Sky Ultimate TV explained: Costs, channels & features

Jitna Baghani | March 11th, 2022

Sky TV has long dominated the subscription TV market with popular viewing options for just about everyone. Sky’s popular core package has been known by different names over the years, from Sky Original to Sky Entertainment, the revamped core package which bundles Sky’s Signature offering with Netflix is known as Sky Ultimate TV.

Sky’s Ultimate TV package includes Sky Signature, Sky’s core package with 300+ channels, from the popular Sky Atlantic and Sky Max (previously known as Sky One and Sky Showcase) to Sky Documentaries and Sky Witness, in addition to Netflix. Sky Ultimate TV offers the best choice of subscription TV available in the UK. With the option to add on Sky Sports, Sky Cinema as well as Disney+ and BT Sport, Sky Signature offers a comprehensive and flexible TV package that you can customise to your own requirements. We’ve taken a look at exactly what’s included.

Key features

What is Sky Ultimate TV?

Sky Ultimate TV includes 300+ channels, including many over 100 not available on Freeview. You’ll get access to Sky Atlantic, Sky’s documentary channels, as well as Sky Box Sets. Sky Ultimate TV also includes a basic Netflix subscription, so you can watch unlimited Netflix shows on any single device.

If you’re already a Netflix subscriber when you sign up for Sky Ultimate TV, no need to cancel. Sky Ultimate TV offers a seamless transition with no break in service for existing Netflix subscribers. Sky Ultimate TV gives subscribers full access to Netflix’s entire catalogue.

Sky’s core TV package gives you access to Sky Replay for catch-up TV, plenty of Sky Original content, on-the-go streaming and downloads with the Sky Go and Netflix mobile apps

Channels and content

There's a lot to cover with Sky Ultimate with a plethora of features and different ways to experience the channels and content. So here goes.

Entertainment channels

Sky Ultimate TV’s offering is generous for an entry level package. You’ll get Sky’s most popular entertainment channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness and Sky Max, access to hundreds of Sky Originals, and 150 channels not available on Freeview. You also get a basic subscription to Netflix, giving you access to the entire streaming giant’s catalogue in SD, available on any single device.

Ultimate TV offers the best of Sky, including Sky Max, home to Sky's blockbuster entertainment. Previously known as Sky One, Sky Max is where you’ll find all the addictive blockbuster entertainment you know and love, like Brassic, Wolfe, and Russell Howard Hour.

Sky Ultimate TV really does cater to all tastes. Sky Showcase has fresh shows and familiar favourites, while Sky Comedy has comedies from premium US channels HBO, NBC and Showtime. You’ll have access to critically acclaimed talk shows, award-winning comedies and binge-worthy sitcoms like Modern Family and Parks and Recreation. Sky Witness offers the best of crime and medical dramas from around the world, including favourites like Grey’s Anatomy, Law and Order and Nothing to Declare.

Documentary and factual channels

If it’s world-class documentaries and real-life stories from award-winning filmmakers you’re after, you’ll love Sky Ultimate TV’s factual and documentary channels. Sky Nature, Sky HISTORY, Sky Documentaries and Sky Crime offer the latest in true crime, nature chronicles and biopics. You’ll be able to binge-watch McMillions, check out David Attenborough exclusives, savour award-winning and talked-about documentaries, and access hundreds of hours of on-demand content. It’s not just Sky content you get; the best of National Geographic and Discovery are included too.

Sports channels

The full Sky Sports pack will cost you extra, but Sky Ultimate TV does include three Sky Sports channels that are not subject to additional subscription fees. What’s included is Sky Sports News, Sky Sports Racing and Sky Sports Mix.

The Ultimate TV pack also includes Eurosport 1 and 2, with the best of Motocross, Snooker, Cycling, Cross Country Skiing and more.

News channels

In addition to Sky Sports News, Sky’s core news offering includes Sky News, BBC News, BBC Parliament, ITV News, Sky News Arabia, Al Jazeera English and more. Sky no longer shows RT (Russia Today).

Asian channels

Sky has the best South Asian TV channel offering in the UK, much of which is included in the Ultimate TV pack. Customers can watch their favourite dramas, films and popular reality shows as well as Asian news and music on 15 different channels from Zee TV, News18 India, Colors, Sony, B4U and Utsav.

Music channels

Music lovers rejoice! Sky Ultimate TV includes four music channels: MTV Base, MTV Hits, MTV Music and MTV Classic. Whether you want the latest hits, top golden oldies by year, current hip-hop, R&B, pop, or seasonal music specials, Sky’s Ultimate TV pack has the music channels for you.

Netflix

Netflix Basic is now included with Sky Ultimate TV, or available as an optional paid add-on. Netflix Basic gives you unlimited streams and downloads across the full range of Netflix series, films and shows on one device, and you can view in SD. To get Netflix Standard, which allows you to watch on 2 devices and in HD, simply add the Sky HD Pack. To get Netflix Premium so you can watch on 4 devices and in Ultra HD, add the Sky UHD pack.

Box Sets and on-demand content

Sky Ultimate TV offers unlimited on-demand access to 500 popular series from the US and the UK. You can watch and rewatch shows like Succession, Gangs of London, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones whenever you like.

Sky Originals

Like other top TV streaming giants, Sky has launched its own TV series and film production, known as Sky Originals, ranging from heart-stopping dramas, eye-widening documentaries, smash-hit comedies and world-leading arts and entertainment.

