BT Sport vs Sky Sports

For years, Sky Sports was the destination for live televised sports. But with BT's huge investment in sports programming, including its exclusive access to UEFA Champions League football, the choice isn’t quite as clear-cut anymore. So fans have a big decision to make.

Here we outline exactly what BT and Sky offer to help you get the best sports package to watch all the domestic and international fixtures you want.

BT Sport and Sky Sports: What's the difference?

Both BT Sport and Sky Sports broadcast a lot of high-profile matches and live events, especially when it comes to football - so both are good options for sports fans. But if you want to watch everything that’s going on, you would need to subscribe to both.

What channels are on BT Sport?

There are four BT Sport channels included when you subscribe:

• BT Sport 1

• BT Sport 2

• BT Sport 3

• BT Sport ESPN

As BT Sport airs HD coverage of its sports as well; each BT Sport channel has an HD counterpart too.

What’s on BT Sport?

BT Sport subscribers will get access to 52 Premier League fixtures a season, all 351 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches, as well as FA Cup, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Ultimate Fighting Championship, MotoGP™ and so much more.

Football

• Premier League

• Champions League

• Europa League

• FA Cup

• Scottish Premiership

WWE

• SmackDown

• RAW

• NXT and NXT UK

Cricket

• Big Bash

• Bangladesh Premier League

• Various international tests, one-day and T20 matches

Rugby Union

• Gallagher Premiership

• Champions Cup

• Challenge Cup

And others include:

• MotoGP

• UFC

• Boxing

• Motorsport from around the world

• International hockey

• Red Bull events

• Major League Baseball

• College football

• Canadian football

• College basketball

What channels are on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports includes 11 dedicated sports channels, each featuring a different sport so you can watch as much — or as little — of each sport as you like. Sky Sports channels include:

• Sky Sports Main Event

• Sky Sports Premier League

• Sky Sports Football

• Sky Sports Cricket

• Sky Sports Golf

• Sky Sports Racing

• Sky Sports F1

• Sky Sports Actions

• Sky Sports Arena

• Sky Sports News

• Sky Sports Mix

Sky also offers HD channels that you can add to your package for an additional monthly charge.

What's on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports still holds the lion's share of Premier League matches, with by far the most live games per season.

Football

• Live Premier League games and dedicated Premier League channel

• English Football League — including the EFL Cup

• The SPFL,

• La Liga,

• Major League Soccer,

• Eredivisie,

• Chinese Super League

• ...and every match featuring Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

BT Sport or Sky Sports - which has the best pundits?

Football punditry is a divisive topic amongst fans. Everyone has their favourite commentator, as well as that one pundit who drives you mad.

From intelligent analysis to sensational rants, football punditry comes in many forms, all of which have a vital place in the game.

With Sky Sport and BT Sport both showing the English Premier League, you’ll have to skip between both channels to catch all the games, but which channel has the best pundit?

Sky Sports pundits

Sky Sports’ team of pundits includes a host of English football’s most famous names, such as:

• Gary Neville

• Alan Smith

• Jamie Carragher

• Jamie Redknapp

• Melissa Reddy

• Paul Merson

• Graeme Souness

• Roy Keane

As well as these regulars, you can also expect many special guests and big names from the world of football.

BT Sport pundits

BT Sports’ team of experts includes:

• Rio Ferdinand

• Martin Keown

• Micheal Owen

• Rachel Brown-Finnis

• Joe Cole

• Jermaine Jenas

• Robbie Savage

• Peter Crouch

• Owen Hargreaves

Both channels have a good selection of pundits, but it’s up to you to decide who’s your favourite.

What football TV shows can you watch on Sky?

As well as actual football matches, Sky also has a host of programming to keep you talking about football long after the final whistle.

From beloved panel shows to engrossing documentaries, here are some of the shows you can watch on Sky Sports.

Kenny

The day after the Heysel disaster, Kenny Dalglish has a storied history with Liverpool Football Club, becoming manager after the Heysel disaster and leaving after the Hillsborough disaster.

Leading the club to great glories, Dalglish’s story is that of an iconic man on Merseyside, with much to take in over the roller-coaster years he was there.

Busby

Another documentary on an English football great, Matt Busby led the revolution that turned Manchester United into one of world football’s biggest names.

'89

A long look at one of the most iconic moments in English football. The fortress Anfield. Arsenal needed two goals to win the league title. As the game enters the dying moments of stoppage time, the Gunners are winning, but just by one goal… See how it all went down and hear from Arsenal legends like Lee Dixon and Tony Adams.

Take the Ball, Pass the Ball

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona team is one of the greatest club sides in the history of the game. Learn more about how Guardiola created one of the most successful football teams ever, and hear from the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and of course Pep himself.

Soccer AM

Sky’s long-running fun football show is the place to go on Saturday mornings. Celebrity challenges, surprise guests, and more.

The Football Show

This is Sky Sports' look at what went down over the last week of football. Each week hosts Kelly Cates and David Jones are joined by special guests and Sky pundits.

