Broadband Guide

Broadband, phone and digital TV

Updated: Monday 23 January, 2012

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you’re not already bundling your home telecoms services, perhaps it's time you joined the millions of people who have already signed up for digital TV and home phone with their broadband.

Choosing a digital TV, phone and broadband package

The three major providers when it comes to broadband, home phone and digital television are BT Broadband, Sky and Virgin Media. TalkTalk (www.TalkTalk.co.uk) was a fourth "triple play" provider, but since 2011 it has stopped offering TalkTalk TV to new customers (existing customers are unaffected).

All three providers have different advantages over their competitors; BT offers a great value TV service to which you can add monthly packages and on-demand shows, Sky offers excellent digital TV, Virgin Media has the fastest broadband and a great catch-up TV service.

• Broadband speeds - Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) and BT (www.BT.com) offer the UK’s fastest broadband packages with speeds of 100Mb broadband. Virgin Media consistently ranks high in Ofcom broadband speed tests and performed well across the board in the Broadbandchoices.co.uk customer satisfaction awards 2011, being Highly Commended for both its Quality and Reliability, and Speed of Activation. BT's fibre broadband will be available to two-thirds of the UK by 2014.
• TV channels - Sky (www.Sky.com) and Virgin Media offer the biggest selections of channels in their packages, and Virgin Media has an extensive on-demand offering, including BBC iPlayer direct to your TV, while Sky has over 50 High-Definition channels - including a 3D TV channel. Call Sky on 08442 411 818 to find out more (existing customers should call 08442 414 141 for account enquiries).
• Phone rates - Most packages come with inclusive calls on weekends, weekends and evening or anytime. Choose a plan which reflects how you use your phone. If you make most of your calls on your mobile, a cheaper Weekend-only plan could work for you. However, if you love to talk and spend lots of time using your home phone, an Anytime plan may work best.
• Line rental - You will also have to pay line rental with these providers. BT (www.BT.com) line rental starts from £10 a month when you pay a year in advance, though the usual direct debit cost is now £14.60.

Remember, cheaper doesn’t always mean better - you simply need to think about what your priority is.

Best to bundle?

Is it better not to bundle?

If you want all three services, but are worried about the costs of call charges, as BT, Sky and Virgin Media don’t offer the most competitive rates, then you might be better off taking your home phone line from someone else.

Price wise, it’s very hard to beat TalkTalk’s call costs when it comes to big bundle providers. However, as its TV service is no longer available to new customers, you will be unable to bundle all of your services with the same provider.

As with all such deals, you really need to take your needs into consideration. If you don't plan to use one of the services and are just getting it because it’s a good deal, then don’t - unless it is cheaper to have it than not. Be realistic with yourself and don’t be tempted into signing up for something that will just be a waste of money.

What’s the future for bundling?

If you love the idea of bundling and want to take it to the next level, then Virgin Media can offer the ultimate in bundling. As well as offering home broadband, home phone and digital TV, Virgin Media also supplies mobile broadband and mobile phone packages.

BT’s Openzone wireless network, and its Fon service, means that BT customers can connect mobile phones, PDAs and laptops no matter where they are, using a combination of BT’s mobile broadband and inclusive wireless broadband minutes.

No matter what the next stage in bundling is, consumers are unlikely to turn their backs on bundles any time soon - the ease of dealing with a single provider and the savings that can be made are just too tempting.

Use our broadband comparison calculator to compare services and bundles and find the right deal for you.

Or click here to read our other articles on bundling home phone and broadband.

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