Your guide to BT TV packages
As of the end of 2023, BT TV no longer exists. Or rather, it does, but it's been rebranded to EE TV. Which makes things a bit more difficult for us here at Cable.co.uk towers, since while we want to allow you to easily compare BT Broadband and TV deals, we then have to say BT Broadband and EE TV packages, which for many will instantly confuse. Just keep in mind that when we talk about EE TV in this context, we're talking about the TV service supplied by BT. Confusing, isn't it!
- EE TV Box Pro or Apple TV – the choice is yours – Each EE TV package comes with an excellent set-top box, formerly known as the BT TV Box Pro, and now called – drumroll – the EE TV Box Pro. Alternatively, you can choose an Apple TV ( the streaming box, not to be confused with Apple TV+, which is a streaming app).
- TNT Sports – Once the jewel in BT TV’s crown, BT Sport was sold to TNT (Warner Bros.) and is now called TNT Sports. You can still add it to your EE TV package, but it no longer comes as standard with all packages.
- Free multiroom – Completely bucking the trend to charge through the nose if you want to watch your subscription TV package in more than one room, EE TV offers up to two EE TV Box Minis, which connect to the main TV Box Pro and allow separate, independent viewing of channels and streaming content.
- NOW Entertainment – Sky entertainment channels and programmes are offered via NOW TV (Sky's streaming app) on the EE TV service, which has its good and bad elements. It's convenient, and good you can watch Sky content, but Sky Atlantic is missing, and the video and audio quality is low compared to the likes of Netflix or Disney+.
- NOW Sports – You can add Sky Sports to your package (or choose one where it comes bundled) via NOW TV, which again is less than ideal. It'll usually cost you more than getting it with a Sky package, and the video and audio quality will be lower than with Sky.
- NOW Cinema – Sky Cinema is available via a NOW Cinema pass (included wit some BT Broadband and EE TV packages), but again with the same caveats about lower audio and video quality that getting the service from Sky.
- Netflix – A Netflix Basic subscription is included as standard with EE TV packages. If you want to watch on more than one device, you can choose to pay extra and upgrade.
EE TV packages
BT has a range of TV packages via EE TV. Here, we’ll break down exactly what is included in each package and the extras you can choose to add on to it. All EE TV packages require a fibre connection if you want to watch Netflix and NOW TV (Sky).
You get seven days of catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, through your TV guide. Customers can also access the EE TV Player to buy and rent films and box sets. All of the following packages come on a 24-month contract.
Entertainment
BT Entertainment is BT’s core package. It comes with Freeview channels and AMC, along with the best Sky channels via the included NOW TV Entertainment Membership, including Sky Atlantic. You also get NOW TV box sets. It also comes with a complementary Netflix Basic plan, which gives you access to all Netflix content in standard definition. Customers wanting to watch Netflix on other devices can choose to upgrade to Netflix Standard or Netflix Premium.
Big Entertainment
This is a step up from Entertainment. Along with the NOW TV Entertainment channels, Netflix Basic and six months’ Britbox subscription, you also get a NOW TV Cinema subscription, which comes with over 1000 movies on demand. NOW TV Cinema has something for everyone, from family films and cartoons to horror, sci-fi and thrillers.
Full Works
BT’s Full Works package offers the best of everything – and you’ll have to be prepared to pay for it. Essentially it’s a step up from Big Entertainment, but with TNT Sports, Sky Sports (via NOW TV), BoxNation, Eurosport 1 and 2, and of course the full house of 11 Sky Sports channels, with everything from premier league to cricket, rugby and Formula 1.
BT Sport no longer exists
As mentioned previously, BT Sport no longer exists as it was sold to TNT (Warner Bros.) and is now TNT Sport. The service is still in a state where it bears a canny likeness to the old BT Sport service, but is steadily going its own way. It's no longer included in the standard BT TV offering (now EE TV), but you can see it included in the likes of the Full Works packages.
Channels
There’s more information on EE TV's channels on our dedicated EE TV channels guide.
What are the alternatives?
If you’re not completely sold on BT or are still wondering how it stacks up against its competitors, here’s a quick rundown of the other runners and riders in the pay TV market.
- Sky TV – Sky’s basic TV package, Sky Entertainment, offers hundreds of channels including Sky Atlantic. It comes with either a Sky Q box (satellite) or a Sky Stream box (streamed over the internet – our preference). Netflix comes as standard and things like Sky Sports and Sky Cinema can be added as extras.
- Virgin Media TV – Virgin has a range of TV bundles. All of them come with the Virgin 360 box, which can record six channels while you watch a seventh from your recordings or an app. The top package, Ultimate Volt, comes with loads of channels including Sky Sports, TNT Sport and Sky Cinema, as well as an unlimited O2 SIM.
- NOW TV – NOW TV offers five different memberships – Entertainment, Kids, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and Hayu – that last a month and can be cancelled at any time. Sky Sports is also available as a day or week membership.
- TalkTalk TV – TalkTalk offers a choice of two TV boxes, both of which can be voice-controlled. As well as around 70 Freeview channels, customers can add a range of apps, including NOW, Netflix and BritBox.
- EE TV – EE offers EE TV with its own broadband packages as well as those offered by BT, and the same parameters apply.
