NOW (NOW TV) vs Sky Stream (2026)
NOW (NOW TV) and Sky Stream are both licensed live-TV services in United Kingdom. This comparison lines up their current plans, channel line-ups, sports rights, simultaneous streams, recording and contract terms so you can pick the one that fits how you watch.
Side by side
| NOW (NOW TV) | Sky Stream | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | £7.99/month (Entertainment) | from £26/month (Essential TV + Netflix) |
| Channels | Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Sports 1-9 (Sports), Sky Cinema | Full Sky TV line-up over broadband |
| Sports rights | Premier League (Sky games), EFL, F1 | Premier League (Sky), EFL, F1 |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | 1 |
| Recording / DVR | None (catch-up only) | Playlist (cloud) instead of recordings |
| Free trial | None at present | None |
| Contract | None on monthly plans | 31-day rolling or 24 months |
| 4K | No | Yes |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing.
Price
NOW (NOW TV)
| Plan | Monthly price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | £7.99 /month | Sky Atlantic, Sky Max; £4.99 Saver with 6-month term |
| Cinema | £9.99 /month | Sky Cinema; from £6.99 on a 6-month term |
| Sports | £34.99 /month | all Sky Sports channels; from £27.99 on a 12-month term |
| Sports Day Membership | £14.99 /month | 24-hour pass |
| Boost | See official pricing | ad-free, Full HD, 3 devices; price at checkout |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing.
Sky Stream
| Plan | Monthly price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Essential TV + Netflix | from £26 /month | 31-day rolling or 24-month contract |
| Sky Sports add-on | from £27 /month | |
| Sky Cinema add-on | from £13 /month | |
| Ultimate TV (Essential + Netflix + Discovery+) | from £33 /month |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing. Price not shown on the official page when checked; figure from the last public price list.
Channels and sports
NOW (NOW TV)
- Premier League (Sky games)
- EFL
- F1
- Cricket
- Golf
- Darts
- Rugby
Sky Stream
- Premier League (Sky)
- EFL
- F1
- Cricket
- Golf
Streams, recording and devices
NOW (NOW TV)
Simultaneous streams: 3 · Recording / DVR: None (catch-up only)
Sky Stream
Simultaneous streams: 1 · Recording / DVR: Playlist (cloud) instead of recordings
Verdict
NOW is contract-free and works on your own devices; Sky Stream gives the full Sky guide with Netflix through Sky hardware.
Switching or combining
Both services are contract-free on their monthly plans, so you can run NOW (NOW TV) for one season and Sky Stream for the next, or hold both during the months when their sports rights overlap. Cancel from the account page; there is no equipment to return.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, NOW (NOW TV) or Sky Stream?
Compare the first plan of each in the table above; the cheaper headline price is only half the answer because streams, recording and sports add-ons differ.
Which has more sport, NOW (NOW TV) or Sky Stream?
NOW (NOW TV): Premier League (Sky games), EFL, F1. Sky Stream: Premier League (Sky), EFL, F1. Rights move between seasons, so check the current schedule.
Can I subscribe to both NOW (NOW TV) and Sky Stream?
Yes. Both sell monthly plans without a contract, so many households keep one all year and add the other for a specific season.
Which supports more simultaneous streams?
NOW (NOW TV): 3. Sky Stream: 1.
Do NOW (NOW TV) and Sky Stream work on the same devices?
Largely yes: NOW Stick, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku for NOW (NOW TV); Sky Stream puck (supplied), Sky Glass for Sky Stream.