Short answer: the UK's main IPTV providers are the four broadband companies that sell TV: BT/EE, Virgin Media, Sky and TalkTalk. All four now deliver TV over the internet rather than a dish, but only Sky Stream works on someone else's broadband; Virgin, EE and TalkTalk TV require their own lines. If your broadband contract is ending, a bundle can save money. If it isn't, Sky Stream or NOW on your existing connection is usually simpler.
At a glance
UK broadband TV providers
| Works on any broadband | Sky Stream only |
| Cheapest TV add-on | TalkTalk TV Hub, from about £5/mo |
| Most included apps | EE TV (NOW + Netflix on some plans) |
| Sky Sports and Cinema in one bill | Virgin Sport and Cinema bundles |
| Clearest price rises | BT/EE: +£2 TV, +£4 broadband each March |
| Typical term | 24 months |
Who sells broadband and TV together in 2026
"IPTV providers UK" searches mostly return listicles of unlicensed resellers. The actual IPTV providers most British homes use are the broadband companies, all of which have moved their TV onto internet delivery: Virgin's Stream box, EE's TV boxes, Sky Stream and TalkTalk's TV Hub. They hold carriage deals for the channels they sell and come with the consumer protections that go with a regulated broadband contract.
| Provider | TV box | Needs own broadband? | Entry price (Oct 2026) | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | Stream box | Yes | £28.99/mo with broadband (Flex TV) | 24 months |
| EE (and BT) | EE TV box or Apple TV 4K on some plans | Yes | £41.99/mo with Full Fibre 100, plus £30 activation | 24 months |
| Sky | Sky Stream puck, or Sky Glass TV | No | TV from £15/mo; broadband extra | 24 months or 31-day |
| TalkTalk | TalkTalk TV Hub | Yes | About £5/mo on top of broadband | No separate TV term |
Smaller full-fibre companies mostly don't sell TV at all. If you're with one of them, Sky Stream or NOW are the licensed ways to add pay TV without switching broadband.
Virgin Media: the widest range of bundles
Virgin sells TV only with its own broadband. Its line-up in October 2026 started at £28.99 a month for broadband plus Flex TV, with Entertainment from £32.99, Cinema from £42.99, Sport from £52.99, Sport and Cinema from £62.99, and a top Max Volt bundle with an O2 SIM from £74.99, all on 24 months.
Points worth knowing:
- The Stream box is the standard box now. It's small, 4K-capable and runs apps alongside live channels.
- Netflix Standard with Ads comes included on eligible bundles.
- Sky Atlantic came to Virgin TV bundles for the first time on 1 April 2026, which closed one of the long-standing gaps against Sky.
- Extra rooms cost £10 a month for the first additional Stream box and £5 for each one after that.
- Self-install is free; an engineer visit was £30.
The catch is the price from month 25. Virgin's own pages show a much higher standard price once the term ends, so diary the end date.
BT and EE: one TV service, two brands
BT and EE now sell the same TV service, branded "together with EE". Packages run from Entertainment through Entertainment Plus, Sport, Sport Plus and Full Works, and you can add Sky Sports and TNT Sports. TNT Sports Ultimate, the 4K tier, needs a connection above 40Mbps.
The value is in what's bundled. EE's TV and Full Fibre 100 plan, at £41.99 a month in October 2026, included NOW Entertainment and Netflix Standard with Ads. HBO Max also comes with NOW Entertainment & HBO Max plans on EE.
BT and EE also have the most predictable price rises: £2 a month on TV plans and £4 on broadband every 31 March. EE prints the resulting figures on the offer: £47.99 from March 2027 and £53.99 from March 2028 for that plan. Expect a £30 activation fee.
Sky: the one that doesn't need its broadband
Sky Stream is a small box that plugs into the TV and streams Sky's channels over any broadband with about 25Mbps to spare. That makes Sky the only big UK TV provider you can take without changing your internet. Essential TV costs £15 a month on 24 months or £18 rolling; Ultimate TV, which bundles Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max (all with ads), costs £24 or £27. Sky Sports is £33 a month on top on a 24-month deal.
Sky also sells broadband, and taking both on one bill can simplify things, but there's no technical need to. If your current broadband is good and cheap, keep it.
