To ask you to explain the different TV packages?

[Moanyoldcow]

I know this is a hideously boring thread but I can't work out what the fuck is the best TV/Internet/Phone business is to get.

I've currently got Sky but it's nearly £100 a month which is just ridiculous.

I know Virgin Media are similar but cheaper but no access to some Sky channels.

But there are all these other things - Now TV, BT infinity etc.

I want to watch, record and pause TV have all the kids channels and all the tat so I can watch shit TV when I'm home.

What do I need?

Seriously, just buy a freeview box and Netflix if you want a wider choice. There are freeview boxes that can record and rewind now but they are a bit more expensive, don't know how much though but it's only a one off payment and you have it forever, no monthly bills. Don't know how much Netflix is a month. There's Now TV too and they often do special deals at a reduced rate a month, particularly when big blockbuster series are starting like Game of Thrones.

You think reducing all the channels to just a few (in comparison) to Freeview that there'll be loads of stuff you'll miss but trust me, you won't.

Amazon fire stick

Are your favourite programmes on Sky?

Cancel that, and get NOW TV instead. It's Sky's own brand of Netflix style on-demand.

You can't watch stuff at the same time it's shown on live telly, but new episodes go up within a couple of hours.

We've got a BT freebies box thingy with our internet and landline and we pay for the Sky films bundle (not hd though) and some children's bundle. We pay £45 a month for that. We also have Amazon fire stick and Netflix.

If only these companies had websites detailing the packages they can provide...

Are netflix or amazon even on the internet yet?

You can watch some stuff live on Now tv. The movie channels and some regular channels can be live but you can't pause the live tv. You obviously can pause the on demand stuff.

We have freesat and freeview. Our box allows us to do all the things you want. Its totallt free.
We have recently added Amazon Prime only cis i was bought a firestick for my burthday. Its ok but i wouldnt miss it

Freesat, PlayStation or Chromecast to stream catch-up progs on laptop/tablet and Netflix /Amazon Prime.

32 a month virgin for 18months. get TiVo box so you can record rewind etc. basic package but amazing 100mbp download broadband and phone.

plus amazon prime.

You can watch Sky, Sky Atlantic, Fox etc live on Now tv.

They also have box sets and lots of catch up.

Cancel Sky and use your sat dish to get freesat, you should get some channels through your current Sky box.

I think you can buy other freesat boxes that record and pause

Now tv works through your broadband not through an aerial.
You can also get apps for it for your laptop or tablet

Thanks everyone.

@araiwa Obviously I've looked online and they all look bloody similar which is why I've asked.

If googling was always the answer why even have forums like this? Don't like the post? Move on.

It pretty good to have real life examples rather than just looking and writing everything down given the permutations and combinations are manifold.

I've got some good ideas of where to start now - thanks for the replies to a really boring thread everyone else - much appreciated.

We've got bt, YouView box £30 per month (this is Internet and phone too!)
Then a nowtv box with £5 per month entertainment and £10 movies I think
Gives us all the sky tv we want and all the rest :)

Can you record programmes on now tv or does it have play on demand?

Feedmyface and Smeaton - both those options sound extremely attractive.

I'm cancelling Sky later today!

I've got a freesat Humax box. It will record stuff that stays on the hard drive long term and we can watch on demand/you tube etc with internet connection. So we just pay for our phone/broad band. No sky etc but really not bothered! The box was about £200 about 2 years ago.

I too have a Humax box, it does exactly what Sky + does, series links, pause, fast forward/back etc.

We have Netflix at £8.99 a month and an Amazon fire stick.

I used to pay for Sky, multinroom etc and it was £100 a month. It's an absolute fortune.

Once your kids get to teenage years they won't watch any live TV - my 2DS watch everything online, mostly YouTube and box sets via Netflix.

We've got a YouView Box (bought it outright so no monthly payment) which allows series record, pausing live tv etc.

Plus we have Netflix all the time for £8 per month and we dip into Amazon and NowTV for a month at a time to watch specific stuff. Eg we'll be re-newing NowTv for Game of Thrones just for 2 or 3 months. And we'll also join Amazon for a month to binge watch series 2 of Preacher.