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Cheap Digital TV Deals

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It's possible to get special hidden deals offering substantially cheaper digital TV packages. These usually, though not always, beat what you can get direct. This is a regularly updated list of deals and offers for Sky, Virgin & Tiscali packages.

For a full step system on cutting the cost of your TV bundle read the Digital TV Cost Cutting guide.


Last Updated: 3PM 4 Nov 2009
Cheap Digital TV Deals
Slash the cost of Sky & Virgin with hidden deals
Tiscali TV, broadband & phone, £16.66/month
Ends 13 Nov. Tiscali+ box free, and £70 cashback

Until 13 November, comparison site SimplifyDigital* is offering £70 cashback when you sign up for Tiscali's £19.99/mth TV, Home Phone and Broadband package via its special link. Tiscali was recently taken over by phone provider TalkTalk.

You also get a Tiscali+ box, which works like Sky+, meaning you can record, pause and rewind live TV programs, which can normally cost up to £100.

Factoring in the £30 connection fee, this brings the monthly cost down to just £16.66, only £5.41 more than BT's standard line rental alone. You must sign a minimum 12 month contract.

You can only apply over the phone at the moment, though it's hoping to add an 'apply online' option soon. You'll need a working phone line to take up this offer.

It's worth noting that the Tiscali version of the '+ Box' can't be remotely programmed, and has a smaller hard drive than Sky+. This means you can't record as many hours of programs (you can still do 50 though!)

Unfortunately only around 55% of homes can get Tiscali's TV service, so check it's available* in your area (though ensure you actually sign up via the SimplifyDigital link above, else you won't get the cashback). For those who can get it, this is a cracking deal.

Old TV

What do you get?:

  • Tiscali+ PVR box (works like Sky+, full details)
  • Tiscali TV Variety pack (70 digital TV channels, see list)
  • Up to 8Mbps unlimited download home broadband, and wireless router.
  • Inclusive weekend UK and International calls to USA (inc mobiles), Canada (inc mobiles), Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Netherlands.
  • Line rental

Use override providers

Tiscali's standard call costs for weekday usage is 4.5p/min, with an 8p connection charge for each call!

However, you are able to use special 'override' providers to slash the cost. Here you dial a short code before making your call, and then pay a different, lower price; as low as 0p/min with a 5p connection fee.

For full details on how to use override providers, read the Home Phones guide.

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Free SkyHD+ plus poss cashback
Ongoing deal

Currently Sky* are offering a free Sky+ HD Box to new and existing customers who sign up to Sky Movies for twelve months. Anyone who takes up this deal by 17 December (and activates their viewing by 17 Jan 2010) will also bag a £50 Marks & Spencer voucher.

This costs £36/month (if you pay by direct debit), with a £30 set up fee, so is only worth it if you really want the movie channels.

You will either need to retain your BT landline (standard cost £11.25/month if you pay by direct debit and have paperless billing), or switch to Sky's phone package, Sky Talk (costing £11/month). If you take this second option - which isn't amongst the cheapest home phone providers (see the Home Phones guide) - you'll also get free 2MB broadband included (otherwise that'd cost £5/month).

HD gives you access to high definition channels but you'll need an HD TV too (see below for more info).

Old TV

Possibly bag extra cashback

Rather than signing up to the Sky direct, do it via a special 'cashback' website and you can currently get up to £95 cashback on top of the free Sky+HD box and £50 M&S voucher. Cashback sites are websites that list retailers/product providers and get paid if you click through them. Importantly, they then give some or all of this cash to you.

If you're new to this concept, please read the Best Cashback Sites guide before continuing, as while there shouldn't be a problem with these deals, the payout on cashback sites is never guaranteed; if there's a dispute with the retailer and the cashback site doesn't get paid, you don't either.

Topcashback: Now pays £95. Link: Topcashback*
Quidco: Pays £65, but takes the first £5 earned each year. Link: Quidco*
Cashback Kings: Pays £65. Link: Cashback Kings*

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Glossary

High Definition TV (HDTV): This uses a better resolution for a more detailed image on your screen. To get an HD picture you'll need an HD ready TV plus a special HD receiver box. Check whether your TV is HD ready at website HD Ready

HD Ready: This refers to screens which are capable of displaying lower end high definition (HD) content, which is still far more detailed than regular, standard definition telly (720 lines as opposed to 480), but not as detailed as Full HD 1080p below. (Wikipedia)

Sky+: It's a hard-drive recorder which means you can live pause and rewind live programmes, and record things without tape. It's been called Sky's "killer application" and is rated by the Which? as the top box of its type.

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* Using these links helps the site stay ad-free and free to use, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you via price comparison services like Moneysupermarket or affiliate sites, this then means if you end up getting a product this site gets revenue

You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things we write) iss NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, its still listed in the same way. The following link Simplify Digital, Tiscali, Sky are identical unaffiliated links provided for the sake of transparency. Click on the following link for more details on how this site's financed.


Thanks all Moneysavers who've spotted & suggested deals
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