Sky TV has now been a powerhouse in the UK for almost 40 years, offering a premium alternative to the country’s traditional channels and delivering some of the best drama, film, sport, comedy and factual TV for the past four decades.
Thanks to the broadcaster’s Sky Go app, launched in 2011, all these shows, films and live sport have been available to subscribers across a wide range of mobile platforms and devices.
And while Sky’s content is limited to people based in the UK, there’s a simple, cheap way around the frustrations of having your Sky Go access blocked when you travel out of the country. Below we explain how using one of the best VPN services will keep Sky Go live when you want to watch it while you’re on holiday or on business.
How to view Sky TV subscriptions
Signing up to Sky TV for the first time can be quite a dizzying experience – there seems to be an endless array of options to consider.
The starting plan is Sky Essential TVwhich costs £15 a month (at the time of writing) and includes 100+ channels as well as access to Netflix and Discovery+. Pay an extra £7 a month and upgrade to Sky Ultimate TV to add Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hayu and another 30 channels.
Once you’ve chosen your basic plan, you can decide which additional premium channels you want. It’s here Sky Sports (from £35 per month) and Sky movies (from £25 per month) entered.
But it doesn’t stop there. If you are also looking for a new television, you can choose one Sky glass package that comes together in a 43-, 55- or 65-inch 4K TV.
And you can further tailor your plan to best suit you and your family, with options to add UHD and Dolby Atmos content, ad skips, multi-screen availability, upgraded Netflix and even more channels like TNT Sports and Sky Kids.
You can sign up for your choice of Sky TV plans here.
What is the cheapest way to get Sky TV?
While we’d never describe Sky TV as cheap (especially to some Brits who still remember when all TV was free), there are ways to cut your costs.
For starters, Sky often has offers and discounts through its official website. So if you’re not in a rush to sign up to Sky, it might be worth waiting until it drops prices. Unsurprisingly, Black Friday and the January sales are the best times to get a great Sky TV deal.
You can also save money if you choose Sky as your broadband provider and mobile network at the same time. The company is offering lower rates on both to existing Sky TV subscribers. Or buy a Sky TV and broadband package without leaving.
Another way to watch Sky content for less is through Now, which offers entertainment, sports and film memberships on a more flexible basis. Just note that although owned by Sky, Now is effectively a stand-alone service and therefore doesn’t let you watch through the Sky Go app.
Use a VPN to watch Sky Go anywhere
Why is a VPN a good option for watching Sky Go anywhere?
While Sky Go has brought the huge mass of the broadcaster’s content to mobile phones, laptops and other streaming devices, it simply won’t work if you try to use it outside the UK. The app will load, but you’ll be faced with an error message the second you try to watch something live or on demand.
Fortunately, you can overcome this obstacle by using one of them best streaming VPNs. The cyber security software also works as a way to watch online content when you’re abroad, and they work well with Sky Go.
What devices and platforms are supported by Sky Go and NordVPN?
Amazon Fire TV
Android (7.0 and up)
Android TV (5.1 and up)
Apple TV (tvOS 13 and later)
Desktop app (Windows, Mac, Chromebook)
iOS (13 and up)
While you can’t run NordVPN directly on other devices, such as PlayStation and Xbox consoles, an easy solution is to run NordVPN on your smartphone or computer and set up a hotspot.
What programs can you watch on Sky Go?
Everything you would normally be able to watch with your Sky TV subscription can be watched online thanks to Sky Go.
Even the most affordable Sky Essential TV plan includes access to Sky Atlantic – the provider’s marquee drama channel. Sky Atlantic has been the destination for top American shows such as Game of Thrones, The white lotus, Succession and The last of us over the years, and has co-produced hits such as Gangs of London, Sweetpea and Day of the Jackal.
Essential hosts more than 100 channels in total, meaning Sky Go also offers 24-hour rolling headlines from Sky News and Sky Sports News, hand-picked favorites from Sky Mix, stations such as TLC, Quest and Food Network, and traditional linear channels ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Note that no BBC content is available on Sky Go, so you’ll need to stream BBC iPlayer online.
Upgraded plans make more channels available, with Sky Ultimate TV adding programs from e.g. Sky One, Sky Docs, Sky Comedy, National Geographic and MTV to the Sky Go catalogue. Sky One is a relatively recent reintroduction to the service, and will be home to new Sky Originals such as Saturday Night Live UK and The Dyers’ Caravan Park.
Do you have Sky Movies as part of your subscription? It opens up a library of more than 1,000 movies you can watch on demand, and has been the first place to watch movies such as Jurassic World Rebirth, The materialists and Oscar-winning One match after another out of theaters in the UK.
Is there any live sport on Sky Go?
Just a few! Again, anything that goes out across the provider’s 12 Sky Sports channels is also available to stream on Sky Go.
Firstly, it means an enviable 215 Premier League games during each season under the current deal. Sky also has an astonishing amount of other football, including coverage of the Football League, EFL Cup, Women’s Super League, Scottish Premiership and Bundesliga.
Outside of football, you’ll find hours of other top sports on Sky Go. Cricket, for example, has found a regular home on Sky Sports, with England’s home matches, World Cups, The Hundred, T20 Blast and the India Premier League (IPL) all present.
Live coverage of all golf’s majors, PGA Tour events and the Ryder Cup is the exclusive domain of Sky, while it also shows every F1 Grand Prix, British and Irish Lions rugby union, Super League rugby league and all the major PDC darts tournaments. Tennis fans can watch US Open and ATP/WTA tour events.
Various NFL and NBA coverage from across the Atlantic also airs on Sky Sports, along with other selected boxing, MMA and motorsport events.
You can also enjoy…
We test and review VPN services for legitimate recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a Service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that Service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consumption of paid-for pirated content is neither endorsed nor endorsed by Future Publishing.
