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Last updated: October 2026 · This is my household’s experience. Prices were different when we left Sky, and your saving will depend on your package.
Thinking about cancelling Sky TV? We did it a long time ago, and it’s one of the money decisions I’ve never regretted. We left Sky TV, kept only the streaming services we actually watched, and saved roughly £560 a year at the prices back then. And honestly? We didn’t miss it.
I’m not going to tell you that everyone should ditch Sky, or that Netflix and Prime are the “right” answer. The real lesson is simpler: pay for what your household actually watches now, not what you signed up for years ago. In this guide I’ll show you how we did it and how you can work out whether you’d save too.
To plan the next step, try my Subscription cost calculator.
Why we decided to cancel Sky TV
Back then, our Sky TV cost us close to £50 a month. When I sat down and looked at what we were actually watching, most of it was on streaming services, or it was stuff we could easily live without. We were paying for hundreds of channels and watching a handful.
So we left Sky TV and kept only the streaming we really used. At the prices back then, that saved us about £560 a year. That’s money that now goes on things we really care about.
Sky is cheaper now. Is this still worth doing?
Sky TV packages cost less today than they did when we left, so you might not save as much as we did. But that’s exactly why the numbers matter less than the habit. Whatever TV costs now, the question is the same: are you paying for channels you don’t watch? Even a smaller saving adds up over a year, and the steps below work whatever the current prices are.
Step 1: Do a one-month viewing audit
Before you cancel anything, find out what your household really watches. For one month, keep a simple note on your phone or on the fridge:
- Which channels or apps did we actually open?
- Which programmes would we genuinely miss?
- Is anything only on Sky, like a particular sport or channel?
Most families are surprised. You might find you mostly watch two or three things, and the rest of the package is just sitting there.
Step 2: Work out your real Sky TV cost
Look at your latest Sky bill or your account online and write down:
- Your monthly TV cost, including any add-ons (Sky Cinema, Sports, Kids, HD, Multiscreen)
- Any box or equipment charges
- When your minimum term ends, and the notice period
- Whether your price is going up at the end of a deal
Multiply the monthly cost by 12. Seeing the yearly number is what made the decision easy for us.
Step 3: Price up what you’d keep
Now list only the services that match what you actually watch, and check each one’s current price on its own website. Things to know:
- Free-to-air TV (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5) is available through Freeview or Freesat, or through their apps. You’ll still need a TV Licence for live TV and BBC iPlayer (see below).
- Netflix has several plans, including a cheaper one with adverts.
- Prime Video comes with Amazon Prime, so if you already pay for Prime for delivery, you may already have it. You can try Amazon Prime free (ad) first to see if you’d use it. My is Amazon Prime worth it guide helps you decide.
- Sky’s own channels are also available through NOW, without a long contract, if there’s one thing you’d really miss.
Add up the new monthly total and compare it with your Sky cost. The difference, times 12, is your yearly saving.
Step 4: Check your contract before you cancel
- Are you still in a minimum term? Leaving early can mean early exit fees. It’s usually best to cancel when your term ends.
- Check the notice period in your contract, and give notice in good time.
- Check what happens to your broadband. If your TV and broadband are bundled, cancelling TV can change your broadband price. Get a price for broadband on its own first.
- Ask about returning equipment, so you don’t get charged for a box you didn’t send back.
When you call to cancel, you may be offered a discount to stay. That’s fine to consider, but compare it with your new streaming total, not your old bill. And remember any discount usually ends after a set time.
Step 5: Rotate subscriptions instead of stacking them
This is the trick that keeps the saving going. You don’t need every streaming service at the same time. Subscribe to one, watch the series you wanted, then cancel and move to the next. Most streaming services are monthly with no long contract, so this is easy. Check each service’s terms before you sign up.
Set a reminder on your phone the day before each renewal date, and ask: “Did we use this enough this month?” If not, cancel it.
Do you still need a TV Licence?
This is the bit people get wrong. In the UK you need a TV Licence to:
- Watch or record live TV on any channel or service (including live TV on streaming apps)
- Use BBC iPlayer
You don’t need one if you only watch on-demand programmes on services like Netflix or Prime Video, and never watch live TV or use iPlayer. A colour TV Licence costs £180 a year from 1 April 2026. If you no longer need one, you can tell TV Licensing and may be able to get a refund for full unused months. Check the current rules on the TV Licensing website before you decide.
What if you’d really miss sport or a favourite channel?
That’s completely fine, and it doesn’t mean you can’t save. A few options:
- Buy a pass only for the months you need, rather than paying all year.
- Downgrade instead of cancelling, so you only pay for the part you use.
- Haggle at the end of your contract, using your new streaming total as your target price.
Is ditching Sky TV worth it? My honest view
For us, yes. We saved about £560 a year, and we didn’t feel we were missing out. But it’s not right for every home. If your family watches lots of live sport, the saving might be smaller. That’s why the viewing audit comes first. The goal isn’t to have the least TV. It’s to stop paying for TV you don’t watch.
We did the same thing with our broadband: when the Sky contract was ending and the price was going up, I compared deals and switched to BT. You can read how I saved £180 on Sky broadband.
Cancel Sky TV: FAQs
How much can you save by cancelling Sky TV?
It depends on your package and what you replace it with. We saved roughly £560 a year at the prices back then. Work out your own number by comparing your Sky bill with the services you’d keep.
Do I need a TV Licence for Netflix?
Not if you only watch on-demand. You need a licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or use BBC iPlayer.
Can I cancel Sky TV but keep Sky broadband?
Usually yes, but your broadband price may change if it was part of a bundle. Ask for the broadband-only price before you cancel, and compare it with other providers.
Will I pay a fee to cancel Sky TV?
If you’re still in your minimum term, there may be early exit fees. Check your contract and notice period, and aim to cancel when your term ends.
What’s the cheapest way to watch TV in the UK?
Free-to-air TV through Freeview, Freesat or the broadcasters’ apps, plus one streaming service at a time that you rotate. Remember the TV Licence rules for live TV and iPlayer.
Cancel Sky TV: summary
- Do a one-month viewing audit first.
- Work out your real yearly Sky TV cost.
- Price up only the services you’d actually watch.
- Check your contract, notice period and broadband price before cancelling.
- Rotate streaming subscriptions instead of stacking them.
- Check whether you still need a TV Licence.
Want to tackle all your subscriptions at once? Read my guide to cancelling subscriptions.
Sources
My saving was based on the prices when we left Sky. Packages and prices change, so check the current costs before you decide.
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- Subscription cost calculator
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- Build your first £1,000 emergency buffer
- Start a practical money makeover
Make your next money step easier
Start with my free 7-Day Financial Reset Kit. For a ready-made way to organise your plan, explore my Bills & Renewal Dashboard (my own product).
About the author: Dr Kalpana Govindaraasan is a UK mum, former science teacher and PhD scientist. MoneySavvyUK shares practical household money ideas and general information, with official sources linked so you can check the rules for yourself.