Sky and Virgin Media have gone head to head with rival TV deals, so we’ve broken them down to figure out which is better
Sky and Virgin Media are battling it out this month with two competing TV deals, as the providers tempt consumers into handing over their hard earned cash. To ramp things up, the rivals have launched a choice of TV and broadband deals that each come with a new 4K smart TV.
Earlier this month, Sky unveiled a new addition to its smart TV line, the Sky Glass Gen 2. The brand’s own 4K smart TV with Sky and streaming apps built in has seen some significant upgrades, in screen quality, sound and overall performance.
But hot on Sky’s heels, Virgin has just brought back a popular deal that includes a 4K smart TV completely free when signing up to one of its TV and broadband packages. This means anyone joining can bag a shiny new device worth £399 without paying a penny for it.
READ MORE: ‘I gave Samsung my old phone and saved £80 on my S25 bill’ – shoppers could save £500
READ MORE: Women ‘never go back to tampons’ after ‘saving money’ with three for two period pants
But as Sky and Virgin offer different packages at different prices and now offer two rival TVs, unravelling which deal is better is no easy feat. That’s why we’ve broken down the ins and outs of each deal to help you make the most informed decision.
Sky Glass Gen 2
This month saw the release of Sky’s new and improved smart TV, the Sky Glass Gen 2. This device is Sky’s own-brand 4K model that delivers channels over the internet without the need for Sky box or satellite dish.
It runs on Sky’s own OS intelligent software and boasts smart features like personalised playlists that learn what you like to watch. There’s a choice of three screen sizes – 43”, 55” and 65” – and three colours including volcanic grey, Arctic silver, and blue, with prices starting at £29 per month.
This provides access to more than 100 TV channels with Sky’s Essential TV plan, which also comes with free Netflix and Discovery+ subscriptions. There is an option to add £40 extra channels for £7, plus Sky Cinema and Sky Sports add-ons for £10 and £20 respectively.
Do keep in mind that Sky Glass is taken on a 48-month loan, while the subscription element comes on a 24-month contract that ‘may increase’ during the minimum term.
Virgin’s free TV deal
Everyone loves a freebie, and that’s why Virgin keeps bringing back this popular TV deal. Until 11.59pm on Monday, March 3, new customers signing up for one of four TV and broadband packages can bag a free 43” Hisense 4K smart TV.
There’s also the option for a £200 bill credit in place of the TV, which equates to up to three months of service for free. The cheapest package in the deal is the £60.99 per month Bigger Combo bundle + Movies, which comes with more than 200 TV channels, 11 Sky Cinema channels and 264 Mbps fibre broadband.
Sports fans may want to opt for the £65.99 Bigger Combo bundle + Sports, which provides access to every Sky Sports channel, as well as faster 362Mbps broadband. But for the best of both worlds, it’s worth considering Virgin’s Mega Volt bundle.
Don’t let the £84.99 price tag put you off, as this packed package comes with more than 240 channels including Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, Netflix standard with ads and 1,130Mbps fibre broadband. Members also receive a 250GB O2 SIM and an O2 Extra including Disney+ or Prime Video for six months.
Which deal is better?
Ultimately, Sky and Virgin each offer slightly different things. The main difference between their packages is that Virgin’s plans include broadband as standard, so if you don’t want broadband, Sky may be the best – and much cheaper – option.
But if you add broadband to your Sky Glass plan, the comparable Full Fibre 300 option takes the total cost to £53 per month, plus an extra £10 if you want to add Sky Cinema – so still at least £8 cheaper than Virgin. However, available broadband speeds vary by area, so it’s always worth checking which provider is fastest where you live, as this could make the decision for you.
Virgin’s plans are also shorter than Sky, running for 18 months compared to Sky’s 24, so you’re free to shop around and renegotiate your fees sooner. Another thing to consider is the TV channels on offer, as Virgin’s TV packages include at least 100 more channels than Sky’s entry level Essential TV plan.
However, what lets Virgin down here is that it doesn’t offer Sky Atlantic, meaning you won’t be able to watch the latest HBO shows like The Last of Us and The White Lotus. If that’s a deal breaker, then it has to be Sky.
But what about the TV on offer? There’s no doubt that Hisense is a great brand for providing affordable, high quality TVs at a fraction of the price of rivals including Samsung and Sony.
The 4K UHD model included with Virgin’s deal boasts Dolby Vision HDR and an AI upscaler and has racked up a 4.6-star rating from customers. Reviews point out ‘truly impressive’ image quality, but some say the sound ‘lets it down’.
Sky’s rival Glass Gen 2 boasts a built-in seven-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, as well as a 4K Quantum Dot display and hundreds of smart features like voice control and personal playlists. 4K Quantum Dot is considered better quality than 4K UHD, as it delivers a brighter picture, more vibrant colours and better colour accuracy.
So side by side, the Sky Glass Gen 2 is likely to look much clearer and richer than the Hisense offered by Virgin, so this may be the better option if Sky’s packages suit your needs and you’re happy to be tied into a longer plan.