Compare TV & Broadband

Yes, it can save money to bundle services like TV and broadband together. The best way to save money is to have a clear idea which services you might need before you look at any comparison of deals.

When you compare the best deals for TV, broadband and phone bundles, it's worth noting that getting these services from the same provider is often cheaper.

However, don't be seduced into signing up for services that you wouldn't usually purchase, such as premium TV channels you'll never watch.

One major decision to make when you're looking at the best broadband and TV bundles is how fast your internet needs to be.

The price difference between standard home broadband and fibre broadband can sometimes feel prohibitive or, alternatively, special offers make it more attractive.

Remember, too, that the quoted prices of all TV and broadband bundles is only fixed for the minimum term of a contract and so prices will likely increase afterwards.

If you're reluctant or unlikely to switch after the minimum term, keep an eye on the column that gives the price for the minimum term and the price beyond it.

For TV and broadband deals with premium TV channels, this can sometimes be a leap.

Another way of getting the best value when you're looking at broadband and TV packages is to see whether suitable mobile deals are also available with that provider.

Providers often offer mobile deals for existing customers, including cheaper prices and perks such as extra mobile data or access to premium content on the move.

Choose a broadband speed based on how much you use the internet and what for. Light users who only browse the web will be fine with basic broadband offering speeds around 10Mb, however most average households will use the Internet to stream TV or films, and will want a fibre package offering speeds between 30Mb and 70Mb. Larger households and those who play games online may want to consider ultrafast packages with speeds of 100Mb or more.

The general rule of thumb when you compare home broadband and fibre broadband deals is that larger households with more devices need faster speeds.

Small households with only one or two devices online at any time might be satisfied with standard home broadband delivered by ASDL copper wires.

This is the basic option offered by many home broadband providers and is usually around 10Mb (megabits per second).

While this connection might be satisfactory for users who don't stream much, some customers might find they need fibre broadband to fully utilise their TV package.

For instance, pay TV services from BT, EE and Now TV all stream content over the home broadband connection.

Slower connections of 10Mb or thereabouts might struggle with the demands of frequent pay tv streaming, and that can have a knock-on effect to the rest of your household's home broadband experience.

Opting for a fibre broadband package means that your internet is delivered by fibre optic cables instead of copper wires, so it's faster and more capable of dealing with streaming.

It's worth noting that some premium TV channels are only accessible if you have fibre broadband, especially those in HD (high definition).

This may mean that you'll need to take fibre broadband to access some of the content you want anyway.

Contracts for broadband and TV packages are usually for a minimum of 12 months, with some of the best broadband and TV bundles tying you into a 18-month minimum contract, and can be as long as 24 months. Our comparison search allows you to order by contract length if that's important to you.

Remember when you compare TV and broadband that minimum term contract prices are designed to be as enticing as possible and the prices will rise following the minimum term.

If you're willing to switch to find the next top deals at the end of your minimum term, that's fine, but remember that there are fewer TV packages available than home broadband ones.

That means that, while it might be relatively simple to switch home broadband following the end of a minimum term contract, it can be difficult to find another TV provider with exactly the premium TV channels you're used to.

This is especially relevant for sports fans, with the different pay TV providers having various sports packages at different rates.

For customers unwilling or unable to sign up to a 12 or 18-month contract, on-demand services like Netflix or Now TV passes might be an option.

These are available on a monthly basis, allowing more flexibility than on traditional pay TV contracts.

However, it's worth remembering that the premium content on these options is often more limited and it doesn't operate like a genuine pay TV subscription.

Unlike home broadband, where the speeds are often similar across providers, there are usually huge differences between TV packages from different pay TV providers.

Consequently, the prices of TV and broadband bundles are often based more on the number of premium TV channels and content included rather than the home broadband element.

Virgin Media and Sky offer the largest number of live channels and premium content split down into several content packages with increased numbers of premium TV channels in each.

While it can be tempting to look at TV packages in terms of how much you get for your money, remember that just because those channels are available, it doesn't mean you'll watch them.

Look at the differences in premium TV channels between packages and providers to work out whether those channels genuinely interest you or whether you're opting for them because the special offers look good.