Sky Q box

Sky’s top of the line TV set-top box, Sky Q lets you watch live TV, catch-up TV, on-demand box sets, access apps such as Netflix, Disney+, BBC’s iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4, all in one place with Sky Q.

Sky Q is an award-winning, compact top-set box, with up to 2TB of storage space (1TB if you don’t have UHD), so you can record up to between three and six of your favourite shows to catch up or rewatch later, depending on which version of the box you get.

Read more about Sky Q

Catch-up TV

Sky’s Q Box lets you pause, record, rewind or restart live TV, so you don’t miss a minute of your favourite shows or live events. Sky Q offers generous storage, so you can record and store up to 500 hours of TV. Sky’s top-set box also comes with its own smart remote to make searching for your content on the Sky Q box as easy as possible, and there are custom covers available for an additional fee if you want to kit out your remote control.

Sky Go mobile app

Subscribing to Sky Ultimate TV includes access to the Sky Go mobile app, available at no extra cost, so you can watch Sky on the go on your mobile, tablet or laptop. Sky Go is available to all Sky TV subscribers, so you can watch the TV you love anywhere, at no extra cost. If you’re also a Sky Mobile customer, you can watch Sky TV on the go without using your data.

Sky Go is also available as a desktop app, so you can get it on iOS, Android, Fire OS, Windows, Mac and Huawei and watch on just about any device.

Optional extras

Sky has simplified its bundle offering in recent years. Sky Ultimate TV is now Sky’s core TV package, and customers can choose to bolt on various paid extras like Multiscreen or Sky Cinema depending on their viewing requirements and preferences.

Sky Sports

Always in high demand, Sky Sports comes as an optional add-on for an extra monthly fee. Sky Sports comes on an 18-month contract and offers eleven dedicated sports channels (three of which are included as standard in the Ultimate TV pack). Sports fans can enjoy top Premier League games, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby and lots more, and in HD as standard.

BT Sport

Football fans also have the option to bolt on BT Sport to Sky Ultimate TV for an additional monthly fee without a contract so you can cancel anytime. The BT Sport add-on gives you four additional sports channels: BT 1, 2, 3 and BT Sport ESPN, all in HD as standard. Catch top UEFA Champions League and Europa League games, Watch the latest in WWE and UFC, Premiership Rugby, and much more.

Sky Cinema

Film buffs can add Sky Cinema on to their core package for a monthly fee, and it comes on an 18-month contract. This popular add-on offers 15 cinema channels in different genres, plus access to Sky Store rentals, so you can keep the kids busy or plan your next date night at home.

Sky HD/Sky UHD

If high quality viewing is important to you, or you just want to use the fancy UHD features on your TV, you can add on Sky’s Ultra UHD + HD extra for a small monthly fee. This handy bolt-on gives you access to UHD and HD viewing on channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky Max and Sky Witness.

Sky also offers an HD add-on, available on over 40 live Sky channels. Both UHD+ HD and HD alone are available on rolling one-month contracts, so you can cancel whenever you like.

Sky Kids

Parents can get some peace of mind with the Sky Kids optional add-on. Sky Kids includes eight top kids’ channels: Boomerang, Cartoonito, Cartoon Network, Baby TV and four Nickelodeon channels. Entertain your little ones with their favourites including Paw Patrol, Horrid Henry, and classics like Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo. Parents will be pleased to know there is plenty of educational content available and the option to use Kids Safe Mode. Like some other add-ons, Sky Kids is available on a one-month rolling contract so you can cancel whenever you want.

Read more about Sky Kids

Sky Multiscreen

If you’ve got multiple devices or TVs in your home, there’s an optional Multiscreen add-on available for a monthly fee. Multiscreen comes on an 18-month contract and provides you with a Sky Q mini box, so you can watch your Sky channels on another TV. You can't record or watch in full HD, but you can access any recorded content on your primary Sky Q box.

You have the option to add up to four Sky Q mini boxes to your Ultimate TV pack, but only the first one is included in the cost of your monthly add-on; any additional mini boxes will incur an additional fee per device. It might not be worth the cost for everyone, as you cannot watch on more than two devices at once. Multiscreen subscribers get the added benefit of using the Sky Go Extra app on up to four devices for free, allowing you to watch your Sky services on up to four devices at once, including smartphones and gaming consoles.

Disney+

A new Disney+ add-on is now available for Sky Ultimate TV customers for an extra monthly fee. Disney+ is now home to National Geographic, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and Disney classics. Recently, Disney added Star to its lineup, so you can also access adult drama favourites, like High Fidelity, Desperate Housewives and 24. Disney+ is available on a rolling contract, so you can cancel whenever you like.

Alternatives

Sky is arguably one of the best TV providers in the UK, but there are other options. For anyone looking for short-term access to TV or if you just don’t want to commit to 18 months, a good option is NOW TV’s Entertainment bundle, which comes with the best of Sky Ultimate TV. Don’t want to commit? NOW TV’s packages all come on a rolling one-month basis.

You can get Sky’s channels from other providers as well. Subscribers of BT TV can access Sky in the form of a NOW TV Entertainment package, while Virgin Media TV customers can get Sky channels, but without access to Sky Atlantic. So if you want to be able to watch Hausen, Gangs of London or Devils, you will need to stick to Sky or NOW TV.

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