Sky Ultimate TV package: Sky to combine four streaming platforms in one

New plans mean that from March people will be able to pay one bill to get access to four different streaming platforms on top of Sky’s entertainment content.

Rather than pay for Netflix, Disney+, Hayu and HBO Max, you will soon be able to combine them into a single package – which comes with Sky’s original programming thrown in too.

The new deal will cost from £24 a month – and will be offered as standard to many existing Sky subscribers, although Sky has also said it will be hiking prices for its TV customers by between £1 and £3.

But that’s cheaper than buying the streaming services separately which cost £27.95 for the basic services at current monthly prices: Netflix (£5.99), Disney+ (£5.99), HBO Max (£4.99), Now TV Entertainment (£4.99 – when you sign up for 12 months) and Hayu (£5.99).

We explain what we know and whether it will save you any money.

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Exactly what’s included in Sky Ultimate

Customers can currently get:

• Sky channels: Sky Atlantic; Sky Comedy; Sky Witness; Sky Crime; Sky Arts; Sky Docs; Sky Nature; Sky History; Sky History 2; Sky Mix; Sky Sci-Fi; 
• Premium channels: National Geographic; MTV; Comedy Central; Alibi; Gold
• Netflix Basic with Ads
• Discovery+ 

From next month, the following will be added in:

• Disney+ Standard with Ads from March
• HBO Max Basic with Ads from March 26 
• Hayu from July, with a selection of shows available from March

You have the option to upgrade your services to the ad-free versions of Netflix for £6 more a month or the premium version for £11 more a month.

It’s likely similar upgrade options will be offered for Disney+ and HBO Max.

Who can get the package?

Existing customers with Sky Q, Sky Stream or Sky Glass subscriptions will be offered “easy access” to the new line-up as standard from March.

New customers can sign up to the Sky Ultimate TV package from £22 a month currently, but that comes with a 24 month contract. Prices can change during that contract.

Add ons include a £5 a month ad-skipping service, Nexflix plan upgrades, a system to watch on more devices in the home for £12 and a UHD and Dolby Atmos upgrade for £6 a month.

There are options to include Sky Movies and Sports channels for additional costs.

You don’t need a satellite dish, but you do need internet access – and you’ll be sent a Sky Stream “puck” – with its own remote control. This plugs into your TV’s HDMI port.

Is it worth it?

If you want to see all the channels in one place, without having to switch around, this is a nice solution.

There’s also the ease of having a single bill to pay.

However, the 24-month contract is at odds with the normal way streaming services operate – which let you sign up and leave with little more than a month’s notice.

Additionally, unless you’re interested in all the services on offer, you might be better off taking out subscriptions separately.