BT and EE are two providers that offer more on-demand based viewing, with set-top boxes that can record Freeview channels and include some premium content.

The difference between these types of TV packages and the ones loaded with premium TV channels is reflected in the pricing.

Now TV is different again as subsidiary of Sky with access to Sky's premium channels operating in a primarily on-demand fashion.

While on-demand services seem to offer more flexibility, when you compare TV and broadband packages, make sure you know exactly what you're signing up to.

Line rental is included with all the TV and broadband deals listed on the Choose website unless it explicit says otherwise.

Under the "home phone" heading on each listing, you'll find a clear answer to this question, allowing you to make an informed decision on your home broadband package.

It used to be common practice for providers to list their top deals without line renal included in the price, but this is no longer the case.

Since 2016, home broadband providers have been forced to show their all-inclusive costs up-front without separating out broadband and line rental.

This ensures customers get a clear idea of the costs when they look at broadband options and increases the transparency of providers' pricing structure.

It is possible to get home broadband without a home phone line from some providers and, equally, you can get pay TV without home phone from some too.

However, it's important to note that none of the providers in the market today offer TV and broadband bundles which don't also include home phone line rental.

So, be aware when you compare TV and broadband deals that switching will include taking your home phone line from your new provider too.

The type of set box you receive with your subscription depends on the broadband and TV package you sign up for.

Often, more expensive TV packages will come with more advanced set top boxes that offer more storage and access to higher definition services such as 4k.

All customers will receive at least one set top box with their TV descriptions and, on the Choose site, you'll find frequent reviews of these to help inform your decision.

To expand pay TV viewing to other rooms, customers will need to purchase multiroom subscriptions alongside their TV packages.

These sometimes come with additional installation fees and you may be limited on the type of box you can obtain as your secondary one.

Learn more about multiroom subscriptions in our dedicated guide.

It's worth noting that some providers such as Sky, BT and EE also offer access to TV content online through their tablet or mobile apps.

However, be sure to read the small print if you're going to use these services as some channels aren't available on mobile apps or devices for contractual reasons.

Multiple set top boxes and mobile apps are two options for customers wanting a multiroom experience in their home, so check both options before you sign up online for TV and broadband bundles.

Also remember that faster unlimited broadband will be required if you're running multiple live streams at the same time.

The first thing to do is to compare TV and broadband packages to work out which TV and broadband bundles are right for your household.

It's important to undertake a postcode search using the Choose tool above to show which providers' services are available in your area.

While some of the top deals might be with providers like Virgin Media, customers can't always access them because the infrastructure isn't available yet.

Once you've chosen your package and clicked through to the website of your provider, you can order online to secure your new broadband and TV deal.

For the most part, your new provider will undertake much of the work of switching.

If you're signing up with a provider that uses the Openreach network such as BT, TalkTalk, EE and Sky, you won't have to contact them to cancel your home broadband connection.

However, if you're switching from a provider operating their own infrastructure such as Virgin Media, you will have to contact them to confirm you're leaving.

Also, if you have existing pay TV services with a provider, you'll need to contact them directly to terminate the contract.

To ensure there's as little disruption of service as possible, only cancel your old subscriptions after the date for the new broadband and TV installation has been confirmed.

To use the Choose comparison of deals tool, simply start a postcode search to begin seeing which TV and broadband deals are available in your area.

After that, you can filter the displayed deals by narrowing down your options in terms of providers, essential premium TV channels, internet usage and inclusive phone calls.

Filtering the deals which will best meet your broadband and TV needs will help you navigate to the best deals available.

When you've found the right home broadband and pay TV package for your home, just click through to the providers' website and provide them with your details.

It's worth pointing out that there is likely to be a credit check for TV and broadband bundles.

This credit check will take place behind the scenes when you order online, and a provider may conclude that a poor credit score means you can't take a specific package with them.

Cheaper TV and broadband bundles may be available and might be more appropriate for customers with a poor credit score.

However, if you have a poor credit history and you want to get pay TV, you may have to resort to pay-as-you-go alternatives like Now TV and Netflix.

These are the only option for some customers who have been denied access to minimum term contracts and may also serve to improve your credit rating for future contracts.