Freeview may suit you if…
- You mainly watch free-to-air channels
- You want no monthly cost
- Your broadband is slow or unreliable
TV options compared
IPTV vs Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview: how they compare
Four very different ways to get television into a UK home. Here is how they work, what each one needs, and which kind of household each tends to suit, without the sales pitch.
IPTV vs Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview at a glance
Comparing IPTV vs Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview is less about which is “better” and more about which fits your home, your broadband and how you like to pay. Freeview is free-to-air TV through an aerial. Sky is best known for satellite TV, though it now also offers TV over broadband. Virgin Media built its service on its own cable network. IPTV delivers everything over your existing internet connection, which is why an IPTV UK service can run on almost any screen in the house.
| Feature | IPTV | Sky | Virgin Media | Freeview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Broadband | Satellite dish, or broadband with Sky Glass and Sky Stream | Cable network, plus broadband-based options | Rooftop or indoor aerial |
| Equipment | Smart TV, stick, box, phone, tablet or computer | Sky box or Sky Glass TV | Virgin set-top box | TV with built-in tuner or a Freeview box |
| Installation | Self-install an app | Often an engineer for a dish | Often an engineer for cable | Aerial, if not already fitted |
| Payment | Varies by provider; often fixed periods | Monthly, usually with a minimum term | Monthly, usually with a minimum term | No subscription |
| Needs broadband? | Yes | For on-demand and broadband-based TV | Usually bundled | No, except for on-demand apps |
Every option above still needs a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV or use BBC iPlayer.
How each one delivers TV
Freeview: aerial broadcast
Freeview is the UK’s free-to-air digital terrestrial service. Signals are broadcast from transmitters and picked up by an aerial, so there is no monthly bill and no broadband requirement for the core channels. Newer Freeview devices add on-demand players that do use your internet connection. Reception depends on your location and the condition of your aerial.
Sky: satellite and, increasingly, broadband
Traditional Sky TV arrives via a satellite dish connected to a Sky box. In recent years Sky has also launched services that skip the dish altogether, Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which stream TV over broadband. In other words, one of the UK’s largest pay-TV providers now uses internet delivery, the same principle as IPTV.
Virgin Media: cable network
Virgin Media delivers TV over its own cable network, usually alongside broadband and phone in a bundle. Availability depends on whether your street is connected to that network. Like Sky, it has added streaming options that rely on the internet connection.
IPTV: your existing broadband
IPTV sends each channel or film to you on request over your broadband. There is no separate network to join. If your home has a reasonable connection, an IPTV service can work there, whichever broadband provider you use. For a fuller explanation, read what is IPTV?
Equipment and installation
This is where the differences are most noticeable day to day. Satellite and cable services typically supply a set-top box, and a first installation may need an engineer to fit a dish or connect cable. Freeview needs a working aerial, which many homes already have.
IPTV needs no installation visit. You install a player app such as IPTV Smarters Pro on a device you already own, enter your login and start watching. If your TV is too old to run apps, a streaming stick plugged into a spare HDMI port solves it. The same account also works on a phone, tablet or laptop, which suits renters, students and anyone who moves house regularly.
- Check your broadband speed at the time you usually watch.
- Choose a device: Smart TV app, Fire TV Stick, Android box, phone, tablet or computer.
- Install the player app from an official app store.
- Enter the Xtream Codes login from your provider.
- Test a live channel and a film before settling in.
Contracts and flexibility
Pay-TV in the UK is commonly sold as a monthly subscription with a minimum term, often bundled with broadband, and the price can change when an introductory deal ends. That suits people who want everything from one company on a single bill. Freeview has no contract at all, but also offers only free-to-air channels.
IPTV providers tend to sell fixed periods paid upfront. A Smarters8K IPTV subscription, for example, comes as Essential (£29 for 3 months, 1 screen), Premium (£49 for 12 months, 1 screen) or Supreme (£79 for 12 months, 2 screens). You know the total cost on day one, and at the end of the period you choose whether to renew. Because it runs over any broadband line, you can also change your broadband provider without affecting your TV.
Tip: when comparing, add up the total you would pay over 12 months, including any set-up, equipment or price-rise costs, rather than comparing headline monthly prices.
Picture quality and day-to-day use
Broadcast services have one natural advantage: the signal does not depend on your broadband, so a busy evening on your home network will not affect it. IPTV quality, by contrast, depends on both the provider’s servers and your connection. As a guide, allow about 10 Mbps per screen for HD, 20 Mbps for Full HD and 30 Mbps for 4K. If you plan to watch in Ultra HD, our guide to 4K IPTV in the UK covers the TV, device and connection you need.
In daily use, IPTV apps bring live channels, films, series and catch-up into one menu with a single guide. Smarters8K catch-up goes back up to 7 days on supported channels. Live IPTV streams usually run a few seconds behind broadcast, which is worth knowing if you follow live events alongside friends on another service.
Which option suits which household?
Sky or Virgin Media may suit you if…
- You want one bill for TV and broadband
- You are happy with a minimum-term contract
- You prefer a provider-supplied box and engineer set-up
IPTV may suit you if…
- You have reliable broadband
- You want to watch on several kinds of device
- You prefer a fixed upfront period to a rolling contract
A mix may suit you if…
- You want Freeview as a backup through the aerial
- You add an IPTV app on the same TV for everything else
- You like having two independent sources
IPTV vs Sky, Virgin and Freeview FAQ
Is IPTV cheaper than Sky or Virgin Media?
It depends on what you compare. Pay-TV packages vary with the channels, broadband and extras you add, and prices change often, so compare total cost over the same period. Smarters8K plans are fixed, upfront prices: £29 for 3 months, £49 or £79 for 12 months.
Can I keep Freeview and use IPTV as well?
Yes. Freeview comes in through your aerial and IPTV through your broadband, so they do not interfere with each other. Many households keep Freeview for free-to-air channels and add an IPTV app on the same TV.
Do I need a dish or a cable connection for IPTV?
No. IPTV only needs a broadband connection and a compatible device, such as a Smart TV, Fire TV Stick, Android box, phone, tablet or computer.
Is IPTV reliable enough to replace satellite or cable?
On a stable connection with enough speed, IPTV can be very reliable. Allow about 10 Mbps per screen for HD, 20 Mbps for Full HD and 30 Mbps for 4K, and use Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi for the main TV.
Do Sky and Virgin Media use IPTV?
Both now offer internet-delivered TV alongside their traditional services. Sky Glass and Sky Stream deliver TV over broadband rather than a dish, which shows how mainstream internet delivery has become.
Do I still need a TV Licence with IPTV?
Yes, if you watch or record live TV as it is broadcast or use BBC iPlayer. The rule is the same for Freeview, satellite, cable and IPTV.