Sky TV is a streaming service owned by the British broadcaster and telecommunications company, Sky UK Limited. Sky originally launched in 1989 as a satellite TV service to UK households and broadcasted just four free-to-air channels. Since then, Sky has become one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, broadcasting thousands of movies, TV shows, news, live sporting events, and even original productions to over 23 million users.
As popular as Sky TV is, it’s definitely not your only option when it comes to streaming content online. There are tons of streaming services around that can provide you with tons of movies and TV shows at a much lower cost. Keep reading to find out the best Sky TV alternatives in 2022!
The best Sky TV alternatives quick guide
- NowTV – Best overall choice
- BBC iPlayer – Free option
- Amazon Prime Video – Perfect for movie buffs
- Netflix – For original content
- Disney Plus – For family-friendly content
Why you might consider finding an alternative to Sky TV
Sky TV undoubtedly has a great selection of content ranging from movies, TV shows, sporting events, and news broadcasts. However, the streaming service can be considered pretty pricey for most users, especially those who want to watch a variety of different content.
For example, if you’re a movie buff who wants to watch the latest blockbusters, then you’ll have to splash out for a pricier monthly subscription to access Sky TV’s dedicated movie library, Sky Cinema. Additionally, if you want to stream exciting sporting events live then you’ll have to pay for the Sky Sports add-on. Or, if you have children, then there is a paid add-on for the dedicated family-friendly channel, Sky Kids.
Of course, the basic Sky TV package does include thousands of hours of entertainment from over 300 channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky Comedy, Comedy Central, MTV, Dave ja vu, Gold, and TLC. But, if you want to stream these channels on more than on TV simultaneously, or want to watch in HD and Ultra HD, then again you’ll have to upgrade your plan and pay extra each month.
These seemingly small additions can quickly add up, leading to a monthly subscription bill upwards of £100 (€120)! Of course, you can still go for the bare minimum plan, but this leads to missing out on movies, sports, kid’s entertainment, multiple simultaneous connections, and more!
If you don’t want to miss out on these extras, then you should consider trying out an alternative streaming service to Sky TV. There are plenty of fantastic choices, some of which we’ve listed below, that offer hours of high-quality content for a much lower cost. These should definitely be considered if you want to try out a new service and save some money. After all, the sky is not the limit!
The best Sky TV alternatives in 2022
If you’re decided on switching from Sky TV then check out our top 5 best alternatives. These streaming services all offer plenty of entertaining movies and TV shows at reasonably low costs. So, let’s dive in!
- NowTV
Although NowTV is owned by Sky, it’s still a great alternative streaming service that doesn’t demand the same level of commitment as Sky TV. NowTV uses no contract membership passes that can be combined to create a tailored streaming experience.
Unlike Sky TV, which has 18-month contracts, NowTV can be cancelled any time. The different membership passes include Entertainment, Cinema, Sports, and Hayu. There’s even a day pass that can be purchased to access Sky Sports for 24 hours which is ideal for those who want to tune in for a specific sporting event without splashing out for an entire month-long subscription.
The entertainment membership includes access to hundreds of shows ranging from HBO box sets, documentaries, stand-up comedy, kids TV, and Sky Originals. There are plenty of Sky channels included in this membership such as Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Nature, Sky History, Sky Crime, and Sky documentaries, making it a superb alternative to the standard Sky TV subscription. Other available channels include GOLD, National Geographic, SYFY, MTV, Comedy Central, and Peacock.
If you want to stream in HD with Dolby 5.1 surround sound then you can upgrade your membership with NowTV’s Boost. Boost allows users to watch with up to 3 devices simultaneously and also removes all ads.
Overall, NowTV is one of the best alternatives for Sky TV as it offers much of the same content and channels but excludes the commitment. If you want a one-off purchase and to access hundreds of movies, TV shows, and sporting events for one or two months without being tied to a year-long contract, then NowTV is the ideal Sky TV alternative for you!
NowTV also has a 7-day free trial available, so you can test out their service for a whole week before committing to a premium subscription!
