Sky deals for existing customers: Renewals and upgrades

Dan Howdle • September 19th, 2024

If you're a Sky customer and looking to upgrade your Sky services in some way, we have all the information you could possibly need – what's available, how to get it, and what the pitfalls might be, depending on whether you're in or out of your current contract period.

If your Sky contract is ending or has already ended

If you're mid-contract with Sky, you're stuck in terms of getting a better deal. However, if you're approaching the end of your contract of have already passed it, there are a wide range of things you can try to get a better deal.

You do need to be aware though that as a current Sky customer, you're not going to be considered a 'new customer' unless you've switched to another provider for at least 12 months before returning. That means unless that's the case, you won't be able to nab any special Sky deals such as those with cashback, gift cards, or offered at special sale period pricing.

Here's what you can do to improve your deal as a Sky customer near, on, or past the end of your contract:

1. Haggle with Sky to get a better deal

Not everyone is aware of this, but provided you're in a situation where you could switch away from Sky if you wanted to, either now or soon, you have a substantial bargaining chip when it comes to negotiating a better deal from Sky. There's more to it than just phoning them up and demanding a cheaper price, however. You should consider:

Timing

We've mentioned this already, but the further you are from the end of your contract, the less bargaining power you're going to have when it comes to haggling your price down with Sky. If you're still stuck with Sky for a year or more there is little motivation to give you a lower price. If they feel they're about to lose you however, well, you may find Sky changes its tune entirely.

Compare the latest deals

Befor you pick up the phone to Sky it's a good idea to compare the latest broadband deals. You can do that here on Cable.co.uk using the link. Your objective is not necessarily to buy or switch, but to compare how your current Sky deal fares against similar deals from other providers. That way, you will have ammunition when you haggle with Sky (be able to point out cheaper, similar deals).

Be polite

This one's important. The results you get will depend on being genial and polite. The customer service staff you speak to will be the person deciding whether or not to reduce your monthly price or throw in some free services. That person liking you is key to striking a deal.

Prepare to walk away

Ultimately, whether or not you're able to haggle will depend on which way the wind is blowing on any given day. But, provided you are in a position to leave and switch to another provider, you should consider doing, even if that's just pantomime for the person you're haggling with.

2. If you bundle you'll pay less overall

If you're negotiating a new deal with Sky, consider bundling TV, broadband, or a phone line, depending on what you need. Getting your services in a bundle will always work out cheaper than getting broadband and TV, for example, from separate providers. We have a section later on on upgrade options so you can familiarise yourself with what's available. Which brings us onto…

3. Check Sky's upgrade deals

Logging into your Sky account on Sky's website, you will find:

Personalised offers

Sky will regularly update tempting offers designed to tempt you to take out more Sky services or upgrade your existing ones.

Sky VIP rewards

Sky VIP is a loyalty programme that rewards you based on the length of time you've been with Sky. You can access perks like free movie tickets, early access to shows, VIP events, and prize draws, with rewards increasing the longer you've been a Sky customer.

Limited-time promotions

Sky will sometimes run promotions aimed at existing customers (cheap SIMs, cut-priced Sky Sport, things of that nature). You'll also find these listed in your personal corner of Sky's website. And you should keep your ear to the ground in terms of reading emails Sky sends you too.

4. Compare offers from other providers

If you intend to haggle (see point 1), we've already mentioned that it's a good idea to know what you're haggling for by comparing what's on offer from Sky with what's on offer from all the other providers. To do that, you only need…

Use our comparison

Our comprehensive broadband comparison will let you know what deals are on right now and, importantly, which are available to you at your address. Just enter your postcode for the latest information, and you can choose from broadband, TV, or both in the filters.

5. Stay proactive: The key to better deals

The key thing here is not to wait for better deals to come to you. Instead, you need to be a little bit proactive and set the conditions yourself so that you don't miss out. That involves…

Setting a contract-end reminder

Visit the Sky website and login. There you will find the date your current contract ends. You then either set a reminder in your calendar or you can ask us to remind you at the time. If you ask us, we will send you all the best deals you could switch to when your contract is up.

Set reminder

Check deals regularly

It's also a good idea to check in with our broadband comparison from time to time to stay abreast of what's on offer to new customers, both from Sky and from the wider market.

