Sky Max channel: How to get it and what to watch

Dan Howdle • October 4th, 2024

Sky Max is one of the best reasons to get Sky TV in 2024. The channel launched in 2021, alongside Sky Comedy. Sky Max and Comedy were both launched as a replacement to their popular predecessor, Sky One, which was on air for over 40 years. Sky One split into Sky Max for drama and entertainment content, while comedy content moved to Sky Comedy. What can you expect from the channel now, though? Let's find out.

Overview

Sky Max is one of Sky's top entertainment channels, offering a mix of popular Sky Originals, gripping dramas, and light-hearted comedies. You can catch shows like Brassic, The Lazarus Project, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, alongside big-name US imports like The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. If you enjoy a mix of drama and light entertainment, Sky Max has got you covered.

How to watch Sky Max

You can access Sky Max through Sky's TV packages via Sky Stream or Sky Glass (Sky Q, Sky's satellite service, is no longer available to new customers). If you prefer more flexibility, you can also stream Sky Max without a contract using the NOW Entertainment Membership for £9.99 per month. It's also available on Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and EE TV (via both EE and BT), giving you plenty of options if you're going to base your choice of provider around it.

Providers offering Sky Max

• Sky – Sky TV is the obvious choice if you want to get Sky Max, as with other Sky channels. Fortunately, you can access Sky Max with any Sky TV bundle, including their entry-level TV package.
• Virgin Media – Aside from Sky, Virgin Media is the only other TV provider that offers Sky Max directly in its TV bundles – without an additional NOW TV subscription
• NOW TV – NOW TV offers monthly subscriptions broken down by category. NOW’s Entertainment Pass is an affordable way to get Sky Max and other blockbuster content, but the standard quality (without the Boost or Ultraboost add-ons) won’t be on par with what Sky and Virgin Media offer
• EE TV (formerly BT TV) – Sky Max is available to watch via EE TV as part of a NOW TV Entertainment Pass. Whether you get TV from BT or EE, it will come under the heading of 'EE TV', and the BT TV brand has been discontinued
• TalkTalk TV – As with EE TV, Sky Max is available to TalkTalk broadband or mobile customers via a NOW Entertainment Membership add-on, which can be incorporated into your TalkTalk TV package

What’s the cheapest way to get Sky Max?

It’s best to narrow down what you want to watch, and then compare the bundles that include all your favourites before comparing prices. If you only want access to Sky Max and nothing more, a subscription to NOW TV directly is going to be the cheapest option. However, Sky Stream now offers so much for so little we genuinely recommend checking that out too. By the time you add the boosts necessary to get NOW TV to a decent video and audio quality, you could be having the full Sky TV experience for the same money.

Ways to watch Sky Max

You can enjoy Sky Max on your smart TV or stream directly to your laptop, desktop, games console or mobile. If you prefer flexibility, Sky Go allows you to watch on the go using your smartphone, tablet, or games console. Sky Go is also available as a desktop app for both Mac and Windows, giving you plenty of ways to watch wherever you are.

On Sky Glass and Sky Stream, you can even start watching a live show and then rewind it to the beginning with the Restart Live TV feature. There’s also the Playlist function, which lets you easily save shows and catch up later without the need for recording. If you’re a Sky Mobile customer, you can stream on Sky Go without using up your mobile data. All of this is included at no extra cost with any Sky TV subscription.

What to watch on Sky Max

Sky Max is packed with epic Sky Originals and blockbuster US dramas, alongside popular comedy-dramas. While most comedy has moved to Sky Comedy, Sky Max still delivers with hits like A League of Their Own and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. You’ll also find a great mix of British and American drama series and exclusive Sky content.

Blockbuster entertainment and favourites on Sky Max

• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol – The latest instalment of the Walking Dead saga sees Daryl and Carol navigate the aftermath of the apocalypse in post-apocalyptic France
• Brassic – This fan-favourite British comedy follows Vinnie and his gang of misfit friends as they juggle petty crime and chaotic lives with humour and heart
• Last King of the Cross – Based on real-life events, this gripping crime drama follows John Ibrahim’s rise through Sydney's underworld, offering a gritty look at power and crime
• Sweetpea – A dark Sky Original that follows the life of Rhiannon, a seemingly unremarkable young woman, as she hides her increasingly dangerous double life
• The Lazarus Project – A Sky Original where a secret organisation uses time travel to stop catastrophic global events, blending action and moral dilemmas
• Russell Howard Hour – Comedian Russell Howard gives his witty and hilarious take on the week’s news and current events, with sharp commentary and guest appearances
• Portrait Artist of the Year – This popular art competition sees talented artists compete to paint celebrity sitters, with each episode featuring inspiring artwork and intense competition
• Classic US TV – Sky Max also offers beloved US TV shows such as Stargate SG-1, Hawaii Five-O, and Macgyver, giving fans a chance to re-watch these timeless series

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What are the alternatives to Sky Max?

Not keen on a long TV contract? Don’t want to pay for a bundle with channels you’ll never watch? No problem. There are plenty of alternatives to the content you get on Sky Max. While you might find similar shows elsewhere, remember that Sky Originals and exclusive content are only available on Sky.

Streaming services

If you're more interested in blockbuster films, top TV shows, or family favourites without being tied to specific programmes, streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, NOW, or Disney+ might be a perfect fit. These platforms offer affordable, contract-free monthly subscriptions and huge content libraries. Many even provide exclusive or original shows that rival traditional TV.

The best part? You can browse these platforms to find what suits your tastes and enjoy hours of entertainment across different genres. With frequent updates and a variety of options, there’s always something new to discover.

Freeview

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but Freeview comes pretty close! Freeview is the UK’s largest TV platform, offering hundreds of channels at no cost. With over 40,000 hours of on-demand TV and more than 700 boxsets across 70 channels (including 15 in HD), there’s plenty to watch.

Whether it’s live sports, news, movies, or kids' shows, Freeview has something for everyone. Plus, if you want more, you can top up Freeview’s free channels with streaming services, and they even offer a mobile app for watching on the go.

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