[Tengocity]

I've realised that I barely watch anything on Sky these days, just the F1, maybe some of the Major Golf tournaments. Hardly any films either. We have Prime, Netflix and Disney+, and they seem like much better value than the £100 per month we pay for Sky (out of contract).

Looking for someone to point me in the right direction to be able to:

Watch terrestrial channels plus catch up services, and record a programme, in at least HD
Get Sky Sports F1 channel (Now TV?)
Ideally watch these on any of 3 TVs around the house, with access to all channels and providers via one device, like the Amazon Fire TV box we use currently for Prime, Netflix and Disney.

Open to ideas and suggestions. TIA.

[Pentland]

Sky with Netflix, Disney+ and Sports is only around £53pm at the mo. You’ll need to ad prime but all apps are on sky so no need for sticks.
I’d call them and see what’s on offer.

[Blacktemplar]

I'm in a similar position, although with Virgin. We also have Netflix, Prime and Disney+ and generally only watch terrestrial programming outwith that, though I have BT Sport for the rugby. Even at that, I tend to just watch the highlights as I don't generally have time to watch live games.

Have never had Sky Sports, so am used to watching C4 coverage of the F1, though who knows how long that's going to last.

The thing that hacks me off with Virgin is that while I can get the ITV channels in SD free to air, the HD versions are part of an add-on bundle. Mostly not an issue, but watching cycling in SD on ITV channels is painful.

I'm almost inclined to go full Freeview and watch anything 'special' on pay-per-view as there's less & less available without paying stupid money these days.

[un1eash]

As above look at what deals they can do on Sky Q, currently pay £44 including Netflix but no sports or movies. We did scrap it at one point and may consider the same again but the ease of use and multi room Q offers is second to none.

[SkyJawa]

I've got Sky TV, BB, Phone except for sports and paying £70pm all in. Phoned them up and threatened to cancel, I was given £65 but I was paying £13 pm to Netflix for the UHD subscription which they told me you can bundle in to sky for only an extra £5pm.

[davyk31]

I dropped Sky about a year ago and always intended to get something set up for recording but haven’t actually seen the need. Quite happy with Freeview and then Netflix at £10 per month gives us all the TV we want to watch.

[xenon]

Echo the above that the Sky cancellation department is worth a shot. We have full UHD Sky (apart from movies but with Sport) but with Netflix included and three Sky Q boxes and it's around £65. As mentioned, Sky Q is just so easy and seamless that's got value to me in its own right. Zero faff.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Sky with Netflix, Disney+ and Sports is only around £53pm at the mo. You’ll need to ad prime but all apps are on sky so no need for sticks.
I’d call them and see what’s on offer.

I'd be interested to see how that breaks down?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by un1eash

As above look at what deals they can do on Sky Q, currently pay £44 including Netflix but no sports or movies. We did scrap it at one point and may consider the same again but the ease of use and multi room Q offers is second to none.

The Sky Q is nice, along with the recording facility and series link, as it does make life easy.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

I'm in a similar position, although with Virgin. We also have Netflix, Prime and Disney+ and generally only watch terrestrial programming outwith that, though I have BT Sport for the rugby. Even at that, I tend to just watch the highlights as I don't generally have time to watch live games.

Have never had Sky Sports, so am used to watching C4 coverage of the F1, though who knows how long that's going to last.

The thing that hacks me off with Virgin is that while I can get the ITV channels in SD free to air, the HD versions are part of an add-on bundle. Mostly not an issue, but watching cycling in SD on ITV channels is painful.

I'm almost inclined to go full Freeview and watch anything 'special' on pay-per-view as there's less & less available without paying stupid money these days.

Yes, similar situations. I'm hacked off paying so much for Sky sports when all I really watch is the F1. With Sky I can get the F1 only for £17 v £30 for the whole sports package. On Now TV you have to take the whole sports package for a month for £33, or a tenner for one day's access. However, we wouldn't then be paying for a million other channels I'm not interested in.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by davyk31

I dropped Sky about a year ago and always intended to get something set up for recording but haven’t actually seen the need. Quite happy with Freeview and then Netflix at £10 per month gives us all the TV we want to watch.

That's interesting. Mrs T and I were just discussing how much one needs it if everything is on catch up.

