By Want to get the most out of Sky TV? Find out how to turbo-charge your Sky TV experience in eight ways.
In the UK, Sky is by far the biggest player when it comes to pay-TV. Over the past 18 months, they’ve been transitioning from satellite TV to offering their next-generation Sky Stream box. As well as being easier to set up and use (it uses your broadband, so there’s no need for a dish), it also opens up lots of new possibilities. For instance, you can have your live TV and on-demand content together in one place, with a seamless interface that makes it easy to discover new things to watch.
As a special offer, Sky has discounted their Sky Stream service to just £19 per month for customers ordering through this link. You’ll get access to more than 100 channels that aren’t available on Freeview, as well as Netflix which is included in the price. On top of that, there are lots of ways to turbo-charge your experience with additional ‘packs’ such as Sport, Cinema, and more.
In this article, we’ll look at eight ways you can enhance your Sky TV experience.
1. Get more on-demand shows & movies, at no extra cost
One of the major benefits of being a Sky Stream customer is the fact that you’ll get Netflix included in the price. You’ll also be able to get Discovery+ at no extra cost. All you’ll need to do is to activate your subscription and link it to your Sky Stream box to start watching.
Once you’ve connected your Sky Stream box to Netflix and Discovery+, all of your recommended content from across those services will also appear on your home screen. This makes it really easy to find new shows and movies to watch: there’s no need to constantly hop-in and out of different apps to find something to watch.
Sky Stream also comes with a built-in ‘Smart Search’ feature that finds content from across all of your connected channels and apps. That means there’s no need to remember which channel or app each show is on: just say what you want to watch and it’ll quickly find it for you. You can also add the shows to your Playlist for ease of access at any time.
2. Get your mates over every weekend to watch the big game
One of the top add-ons for Sky Stream is the Sky Sports pack.
With this, you’ll get access to 9 dedicated Sky Sports channels, including for the Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf, Formula 1, Tennis, and more. For instance, if you’re a fan of football, there are more than 500 games live each season, including the biggest Premier League games every weekend.
You can add the Sky Sports pack for £20 per month on an 18-month contract (or £27 per month on a flexible 31-day rolling contract).
3. Get the latest blockbusters & a night out at the cinema every month
If you’re looking to keep your family entertained with the latest blockbuster films, you can add the Sky Cinema pack.
With the Sky Cinema pack, you’ll have access to more than 1,000 on-demand films, plus 12 dedicated Sky Cinema channels catering to a wide range of interests. You’ll be able to find the latest blockbuster movies, along with exclusive Sky Original films and classic movies from the past.
Another benefit of the Sky Cinema pack is the 2 free Vue cinema tickets each month. This means you can get a night out at the cinema each month, for free. With the average cost of a UK cinema ticket now at almost £8 per person, this could save you in the region of £16 per month (which would easily cover the cost of your Sky Cinema pack).
When you add the Sky Cinema pack, you’ll get Paramount+ included at no extra cost (worth £6.99 per month). This gives you access to on-demand shows like Yellowstone, Halo, Star Trek, and more. You’ll also get access to a large library of Paramount films.
4. Watch in stunning Ultra HD quality & get Dolby Atmos surround sound
If your television supports Ultra HD content (in 4K resolution), you can add the UHD & Dolby Atmos pack from Sky.
Available for £6 per month on a 31-day rolling basis, Sky’s Ultra HD pack gives you a more immersive viewing experience with sharper and more lifelike features. For instance, it’s the best way to watch the latest nature documentaries and Sky Cinema blockbusters.
If you’ve got a compatible Dolby Atmos sound system, you’ll also get immersive surround sound. This puts you right in the middle of the action with front-row seats when you’re watching the big game or the latest blockbuster release.
5. Keep the little ones entertained with Sky Kids
If you’ve got children in your household, you can add the Sky Kids pack to your Sky Stream subscription for £6 per month. This is available on a 31-day rolling basis.
With Sky Kids, you’ll get access to 9 dedicated children’s TV channels. This includes the flagship ‘Sky Kids’ channel, which is ad-free and designed for children aged 1 to 7. You’ll also get other children’s TV channels included such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and more.
The Sky Kids pack also comes with an exclusive app for your smartphone or tablet. This gives you on-demand access to more than 10,000 episodes of children’s TV, along with 230 children’s mobile games. It’s a child-safe environment where you can create a personalised profile for each child, giving them access only to the content that’s suitable for them.
6. Stop fighting over the remote & watch in more rooms
If you’d like to watch Sky TV in multiple rooms, you can add the Whole Home pack for £12 per month.
With the Whole Home pack, you’ll get an additional Sky Stream Puck. Simply plug this in to any TV in your home, connect it to your WiFi, and it’ll give you the full Sky TV experience.
On your additional Sky Stream Puck, you’ll have access to all of your channels and apps. All of your playlists and recommendations are synchronised as well, so there’s no need to fight over the remote control.
7. Get Sky Broadband and boost your home’s connectivity
Sky Stream relies on a broadband connection, as all of the channels and apps are streamed to your TV.
Although you can use Sky Stream with any UK broadband provider, it often makes sense to get Sky Broadband at the same time. That’s because you’ll get a discounted price on their broadband with deals starting from £37 per month for broadband and TV.
You can choose from a range of Sky Broadband plans, with download speeds of up to 900Mbps:
| Service | Broadband | Television | Monthly Price (may rise during contract) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sky Stream, Sky Entertainment & Netflix with Superfast Broadband | 61Mbps average download |     150+ channels included | £37/month 18 month contract |
Sky Stream, Sky Entertainment & Netflix with Ultrafast Broadband | 145Mbps average download | 150+ channels included | £39/month 18 month contract |
Sky Stream, Sky Entertainment & Netflix with Ultrafast Plus Broadband | 500Mbps average download | 150+ channels included | £45/month 18 month contract |
Sky Stream, Sky Entertainment & Netflix with Gigafast Broadband | 900Mbps average download | 150+ channels included | £53/month 18 month contract |
Sky Stream, Sky Entertainment & Netflix with Full Fibre 100 Broadband | 100Mbps average download | 150+ channels included | £58/month 18 month contract |
8. Get a Sky Glass TV, with the Sky Live camera at no extra cost
If you’re looking for a new TV, you can upgrade to the Sky Glass television from just £14 per month more (plus the cost of your Sky TV subscription).
Sky Glass is a cutting-edge 4K Ultra HD television. It has Sky’s technology built-in, so you can stream all of your channels and apps, without the need to have a separate Sky Stream box. There’s an integrated 360° Dolby Atmos soundbar. This uses six built-in speakers to deliver 215W of immersive room-filling sound.
Another upgrade is the Sky Live camera for Sky Glass. This enhances your Sky Glass TV with lots of additional functionality, such as the ability to make video calls through Zoom, and to play motion-controlled games like Fruit Ninja and more. You’ll also be able to watch TV together with other households, and to work out with a digital coach that gives you real-time feedback.
More Information
For more information about Sky Stream and all of the upgrades available, please see Sky’s official website.
Your Comments
We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. You can add your own comment here.