With a huge selection of entertainment, movie and sports channels to choose from, it's easy to see why Sky TV is so popular. But the prices for a full Sky subscription can be eye-watering - plus you usually have to commit for eighteen months.
While the lure of shows such as House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and The White Lotus can be appealing, the thought of being tied in to an expensive contract can feel off-putting. The good news is you don't have to take out a long Sky subscription to watch Sky channels.
Read on for more information on TV services that will let you watch Sky TV without a Sky subscription, including Now TV, Virgin Media and TalkTalk.
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Now (formerly known as Now TV) is an internet TV streaming service powered by Sky. It offers live streaming and on-demand content from popular Sky channels - so, you can watch Sky shows as they're going out live, or catch up on them at a later date.
Crucially, you don't have to be a Sky subscriber to use Now TV. Instead you simply buy 'passes' for a day or month to access the channels that you want. When your monthly pass expires, it rolls over until you cancel, but you can do this at any time.
Streaming services broadcast over the internet, so you don't need a satellite dish to watch Now (though you do need a broadband connection of at least 2.5Mbps or a mobile signal of 180Kbps if you plan to watch using 3G or 4G).
You'll also need a device that can use the Now app. Some smart TVs come with this preinstalled, but if yours doesn't, you can watch Now services in a few different ways such as via a TV streamer. You can also install the Now app on a tablet, smartphone or PC.
Find out more in our guide: What is Now?
If you've already got a TV subscription with a different provider, such as Virgin Media or EE TV , you can add most of Sky's channels to these services.
To do this, you add a 'bolt on' to your existing pay TV service. For example, EE's TV service now lets you add Now passes to your broadband deal, so you can access channels such as Sky Atlantic or Sky Cinema. You'll have to commit to a 24 month contract, but you can change which pass you have month to month.
If a friend or family member already subscribes to Sky, then you can register as a secondary user and still watch Sky shows.
Now (see above), for example, allows you to register up to four compatible devices (such as a laptop, or a tablet). The service lets you watch programmes on two devices at the same time, so four members of an extended family won't all be able to tune into True Detective simultaneously on different devices.
Alternatively, Sky Go is a streaming service that allows Sky subscribers to watch programmes away from the home. This lets Sky customers register two devices (or four, if you pay more for Sky Go Extra).
In effect, this would let you log in to watch Sky programming if you used the account details of a family member who has a Sky subscription. However, users are meant to be part of the same household as the primary Sky account holder, according to Sky.
Read our Sky TV and broadband review to find out what Sky customers had to say about the service they receive in our latest satisfaction survey.
If you decide that none of the above options work for you, then one alternative is to stick with Freeview. It may not offer the same sports or movie range as Sky, but it still gives you a huge selection of channels for no cost at all (other than the charge for a TV licence).
With the addition of a Freeview PVR, you can pause, rewind and record live TV, as well as setting a planner and series-link. These are all features you would get with a Sky box. You won't, however, have access to the same sports, movies and entertainment channels. Head to our PVR reviews to see which models impressed the experts in our lab.
If that's not enough for you, and you want even more channels, then Freesat offers more than 200 channels and on-demand TV from the likes of the BBC and ITV. To get it, you just need a Freesat box or a TV with Freesat built-in, plus a Freesat satellite dish. As with Freeview, there's no ongoing subscription cost. Read in depth reviews of all the latest models using our Freesat PVRs and set top box reviews .
Not content with making PVRs and streaming sticks, Sky made its own TV in 2022 and everything you need to watch Sky content is built-in.
Sky channels and catch-up services are streamed over the internet, so there's no need for an aerial. You can buy the TV outright or spread the cost and pay for it monthly with your Sky subscription.
You do need an active Sky subscription to make the most of the TV though and it's not worth considering unless you're going to stick with Sky for the foreseeable. That's because it loses important functions, such as voice search, recording and the innovative catch-up menu if you stop being a Sky customer. Even if you've fully paid for the TV with monthly payments, or bought it outright, you need an active subscription to watch Sky content and make use of all the TV's features.
You can still watch TV through an aerial and use catch-up services, but not at the same time. The aerial input doesn't work if you're connected to the internet.
It may not be the answer for watching Sky without a subscription, but there are some benefits to it if you plan to keep your subscription running. Read our guide to Sky Glass to learn more about the technology and see what we thought of the TVs.
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