but it does feature free calls to any UK landline or mobile number at any time. This is far more generous than the rest of the deals on our list.
BEST FOR SPORT
5. Sky TV, Sky Sports & Superfast Broadband 4/5 stars
Average download speed: 59Mbps
No. of channels: 300
Calls: Line rental only. PAYG calls.
Cost: £59/month
If catching the latest live sport is your thing, Sky’s eight sports channels ( are included in this package, boasting live coverage of more than 400 football matches, plus live F1, golf and cricket.
Broadband speeds are around the UK average at 59Mbps, but the package doesn’t come with inclusive calls - you get line rental only and will be charged for making calls on a pay as you go basis.
Methodology
We compared a range of major broadband providers’ deals in terms of their download speeds, number of television channels and inclusive telephone calls. We ranked them according to the value they offered in relation to their monthly cost.
Finding the best broadband, TV and phone deals
It’s generally the case that the more you pay each month, the faster your connection will be, the more channels you’ll get and the more free calls you’ll get. It’s a very competitive market though, which means providers have to outbid each other for your business.
Some of the bundles that appear cheaper will lock you into a contract for longer, such as 24 or 36 months. You might be happy to sign up for an extended period, but remember that during that time you’ll be unable to take advantage of better deals elsewhere.
Also, bear in mind that not all services will be available to every household. Virgin Media’s cable broadband service, for example, is only available to around 54% of UK premises, so while prices may be attractive, you can only take advantage of deals where you have access.
Remember to read a bundle’s terms carefully before signing up. If a bundle offers free weekend calls, check if that includes calls to numbers - and how much calls cost on weekdays.
Also, if you’re offered a subscription to a streaming service, check what kind of access you’ll get. For example, Sky’s bundles that come with Netflix cap streaming at 480p resolution and limit the number of simultaneous devices you can use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to have a landline for broadband?
Not these days, no. Today’s broadband technology transfers data over fibre optic lines, rather than phone lines, either from your home to your nearest roadside telephone cabinet or all the way to your nearest telephone exchange. In either case, you don’t need a phone line.
How much is Sky broadband, TV and phone?
It depends on the package you choose, but we found deals for between £44 and £60 a month. That includes line rental only, which means call charges come at additional cost.
How is broadband speed measured?
Broadband is measured in the amount of data that can be transferred per second. The units of data we use is megabits. At 37 megabits per second (Mbps), which is the lowest broadband speed considered ‘superfast’, you could download a single audio track in one second.
The national average download speed is 79Mbps, but the higher the number, the faster the broadband.