[aubs]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes, similar situations. I'm hacked off paying so much for Sky sports when all I really watch is the F1. With Sky I can get the F1 only for £17 v £30 for the whole sports package. On Now TV you have to take the whole sports package for a month for £33, or a tenner for one day's access. However, we wouldn't then be paying for a million other channels I'm not interested in.

NowTV normally do an offer at the start of football or F1 seasons, typically works out about £25 per month from memory. May need to add boost too if you want to watch on different devices at the same time (and better picture and sound). I have NowTV as an app on my LG TV so really easy to access, and can use Now TV sticks for other devices if needed.

[Tengocity]

From a little nosing around it feels like there are two options based on keeping Netflix, Disney+, Prime subscriptions:

Stick with Sky, access everything through Sky Q box
£68 per month altogether for basic package - no films or sports
£85 per month to add in F1
£105 per month for all sports and movies


Move to Amazon boxes (makes sense since we are Prime users and already have Echos and Fire sticks)
£45 per month for main channels and movies, no sports
£59 per month for above plus all sports (no individual F1 option that I could see)
£80 per month for all movies and sports

So basically the Sky Q benefits (recording, series link, live pause etc) are about £25ish per month over similar (not quite like for like) packages. All would give HD access.

I could possibly squeeze a little more discount out of Sky, but it won't be £25, and it'll tie me in for 18 months, where the other option can be cancelled anytime. Because we don't have a phone line or broadband (we use 4G internet) we don't have a bigger package to leverage.

Currently inclined towards the Now TV and Amazon Fire TV route.

[SteveChester]

I was paying £25 pm for Now TV Tengocity no contract either so will start paying again in March when the F1 starts - think you have to pay £2 pm to watch in 1080p and more than one device concurrently.

Pre pandemic they did use to do a F1 season pass for £195 which was a bargain but haven't done that since the 2019 season.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Currently inclined towards the Now TV and Amazon Fire TV route.

In your circumstances I would agree.

[Lynxi2k]

Have you contacted sky directly to see what discounts they can do? I am on £85 per month for all channels(minus movies) including multiroom, netflix, disney + and BB + phone.

Whenever costs increase I just phone and see what they can do and normally end up paying between £75-85 depending on discounts available.

The same package online is much more expensive, so definitely worth a phone call.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'd be interested to see how that breaks down?

I hadn’t included some of the things you later clarified but the current face value prices are below.
I have all below except Disney and sport but I do have a broadband pack and I’m paying £81. Always good to talk so phone them.

Sky and Netflix £26
Multi screen £15
Sports £20
Cinema £11
UHD £7
Disney+ £8
Prime £7
Total £94

[JeetjeMina]

IPTV is your solution.
A, IPTV Android receiver and a good subscription is all you need to watch all packages/countries
Bought the best receiver available (Formuler) 135 euro + subscription from a well known provider. A little more expensive then the el cheapos but it works very fast and like a charm.

[xenon]

Each to their own but those who steal subscription-based TV drive up the price for those that pay legitimately. If you're relaxed about stealing it's certainly the most cost-effective option.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by JeetjeMina

IPTV is your solution.
A, IPTV Android receiver and a good subscription is all you need to watch full S*y + basically all packages/countries
Bought the best receiver available (Formuler) 135 euro + subscription from a well known provider. A little more expensive then the el cheapos but it works very fast and like a charm.

And if you want to power that receiver for free, just hook into the nearest lamppost
Oh and run a line from the local pub so you can have a free beer while enjoying the F1.

[Tengocity]

I have no idea what IPTV is, but doesn't sound like it's for me. I fundamentally don't watch that much TV, so certainly not worth the hassle of that route.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Lynxi2k

Have you contacted sky directly to see what discounts they can do? I am on £85 per month for all channels(minus movies) including multiroom, netflix, disney + and BB + phone.

Whenever costs increase I just phone and see what they can do and normally end up paying between £75-85 depending on discounts available.

The same package online is much more expensive, so definitely worth a phone call.

Originally Posted by Pentland

I hadn’t included some of the things you later clarified but the current face value prices are below.
I have all below except Disney and sport but I do have a broadband pack and I’m paying £81. Always good to talk so phone them.

Sky and Netflix £26
Multi screen £15
Sports £20
Cinema £11
UHD £7
Disney+ £8
Prime £7
Total £94

I spoke with them this morning, explored some options, and that's where my prices came from. In the end I decided to cut the Sport and Movies for just now, to see if I miss them, whilst I investigate options.