Digital TV, Broadband & Phone

Many people are drawn towards buying cable over other forms of TV, broadband or phone services because of the ability to purchase combined packages offering the best deals for taking a mix of each of the products. The type of package for all three of these services individually has increased in complexity over the last few years, which has been to take account of increased competition from other providers as well as advances in technology.

For example, television packages are available with around 40 to 50 'basic' channels, offering a mix of entertainment, news, music, documentary etc. However, as well as this there is usually a higher level of 'basic' TV package, offering up to 100 of these type of channels, which will often include more "plus one" channels (time shifted channels showing the normal schedule one hour later) and international channels.

In addition, there are premium channels available, which now include not just extra sports channels (e.g. Setanta, Sky Sports), and Movies (e.g. Sky Movies), but also premium international channels. On top of that, there are also 'pay per view' services. This traditionally only offered one off events such as movies or wrestling events, but now also includes some premiership football games.

What this means is that you should think carefully about what type of TV you want most before settling on a package. For example, if you want movies, you might not necessarily need to include Sky Movies, if you are happy to watch only a few movies a month that are newer and of your choice and time for the same cost.

Conversely, if sport is important to you, you may need to consider taking a package with fewer 'basic' channels, to allow you to budget for pay per view games that are not on Sky Sports or Setanta.

With bundles, there is often a special offer on taking HD and TV recorder packages (allowing you to pause, rewind and store TV programming). One example of this is Virgin's V+, which is usually offered for £5 extra a month when taken with a bundle.

Telephone services have also increased in range, as you are unlikely to find phone packages offering line rental only. Packages will typically cover free weekend calls, free weekend plus evening calls, or free anytime calls.


This may sound like an easy decision if you simply think about when you normally use your phone, but the availability of VoIP telephony may give an additional consideration. This allows voice telephone calls to be made over the internet, meaning you will need a high capacity line to enable you to use the internet at the same time.

Fortunately, cable offers some of the fastest broadband speeds available - even the most basic packages will offer speeds up to 10Mbps, whilst the highest currently have a maximum speed of around 50Mbps. If you want the fastest internet package for general needs, it might then be cost effective to get the best phone package anyway, as the price of both will be heavily discounted when taken together.

By carefully assessing your needs, you can mix the different levels of provision for the different bundles to create a tailored, cost effective package for you.