Sunday Supplement

Catch up on the weekend's football every Sunday morning with Sky Sports Sunday Supplement.

The Women's Football Show

Find out what’s been happening on the pitch with all the women’s football news and events from Jess Creighton and a number of footballers and pundits.

What football shows can you watch on BT Sport?

BT Sport also has a range of shows and documentaries covering the latest football happenings, as well as classic moments from the past. Here’s a peek at some of the entertainment you can watch.

Saturday Morning Savage

Your hosts Robbie Savage and Jules Breach take a look at everything football, with Savage’s irreverent style leading the way! Expect rants, japes and football legends.

The Story of the Title Race

Covering title races of seasons past, take a run out onto memory pitch lane and see how leagues were won, titles were claimed and dreams were lost.

Greavsie

This BT Sports Films production celebrates Jimmy Greaves, one of England’s best-ever strikers.

It’s a rags-to-riches story that inspires. Delve into archive footage to get a glimpse into the life of one of English football’s most revered figures.

With a career that ran off the pitch and into the broadcast booth, Greavsie was loved by all but had issues to contend with too. An emotional journey awaits.

Rocky and Wrighty: From Brockley to the Big Time

Arsenal legends Ian Wright and David Rocastle had a strong bond on and off the pitch. From their humble beginnings on a South London estate to glory for club and country, this story looks into the power of friendship, the ecstasy of sporting triumph and the pain of loss.

Cricket

• The Ashes (for games held in England)

Rugby

• Rugby Champions Cup

• RFU

Racing

• Formula One

• NASCAR

Tennis

• ATP World Tour

Golf

• US PGA Championship

• Ryder Cup

How can I get BT Sport?

The price and ease of watching BT Sport depends largely on which broadband and TV provider you currently take services from.

See the latest BT TV deals

BT Sport for BT customers

BT Sport is included for free on its VIP TV package –– which is BT's top-tier bundle –– but is also included in both the Sport and Big Sport packages.

If you're not on a BT TV plan but have BT broadband, you can still subscribe to BT Sport and watch it through the app or web player.

BT Sport for Sky customers

Sky TV customers can sign up for BT Sport, and if they get their broadband from BT the same rule as above applies. Both companies know that many fans want access to as much sport as possible, so they make it quite easy to subscribe to both services.

You can't simply just get a BT Sport and Sky Sports package — you'll need to be paying for a full TV service from one provider, and then add on either BT Sport or Sky Sports to that plan.

BT Sport channels on Sky:

• BT Sport = Sky channel 413

• BT Sport 2 = Sky channel 414

• BT Sport 3 = Sky channel 417

• BT Sport ESPN = Sky channel 423

How much is BT Sport on Sky?

Currently, you can add BT Sport to your Sky TV subscription from £29.99 extra per month on a rolling 31-day contract. But if you want its Big Sport package, it'll cost you £41 per month.

See our latest Sky deals

BT Sport for Virgin Media customers

Virgin Media TV subscribers automatically get BT Sport if they’re on the Bigger Bundle + Sports package (currently £72 per month). Otherwise, you can add BT Sport for an additional £18 per month and experience the action in 4K Ultra HD.

See the latest Virgin Media deals

BT Sport and TalkTalk

BT Sport can be added to your TalkTalk TV subscription for £29.99 per month, giving you access to all four BT Sport channels in standard definition. You can also add the BT Big Sport package, which includes access to all 11 Sky Sports channels via a NOW Sports Membership, for £40 per month on a 24-month contract.

See the latest TalkTalk TV deals

How can I get Sky Sports?

You can sign up for Sky Sports no matter who your provider is, and you can access Sky Sports either through a digital TV subscription or via streaming.

See our latest Sky deals

Sky Sports on Sky TV

The most comprehensive digital TV packages that include Sky Sports will be with Sky itself. You can add Sky Sports to your subscription for £22 per month on an 18-month contract (accurate at the time of writing).

The Sky Go app for smartphones and tablets lets you watch all Sky Sports channels you’re subscribed to while you're on the move. If you're not a Sky subscriber, you can watch Sky Sports in a limited fashion through the dedicated Sky Sports app.

See our latest Sky deals

Sky Sports on BT TV

All 11 Sky Sports channels are included in the BT Big Sport TV package as well as its VIP package. Both of these also automatically give you access to BT Sport channels, so you won't have to worry about ever missing a game.

Sky Sports on Virgin Media

You can add Sky Sports to any Virgin Media TV package or select Virgin’s Maxit TV bundle from £31.75 a month.

Sky Sports on TalkTalk

To watch Sky Sports on TalkTalk TV, you just need to subscribe to a NOW Sports membership (details below).

Sky Sports on NOW

If you don't have a TV provider or don't want to commit to a longer-term Sky Sports add-on, you can sign up for a Sky Sports TV pass from NOW.

With NOW TV memberships, you can get a day or a month pass to view Sky Sports, then cancel penalty-free. There are no contracts involved and no need to subscribe to anything.

Sky Sports can be viewed in standard definition, HD or even UHD/4K, depending upon your package and TV.

See our latest NOW broadband and TV deals