NOW TV Launches Contract-Free TV, Broadband And Calls Bundle

Sky is beginning a price war with itself, with the company launching a contract-free TV, broadband and calls bundle as part of its NOW TV brand.

NOW TV launched in July 2012, offering users the ability to access Sky Movies’ vast library of films without forcing them to sign up to a Sky TV package. It was the company’s way of competing with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

Since then NOW TV has grown to include live Sky Sports, as of March 2013, and even entertainment channels like Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Fox and ABC Studios since October 2013.

NOW TV is now taking an even bigger place in Sky’s line-up of products, with the company offering one of the UK’s most affordable options for getting live TV, broadband and calls all in one package.

The NOW TV Combo is set to launch in July and will combine Sky’s broadband and landline offering with the current NOW TV system people have become familiar with. There are a few differences between the new combo package and the standard package however, including a brand new NOW TV Smart Box – which includes a TV tuner for watching over 60 free-to-air TV channels.

While the NOW TV Combo will give users an access to a comprehensive set of services, the best thing about the new service could be the price. Those buying the NOW TV Combo will be charged £9.99 a month for everything – TV, broadband and landline. What’s more is that there will be no rolling contract, meaning users can dip in and out as they please, although they will still be liable to pay line rental for each month they subscribe.

At £9.99 users will get NOW TV’s entertainment package, which includes 11 pay TV channels including Sky 1, Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Fox and more. They will also get Sky’s Brilliant Broadband package, which will give users unlimited data and speeds of up to 17Mbps. The calls package however isn’t as glamourous as those offered by Sky, BT or any of its competitors – with no free call allowance as part of the £9.99 fee.

Customers will also not get away with just paying £9.99 a month – as there will also be a £17.99 line rental to take into account. That takes the price of the basic package up to £27.98 per month. That’s only slightly more expensive than similar introductory packages available from the likes of Virgin Media, Sky and BT.

The key draw for NOW TV however is the fact that it does not include a minimum term contract – leaving users free to dip in and out as they see fit. That could be ideal for a second home, where a user may not always be there and may not always want to pay for something they’re not using.

There is a slight downside to that non-minimum term contract however – with NOW TV imposing a £40 set-up fee. That fee rises to £50 if users opt for one of the company’s fibre packages – which are optional extras.

As for those fibre packages, users should expect to pay slightly more for the monthly fee too. A base combo including the entertainment package and fab fibre broadband, which offers speeds up to 38Mbps, will cost users £19.99 a month excluding line rental. There’s also a super fibre package which brings speeds up to 76Mbps and will set users back £24.99 a month without line rental.

Those are not the only optional extras either. Those who would rather have inclusive minutes rather than a pay-as-you-go call package can pay an extra £4 a month for evening and weekend calls, or £8 a month for anytime calls. Other extras include more channels, such as the Sky Cinema Pass, Sky Sports Pass and the Kids Pass. Adding those extra channels will bring the grand total up to 35.

Users wanting the super fibre broadband package with anytime calls and all the TV channels can expect to pay £105.95 when line rental is also taken into account. That’s only slightly less than the £127.40 monthly cost that comes with buying Sky Q Silver and all of the associated packages. It’s also more than the £90.99 introductory monthly cost that comes with taking out Virgin Media’s top of the line package – which also includes 200Mbps broadband speeds.

Gidon Katz, managing director of NOW TV says: “NOW TV has got something for everyone – TV they love to watch, when they want and on their own terms. It’s why we’re not stopping there.

“With the NOW TV Combo, we’re pushing the boundaries again with the UK’s first contract-free triple play bundle. Plus, our customers will get the benefits of our new NOW TV Smart Box that brings together free-to-air and Pay TV shows seamlessly.

“We know people want the freedom and control of a no strings relationship when it comes to choosing their TV, broadband and call package, so the NOW TV Combo is the product and service they deserve.”

Every NOW TV Combo comes with the brand new Smart Box, which can be bought separately for £40. Sky says that it is the most advanced streaming box in its price bracket – but with Apps such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video missing, users may prefer an Amazon Fire TV stick or Google Chromecast for a similar price. The new Smart Box does include a TV tuner however – something no other smart set-top box at this price point offers.

Those purchasing a NOW TV Combo and utilising the Smart Box will be presented with a new user interface. Sky says that “the new homepage is the one stop destination for all our customers’ viewing needs.” This new homepage includes everything from editorial recommendations updated throughout the day, featuring the best shows from all channels- both live and on demand, as well as quick access to the App users know and love – like ITV Hub, All4, BBC iPlayer and Demand 5.

NOW TV has also brought a few new features to the Smart Box, such as the ability to pause live TV for up to 30 minutes.

As for hardware, the box is capable of 1080p video and up to 7.1 surround sound. The HDMI port on the rear of the box is not HDMI 2.0 however, meaning it’s not HDCP 2.2 compliant – so don’t go expecting any 4K TV broadcasts in the future. Other ports include Ethernet, a microSD card slot and a USB port.

NOW TV Combo packages will be available in July for those in a NOW TV network area.