Sky TV vs NOW TV: Which service should I choose?

Dan Howdle • November 8th, 2024

Sky TV and NOW TV are two sides to the same coin. The former, a subscription TV service accompanied by Sky Stream set-top box, the latter a purely app-based streaming service providing the juiciest morsels of Sky-exclusive content, which can be watched on a plethora of different devices, and which includes movies and sport if you're willing to pay top dollar. So how do they compare side-by-side? Let's find out.

Key differences

Sky TV and NOW TV are two very popular services that offer a range of entertainment options to customers. The key difference between the two services used to be that Sky TV required a satellite dish, while NOW TV was accessed through a streaming device, such as a smart TV, games console, or streaming stick. However, that's all changed with the advent of Sky Stream, and Sky no longer offering satellite as an option for new customers. The two services are now more alike than ever before.

The biggest difference between Sky TV and NOW TV is their content offerings. Sky TV (Sky Stream) has an extensive range of over 150 channels. And the more you pay/add on, the more you get. NOW TV has a similar modular approach, but the spread of content is much narrower, with the service providing more of a 'highlights of' approach when it comes to Sky content than the whole enchilada you'll get from Sky Stream.

Pricing is also a key difference between the two services. Sky TV is generally more expensive than NOW TV, but only in so far as you get a whole lot more with Sky Stream than you do with NOW TV. NOW TV is significantly cheaper for the basic Entertainment Pass, but gets more expensive when you start adding movies and sport, just as Sky TV does. But if all you need are the basics, NOW TV is the more affordable option.

There is one further 'however' though. Sky Stream is comprehensively delivered in HD (high definition), with the option to add 4K streaming at a small additional monthly cost. NOW TV is delivered in 720p as standard, and by the time you add either the 'Boost' or 'Ultra Boost' add-on to bring it up to the quality of Sky TV, you're paying pretty much the same monthly price by that point. NOW TV is great for dipping in and out of when needed without the need for any special hardware, but it's really not a patch on Sky Stream when it comes to content and value.

Quick comparison

What you can watch

Sky Stream offers a wide range of content. As well as over 150 entertainment channels in the basic Entertainment package, you can add Sports and Movies to beef things up to even greater heights. Sky Sports offers live coverage of football, rugby, cricket, golf, and more, while Sky Cinema provides access to hundreds of movies, including new releases and classics. Sky Entertainment is the basic Sky Stream package everyone gets and offers a range of TV shows across multiple genres, including dramas, comedies, and reality TV, all of which can be watched on-demand.

In contrast, NOW TV has a more limited selection of channels and content. However, it does offer a flexible way to access popular TV shows, movies and sport, including shows produced by Sky and HBO. You can choose from different passes, such as the Entertainment Pass, which includes popular TV shows like The Last Of Us, House of the Dragon, and The Handmaid's Tale, or the Sky Cinema Pass, which provides access to hundreds of movies on-demand. NOW TV also throws in the 'Kids Pass' for free. All Sky Sports content can be accessed via the Sky Sports Pass, but at this point things start to become expensive – you'll definitely pay less for sport with Sky Stream.

Sky TV vs NOW TV content comparison

Note that you won't necessarily have all of these in your Sky TV package, because it depends what you subscribe to. However, this shows what you can and cannot get on NOW TV by comparison.

Technical comparison

Sky Stream uses its proprietary Sky Stream Puck, while NOW TV is a purely streaming service that can be accessed on various devices. The Stream Puck offers features such as 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos sound, and multiroom viewing by adding additional Pucks to your package, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritise picture and sound quality. Sky Q – Sky's satellite TV service – is no longer offered to new customers.

On the other hand, NOW TV is a streaming-only service that can be accessed on various devices, including smart TVs, games consoles and streaming sticks. NOW TV offers a range of passes, including Entertainment, Cinema, and Sport, which can be purchased on a monthly basis and subscribed or unsubscribed to at will. This makes NOW TV a flexible and affordable option for those who don't want to commit to a long-term contract. However, these are now options with Sky Stream too.

The most notable difference – one that will be very important tho those with large TVs or home cinema systems – is the picture quality. NOW TV streams at only 720p as standard and you'll need the 'Boost' or 'Ultra Boost' (HD or 4K respectively) Pass to notch that up to a passable 1080p or 4K.

Sky TV vs NOW TV technical specifications

Compare Sky TV

Pricing and packages

Sky Stream and NOW TV offer different packages and pricing models to cater to different customers' preferences and budgets. Sky TV no longer requires either a contract or a satellite dish. It can be a little complex so it's important when you buy to understand exactly what you're getting. Broadly speaking, the more you add to your Sky Stream subscription the better value you will get compared with NOW TV.

On the other hand, NOW TV offers a flexible pricing model with no contract as standard, allowing you to pick and choose passes that include specific channels or genres. You can purchase passes on a monthly basis and cancel at any time. NOW TV can be accessed on multiple devices, including smartphones, PCs and laptops, streaming sticks, tablets, consoles and smart TVs.

Compare Sky TV

User experience

The user experience of Sky Stream and NOW TV differs in various ways. Sky Stream, through the Sky Stream Puck, offers a highly responsive and well-designed interface that is easy to navigate, thanks to its intuitive menu and search functions. The interface displays recommendations based on viewing habits, and allows viewers to customise their profiles, including the channels they prefer, and the shows they want to record.

On the other hand, NOW TV's interface design is more straightforward, with categories organised into logical groups. That's good if you know what you're looking for, but our experience of the NOW TV app is that it can amount to pure torture if you just want to browse, because that same method of categorisation hides a lot of content within layers and layers of menus. NOW TV offers streaming quality up to 4K, but only if you pay a great deal extra for Ultra Boost.

Conclusion

When Sky TV arrived via a satellite dish, comparing it to NOW TV there were considerable differences and advantages to each. But now, with Sky Stream available for next-day installation, and offering over a hundred more channels and not really costing much more than NOW TV, it's difficult to see what the point of NOW TV is anymore, beyond existing as something to be offered by competing broadband providers.

That said, while NOW TV does not have access to all the same channels as Sky TV, it does have a good selection of on-demand content and live TV channels. The onbly reason we can think of to recommend NOW TV over Sky Stream is because you need to watch something this instant.