Combining your broadband service with a TV deal is a popular method of potentially
saving cash and dealing with one simple monthly bill. However, before you opt
for a broadband and television package, or indeed a broadband, TV and phone
deal, you should think carefully about your options.
Broadband and television bundles explained
There are many broadband and television deals on the market, with offers available
from the likes of BT, Sky, Tiscali and Virgin Media – and each comes with its own
incentives and a variety of products to suit almost any user.
Through most of the providers you will be able to find a broadband speed and
download cap that suits your requirements. For example, Virgin Media offers
broadband with download speeds up to 2Mb, 4Mb and 20Mb. Once you have found a
broadband option that is right for you, think about what you want from the TV
aspect of the deal.
For example, do you want digital television? If you’re generally happy with terrestrial
television (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, C4 and Five) or you only watch TV on rare occasions
then opting for a digital TV deal may not be worth your while.
It’s also worth looking into Freeview as boxes can be bought for as little as £20
and there are no monthly subscription fees. By taking out Freeview you will be
able to enjoy a number of additional television channels including some of the
leading subsidiary programmes from the BBC and ITV.
However, if you do want digital TV then a broadband/TV bundle could prove to be a
money saver. Think about what packages you require however, as not all deals will
come with the sports, entertainment or movies packages as standard. Shop around
and compare the deals available to ensure you’re getting the television channels
you require without paying over the odds.
Many television packages will offer additional incentives too such as ON DEMAND television.
ON DEMAND is basically a library filled with movies, television shows, music, children’s
TV and more. By ordering a programme ON DEMAND, it will be stored for you to watch for
a set period – usually 24hrs. With various TV bundles, some ON DEMAND packages will be
included as standard while with others you will have to pay additional charges each
time you use the service – ordering a movie ON DEMAND typically costs
between £1.50 and £3.75.
Also due to advancing technology, though services such as Sky Plus and V+, you can now record,
pause and rewind live TV. Generally there are additional one-off charges for the
installation of these services.
The key to broadband and television bundles is to not just be drawn into the cheapest
deal but instead to carefully evaluate how you use both the internet and the
television. There’s no point paying more for TV channels you will never
watch, or services such as ON DEMAND, that you may never use. However,
even if you are a basic TV and broadband user there are usually starter packages
that meet your needs. Check out our
broadband comparison tool
to get an overview of what’s available.
Guide to broadband and mobile phone bundles – part 4>>>