Find out how to unblock NowTV using a VPN!
- BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is a free alternative to Sky TV that offers thousands of on-demand and catch-up TV programmes. This streaming service is completely ad-free and allows users to download shows and watch them offline for up to 30 days.
iPlayer broadcasts an endless stream of content including news, movies, music, dramas, soaps, sports, and arts. Channels available with an iPlayer account include BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, and Radio 1. There’s even access to Cbeebies, BBC’s dedicated children’s channel.
You can watch from any of these channels live through the iPlayer website or app. There’s also a complete TV guide which shows you exactly what shows are coming up. If you tune in halfway through, then don’t worry, as iPlayer allows you to rewind any content and watch it from the beginning.
Users can create up to four BBC iPlayer profiles on a single device to create a fullu customised experience with the added option for a PIN code and paternal guidance lock. The streaming service will also recommend any suggestions that line up with content you’ve previously watched.
You can start streaming BBC iPlayer immediately since, as we’ve mentioned, the service is completely free and only requires the ownership of a standard UK TV licence. Additionally, you can watch content in Ultra HD at no extra cost. You can check out the full list of content that can be streamed in Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range (HDR) here.
Find out how to unblock BBC iPlayer using a VPN!
- Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service that offers access to hundreds of popular movies and TV shows in addition to exclusive titles and original content. Prime Video uses a monthly subscription structure but also allows users to purchase or rent titles separately.
You can find just about any genre of content on Amazon Prime Video including action, anime, comedy, crime, documentaries, drama, fantasy, history, horror, reality TV, romance, and science fiction. There’s also a family-friendly section where you can find children’s TV shows and movies. You can even find hundreds of Dolby Atmos compatible movies here.
Amazon Prime Video is a suitable alternative to Sky TV since, although it uses monthly subscriptions, the service also offers an impressive selection of bonuses. If you opt for a Prime membership, then you not only get to stream thousands of movies and shows, but you can also benefit from Prime Reading (for books and magazines), Prime Gaming (for free games and exclusive in-game content), and deals on thousands of Amazon items.
Alternatively, you can choose the stand-alone Prime membership for a reduced cost and buy or rent specific content on a pay-per-title basis.
Find out how to unblock Amazon Prime Video using a VPN!
- Netflix
Netflix is arguably one of the most well-known streaming services in the world with over 222 million subscribers from 190 countries. Although Netflix offers a very different selection of content compared to SkyTV, it’s still a fantastic alternative to the streaming service due to its simplified subscription plans, intuitive interface, and constantly evolving content library.
Over the years, Netflix users have tuned into hundreds of memorable original and exclusive content including Stranger Things, The Tinder Swindler, Orange is the New Black, Squid Game, The Witcher, Peaky Blinders, You, After Life, Our Planet, Love is Blind, Ratched, Arcane, and Red Notice.
Netflix has three streaming plans to choose from, Basic (480p resolution for 1 device), Standard (1080p resolution for 2 devices), and Premium (Ultra HD 4K resolution with HDR for 4 devices). All three plans grant access to Netflix’s entire library which consists of over 15,000 titles.
Find out how to unblock Netflix using a VPN!
- Disney Plus
Disney Plus is the absolute best streaming service to watch family-friendly content and animated movies. This service is a wonderful alternative to SkyTV, especially for users who are looking to save money when streaming content for their children.
On Disney Plus you can find hundreds of movies and shows from beloved studios such as Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic. There are also plenty of Disney originals available including popular titles, Soul, Hamilton, The Lion King, The Pirates of The Caribbean, The Star Wars Trilogy, Toy Story, Hocus Pocus, Sister Act, Cheaper By the Dozen, High School Musical, Lady and the Tramp.
Disney Plus can be purchased on a monthly or yearly basis and include a completely ad-free experience for all users. With a subscription plan, you’ll have access to the entire Disney Plus library including any 4K content and you can stream from up to 4 devices simultaneously.
Find out how to unblock Disney Plus using a VPN!