Sky Glass is the same service built into a TV (from £699 for the 43-inch Gen 2 model). It's only worth considering if you were buying a new TV anyway.
TalkTalk: the cheapest add-on
TalkTalk's TV Hub is a Google-powered box that adds 70-plus live channels, including Freeview channels, the main catch-up apps and the Google Play store, so NOW, Prime Video and other apps install on it. It supports 4K and Dolby Atmos. TV is an optional add-on from about £5 a month to a TalkTalk broadband plan, without a separate long TV contract.
It's the best fit for a household that mainly watches free TV and wants one tidy box with a guide, plus the option to add NOW or other apps. It isn't a pay-TV package: Sky Sports or TNT come through those apps, billed separately.
What each bundle really costs over two years
Comparing headline prices is misleading because rises and fees land at different times. Here is the two-year cost of the entry bundles, using listed October 2026 prices and published rises where providers state them.
| Bundle | Months 1-12 | Months 13-24 | Fees | Two-year total, approx. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE TV + Full Fibre 100 | £41.99, then £47.99 from March 2027 | £47.99, then £53.99 from March 2028 | £30 activation (first bill £71.99) | About £1,190 if you start in October |
| Virgin broadband + Flex TV | £28.99 | Rise set in contract* | Free self-install | About £700 before rise |
| Sky Stream Essential (TV only) | £15 | Rise likely in April* | Check at checkout | About £360 plus broadband |
| TalkTalk broadband + TV Hub | Broadband price + about £5 | Per broadband contract | Check offer | Broadband cost + about £120 |
*Exact timing depends on your start date. The rows aren't like-for-like (EE includes faster fibre and NOW Entertainment; Sky's figure excludes broadband), which is the point: work out the total for your own address and needs before comparing. Our guide to UK TV contracts and price rises explains how the rises and exit fees work.
When a bundle is worth it, and when it isn't
Worth it when your broadband contract is ending anyway, when the bundle includes services you'd buy regardless (NOW Entertainment, Netflix), or when you want Sky Sports and Cinema on one bill with a proper box in every room.
Not worth it when you're mid-contract with another broadband provider, when you mostly watch free TV, or when you only want sport for part of the year. In those cases Sky Stream on a 31-day plan, or NOW memberships you can cancel, beat a 24-month bundle. Our no-contract UK TV guide lists the monthly options, and the Freely and Freeview comparison covers the free route.
One more thing: speed. TV over broadband shares the line with everything else. A single HD stream needs about 5 to 10Mbps, Sky Stream recommends 25Mbps, and 4K sport needs more. If the household also games and video-calls, aim for a full-fibre plan rather than the slowest tier. There's more on this in internet speed for 4K streaming.
Quick answers
Which UK TV providers use IPTV? All the big ones now deliver TV over the internet: Virgin Media's Stream box, EE and BT TV, Sky Stream and Sky Glass, and TalkTalk's TV Hub. Freely does the same for free channels.
Can I get Virgin or EE TV without their broadband? No. Virgin Media TV and EE/BT TV are sold only with their own broadband, and TalkTalk TV is an add-on to TalkTalk broadband. Sky Stream is the exception and works on any broadband.
What is the cheapest UK broadband and TV bundle? TalkTalk's TV Hub add-on, at about £5 a month on top of its broadband, is the cheapest way to add a TV box. Among pay-TV bundles, Virgin's broadband with Flex TV started at £28.99 a month in October 2026.
How much do BT and EE TV prices rise each year? BT and EE add £2 a month to TV plans and £4 a month to broadband every 31 March.
Does Virgin Media have Sky Atlantic? Yes. Sky Atlantic was added to Virgin Media TV bundles from 1 April 2026.
Do I need a dish for Sky in 2026? No. Sky Stream and Sky Glass deliver Sky over broadband, with about 25Mbps recommended. A dish is only needed for the older Sky Q satellite service.
Is it worth switching broadband just to get TV? Usually only when your broadband contract is ending. Mid-contract, you would pay exit fees, so adding Sky Stream or NOW to your existing line is normally cheaper.
Packages, prices and included apps are as listed by each provider in early October 2026 and vary by address and speed. Two-year totals are estimates. Checked October 2026.