IPTV vs Sky TV — Which Is Better?

IPTV vs Sky TV — Feature Comparison

The main difference is how you pay: Sky charges per package on a contract, IPTV charges one price per plan length. Sky changes prices and offers regularly, so check its current price list for exact figures.

The Real Cost: Sky vs IPTV Over 12 Months

The honest way to compare is with your own Sky bill. Add up twelve months of everything you pay Sky for TV, then set it against the TVNado plan you would choose.

Paying month by month for a year costs $239.88; the 12-month plan costs $69.99 and currently covers 14 months, about $5 a month. TVNado bills in US dollars, so a UK card pays at the bank's exchange rate. Plug your own numbers into the cord-cutting savings calculator to see the difference for your household.

Sports Coverage: IPTV vs Sky Sports

Sky Sports holds the UK rights to large parts of Premier League football, Formula 1 and cricket, and many viewers stay with Sky solely for sports. Here's how IPTV compares:

For weekend football specifically, the UK sports IPTV guide goes match by match.

Picture, recording and the everyday experience

Sky's strength is the box. Sky Q and Sky's broadband-based boxes give you one remote, series recording and apps in a single menu. IPTV replaces that with a streaming stick or smart TV app and a player such as TiviMate or IPTV Smarters. Day to day it feels like a channel grid with a guide: fast to zap, less polished than Sky's home screen.

Recording is the biggest practical difference. Some IPTV players record to the device or to USB storage, and catch-up covers many missed programmes, but neither is the same as a Sky box quietly recording a whole series. The IPTV recording guide shows which apps can do it.

Picture quality depends on your broadband more than on the service. HD is comfortable on most UK lines; 4K needs a steady connection, a 4K device and a wired link if you can manage it.

Who should stay with Sky

Sky is still the better fit for some households, and it is worth saying so plainly:

• ▸You are early in a contract — the early exit charge can outweigh a year of savings.
• ▸You rely on series recording — the Sky box does this better than most IPTV players.
• ▸Your broadband is slow or unstable — satellite does not depend on your line.
• ▸You want an official, rights-holding provider — read the guide to whether IPTV is legal before deciding.

How to switch from Sky, step by step

Plan the move around your contract so you do not pay twice or face a surprise charge:

1. 1

   Check your contract end date

   Your Sky account shows when your minimum term ends. Leaving earlier usually means an early termination charge for the months left.

2. 2

   List the channels you really watch

   Go through a normal week: which Sky Sports channels, which entertainment channels, which box sets. That list is what the IPTV trial has to cover.

3. 3

   Run the free trial on a match night

   Start the TVNado 24-hour trial before a big fixture and watch it on the TV you use for Sky, not a phone.

4. 4

   Give notice the way Sky asks

   Sky sets its own notice period and cancellation route. Check both on Sky's help pages, and confirm whether any equipment has to be returned.

5. 5

   Keep your broadband separate

   If your broadband is with Sky as well, decide whether you keep it. Dropping TV can change the broadband price, so ask for the new figure in writing.

Weighing the cheaper Sky option too? The IPTV vs NOW comparison covers Sky's contract-free service, and IPTV against Virgin Media covers the cable bundle.

Frequently Asked Questions