EE TV v Sky Stream: which one should EE customers choose?

A new era for EE starts next week as it begins to sell Sky Stream directly to customers. The company has reassured users of its current TV service that it’s not going anywhere, but switching to Sky Stream may appeal to some customers.

Seven years after EE’s parent BT signed a deal with Sky signalling an end to a long-running dispute over each other’s TV services, EE confirmed on Tuesday it was starting to sell Sky Stream from 15th October.

Is it unusual for a company to offer two different TV services?

It’s not the first telecoms company to begin offering customers multiple TV services. TalkTalk did just that when it launched a 4K box powered by Netgem. It then launched the Android-based TalkTalk TV Hub. And of course Sky itself offers different versions of its TV service, based on satellite (Sky Q) and IPTV (Sky Glass/Sky Stream).

What’s different is that EE is actively selling a rival’s TV product.

What’s happening to EE TV?

EE has been very quick to stress that its current TV service isn’t being switched off. It’s promised customers there’ll be further development, with ‘exciting’ new features coming up.

However, for viewers who want to move to streaming-only TV, Sky Stream offers users more channels and apps than EE’s equivalent internet only service – known as ‘Internet mode’ and only available on the current generation of EE TV receivers.

It’s hard to imagine EE keeping its own TV platform going in the longer term, especially if uptake of Sky Stream is high. In the meantime, the majority of EE TV customers will be locked into their contractual term.

Isn’t Sky Stream independent of ISP anyway?

Technically, Sky Stream has been available to EE Broadband users since it launched in the UK. In fact, Sky’s IPTV service can be used with any UK internet provider.

The difference is that EE will market Sky Stream directly to its customers via its retail, online and telephone sales outlets.

How do the two services compare?

TV channels and apps

Sky Stream offers viewers more channels than EE TV’s offering if you’re only using the internet to watch TV. If you use a TV aerial, additional channels from Freeview are available via EE TV.

• EE TV’s channel list is bulked up by duplicating HD and SD channels. You’ll need to pay extra to watch some channels in HD.
• Sky Stream offers viewers full HD streams of channels by default.

There are around 20 apps available on EE TV’s newest box. Sky says Sky Stream now tops 50 apps, including some not on EE TV, including Paramount+.

---

Channel comparisons – click or tap on + symbol to expand.

---

Recordings

On EE TV, your ability to record depends on which box you’ve got. The EE TV Pro box allows viewers to record up to 2 programmes at any one time. If you’re using aerial mode, you’ll be able to record up to 4 programmes. But there’s no recording available on Apple TV or mini boxes.

You can’t record from streaming apps, and recordings on some channels aren’t traditional recordings at all – you have to go through the streaming app, e.g. BBC iPlayer.

You may lose the right to watch a recording. This may happen if you change from aerial to internet mode, add or remove a subscription package.

Sky Stream pucks don’t have a hard drive to record programmes. Instead programmes are added to a playlist that you can access via the internet. Playback may be via a broadcaster’s streaming app.

Contracts and pricing

Both EE TV and Sky Stream subscriptions are currently subject to a 24 month minimum term for new customers. You can add/remove extras, such as sports channels and streaming apps on shorter terms.

As a result, there will be many EE customers within contract who won’t necessarily be able to switch from EE TV to Sky Stream without penalty, or paying for both services at the same time. EE must notify customers when they fall out of contract.

Sky Stream, TV and Netflix (standard with ads) start from £26 a month via the Sky website. Notably, Sky’s announcement of a deal with EE quotes a starting price of £28 a month. However, the price does not include the cost of your broadband connection, which you’ll need for Sky Stream to work.

EE TV is currently offered as part of a Broadband+TV bundle. The price depends on the state of the phone & broadband network in your area. That’s why when you visit the EE website, you’re asked for your address before prices are quoted.

If you are in an area served by full fibre on the Openreach network, you can expect to pay at least £53.99 monthly, with the cheapest option including NOW TV Entertainment Membership, Netflix (standard with ads) and EE’s Full Fibre 150 essentials package.

---

By: Marc Thornham | Image: contains material from Sky and EE | Additional information: prices as compared on EE and Sky websites at 23:00 BST 08/10/2024. New customers.