6. Other considerations when upgrading or renewing

Upgrading your Sky services is all very well – it's convenient. But it's not always as straight forward as you may think. Consider the following:

• Installation times – Upgrades involving new equipment or significant service changes, such as switching to Full Fibre, may involve waiting for an engineer visit
• Returning your equipment – Sky is actively working towards net zero carbon emissions, and returning or recycling old equipment is part of this initiative. If you upgrade or switch, you may have to post back your old router
• Changes to your Sky bill – Be aware that upgrading will usually alter your monthly bill. While Sky provides an overview of costs at the point of upgrade, it’s worth keeping an eye on your first new bill to ensure it matches what was agreed
• Impact on promotions and perks – Upgrading your package can sometimes change the promotional perks associated with your account. It's best to check what you might lose when upgrading, as well as what you might gain
• Future-proofing – While it might be tempting to choose a cheap upgrade, think about your household’s future needs. If you anticipate growing demands it might be worth saving yourself some bother further down the line and opting for something more capable

What our expert says...

"While upgrading with your existing provider can get you what you want with a minimum of fuss, your provider will renew your contract for another two years and you will miss out on lower prices and greater benefits offered by other providers when you join as a new customer."

Dan Howdle, Broadband and mobile expert

In-contract Sky upgrades

If you're still in your contract with Sky there are few ways to easily escape it without paying some hefty early exit fees. And to make matters worse, you don't have any leverage to haggle for a better deal with Sky. However, you can always upgrade and add new, faster, or better Sky services. Just be sure and check whether or not doing so will reset your contract period.

Sky Broadband upgrades

If you're getting something approaching the speed you're paying for, but stretching those limits quite frequently, upgrading your broadband speed is definitely going to help. If you're not getting the speeds you're paying for, then please refer to the section above, which contains important information about networks and speed limits. Here are just some of the benefits of upgrading:

• Improved streaming – No buffering, even in 4K
• Better gaming experience – Lower latency, faster downloads
• Multi-device households – Smooth internet even with multiple devices connected
• Future-proof – Ready for more demanding future applications and devices

As a general rule, we advise setting aside 20Mbps for each household member who uses the internet, and if any of them are online gamers and/or movie/TV streaming addicts, you should double that in their case. This will provide you with a good amount of headroom so you don't butt up against those speed limits at busy times – with half the household staring at little spinning circles.

If you're on Sky's standard Fibre package (it only has one now) which offers speeds averaging 61Mbps, your only option to go faster will be to switch up to Full Fibre, which you may not be able to get. Sky’s Full Fibre connections can give your speed a real boost up to anything from 75Mbps to 900Mbps, depending on your needs.

Sky broadband speed options and connection types

Sky TV upgrades

Up until fairly recently, Sky partitioned its TV offerings into specific TV bundles, which on the one hand made things somewhat easier to understand, but on the other caused quite a lot of waste – if you went for the Family Bundle because you wanted kids' TV, you probably also had a bunch of channels you weren't so fussed about. These days there's only one TV package – Sky Entertainment – onto which you can bolt on whatever you need.

That has made upgrade options rather numerous. You can add on Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports, Kids' TV, extra 4K channels, Multiscreen (whole Home) or even Disney+. Netflix is included as standard. Perhaps to keep things as simple as possible, Sky actually throws in the Indian and Asian channels these days, whereas they used to cost extra.

Sky has also recently shifted away from its traditional satellite services – you can't get Sky Q anymore as a new customer – moving towards the more flexible Sky Stream, which only requires a broadband connection. Here’s an overview of Sky’s current TV packages and upgrade options:

Sky Stream with Sky TV and Netflix

Sky Stream offers a satellite-free experience with Sky TV and Netflix included as standard. It’s a plug-and-play service that works over your internet connection, so there’s no need for a dish. If you're on the old Sky Q service, this is a potential route for an upgrade.

Sky Glass

Sky Glass is a complete TV solution with Sky’s streaming service built directly into the TV set. Available in 43", 55", and 65" models, it removes the need for separate boxes or a dish. Customers can buy the TV outright or pay monthly.

Sky Glass offers an all-in-one viewing experience with built-in apps, voice control, and seamless integration of live TV and streaming services.

Premium channel packs – Sky Sports, Sky Cinema

One of the most common ways folk choose to upgrade their Sky services is by adding Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, or both to their existing TV subscription.

Sky Sports

It's not cheap. But adding Sky Sports to your existing Sky TV package is a great way to directly enjoy your favourite sporting events from the comfort of your living room. Whatever sports you're into, Sky Sports has you covered with its 11 dedicated channels, including Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports F1. You’ll get access to exclusive Premier League matches, live Grand Prix coverage, The Ashes, PGA Tour golf, and much more.

Sky Cinema

With over 1,000 movies on demand, including recent blockbusters, timeless classics, and Sky Original films, there’s always something to watch. Channels like Sky Cinema Premiere, Sky Cinema Action, and Sky Cinema Family ensure that there's something for everyone, from action-packed adventures and family favourites to dramas, romantic comedies and everything in between.

Available TV add-ons

If you just want to 'pep' your existing package, Sky offers a variety of add-ons that can be bolted onto your Sky TV package to enhance your viewing experience and be ready to use in minutes. Do bear in ind, however, that these can reset your contract. So be wary and check.

Sky call plan upgrades

Lastly, you can upgrade your calls package in an effort to pay for fewer calls made from your landline. Of course, this will only be useful to households where the landline is in frequent use, and you'll likely upgrade as soon as you get a bill with call charges you don't like the look of, but it's worth mentioning. If you're finding your Sky bill is higher than you'd like, look into upgrading your calls package to include anytime calls or mobile numbers.

• Sky Pay As You Talk – Included as standard with Superfast Fibre package, but will need to be added on when taking out Full Fibre. You only pay for the calls you make, with no additional monthly fee
• Sky Talk Evening & Weekend (+£4 per month) – Unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles during evenings and weekends
• Sky Talk Anytime (+£8 per month) – Unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles
• Sky Talk International (+£12 per month) – Unlimited calls to UK mobiles and landlines, plus 50 extra international destinations

All call packages are subject to a 24-month minimum term (they are tied to your existing contract), and prices may change during your contract period as they do with broadband. If you're finding your Sky bill higher than expected due to call charges, upgrading your calling package to include anytime calls or international options can sometimes help get those costs down.

Sky Mobile and SIM upgrades

One of the best ways of getting more from Sky is to move your mobile contract (and indeed those of your entire family) to Sky Mobile, either with a new SIM, or, if the timing is right, by upgrading your existing handset. Sky doesn't discount its SIMs or its handsets for its existing broadband and TV customers, but if you already have Sky TV, you can watch your subscribed channels via any Sky TV app (including Sky Go Extra, Sky News, Sky Kids, Sky Sports, and Sky Store) without eating into your data allowance when you’re away from your Wi-Fi connection. Here are some of the benefits:

• Sky VIP perks – Sign up for Sky’s loyalty programme and claim a free film, plus enjoy monthly free Vue cinema tickets and exclusive VIP experiences
• Sky Piggybank – Store unused data for up to three years and share it with up to seven SIMs on your account
• Swap24 and Swap12 contracts – Upgrade to a new phone or tablet at any point, with the option to swap after just 31 days
• Flexible data plans – Change your data plan without penalty, increasing or decreasing it from month to month as needed

Compare Sky SIM only

Sky Protect

This is by far Sky's most oddball upgrade option. Sky Protect offers home and contents insurance through its insurance partner Domestic & General. Normally, we'd list out here what sets is apart from standard home and contents insurance, but the problem with that is that most of what Sky says sets it apart really doesn't all that much. Here are the main features of Sky Protect:

Sky Protect device insurance

In addition to general home contents insurance, Sky Protect allows you to administer specific cover to your favourite three devices. However, one of said devices has to be your Sky Glass is you have one, so Sky Glass owners only get two. You do get cover for breakdowns and accidental damage, and unlimited repairs, but you cannot include any device that either doesn't conform to a short list of types (audio system, games console, laptop, mobile phone, tablet or television), or anything worth more than £2,000.

That won't be limiting for many, but for some the very notion of such insurance might only appeal if they can protect their gaming PC or snazzy projector. The limiting factors here also put Sky Protect very much in line with other general insurers.

Emergency, legal and cyber cover

Sky Protect also offers home emergency cover, family legal assistance and cyber cover (which protects you from losses resultant of personal data breaches). Again, these are all things offered by other general insurers.

Free smart device bundle

When you sign up you'll get a free smart doorbell, motion sensors, indoor camera and leak sensors. The whole package is worth £250, but reminds us a little of that time Homer bought Marge a bowling ball for her birthday. All of it is designed to lower risk and therefore lower the underwriting cost for Sky.

24 month contracts

Home insurers almost universally only tie you in for 12 months, but Sky Protect wants you tied in for double that. It promises no mid-contract price rises, which is also very odd, since in the world of home insurance you cannot legally raise the price during the initial contract. Sky's promise then is to not do anything illegal. Very strange.

Half-baked, and not available to everyone

Sky appears to be applying spotty availability to Sky Protect at this stage, with several of the postcodes we tested showing it's not available. All in all, we feel Sky Protect is a bit half-baked (not ready for public consumption) and doesn't really offer anything beyond that offered by other insurers.