Sports fans are facing yearly costs of up to £1,669.75 to watch all of their favourite events in the comfort of their own home.
Previously, a Sky Sports subscription could cover most of the games across most sports. But now that television rights are being sold to other channels and customers want to see all the action, they must sign up for Amazon Prime or BT Sport.
For example, to view every Premier League match, you will need to subscribe for all three providers.
This has led to more people splashing out on subscriptions, with the combined cost setting households back upwards of a thousand pounds.
Sports fans are facing yearly costs of up to £1,669.75 to watch all their favourite events
This is a huge outgoing for sports lovers, in a time when household bills are increasing across the board.
Another issue is that many sports packages must include a broadband subscription, or a landline deal. It adds to the cost.
This is Money reviews the best deals for sporting events and shows you how to get them.
Which providers offer which sports?
Amazon Prime Video offers Prime members in UK live coverage of more Premier League football matches in December.
It also features the Autumn Nations Series international Rugby union, and provides exclusive coverage at no additional cost of their Prime membership of the ATP and WTA tour tennis and US Open tennis matches.
Amazon Prime costs £7.99 a month and includes free next-day delivery on thousands of items as well as many shows, films and sports.
Sky It is the home of many sporting fixtures, and has been for many decades.
Sky Sports packages include its Main Event channel, Premier League Football, Cricket, Golf and F1, Arena, NFL Racing, Action News, Mix, Eurosport 1 or Eurosport 2.
In the meantime, one of the newest players in the game is BT Sport which gives customers BT Sport 1, 2, 3 and BT Sport ESPN.
It hosts 52 Premier League games per season, the UEFA Champions League and Premiership Rugby, among other things.
The best deals
This is Money explains how to get every game at the best price.
To get the best offers, many people will need to move both their broadband and landline.
| Provider/ Package |
Cost | Contract length | Broadband included? | Included are sports channels | Set up fee | Add-ons required | Total cost for contract duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports and Sky TV | £41 per month | 18 months | No. Cheapest 18m broadband available from TalkTalk for £21 per month.
Other providers may offer longer contracts, but prices can vary. |
Sky Sports: Main Event, Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf, F1, Arena, NFL, Racing, Action, News, Mix, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 | £20 | BT Sport for £24 per month (rolling 31 day contract, cancel anytime and use when needed).
Amazon Prime for £7.99 for one month to cover the Premier League matches from 30 November 2021. |
With broadband £1,143.99 + BT Sport add on when needed for £24 each month, cancel anytime.
Without broadband: £765.99 + BT Sport add on when needed for £24 each month, cancel anytime. |
| Virgin Media Bigger bundle Sport + Movies | £79 per month | 18 months | Yes | BT Sport 1, 2, and 3 and BT Sport ESPN.
Sky Sports: Main Event, Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf, F1, Arena, NFL, Racing, Action, News, Mix, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 |
£0 | Amazon Prime for £7.99 for one month to cover the Premier League matches from 30 November 2021. | £1,429.99 |
| BT Big Sport + Broadband | £67.99 per month (Including the cheapest broadband package of 36Mbps |
24 months | Yes | BT Sport 1, 2, and 3 and BT Sport ESPN.
Sky Sports: Main Event, Premier League, Football, Cricket, Golf, F1, Arena, NFL, Racing, Action, News, Mix, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 |
£30 | Amazon Prime for £7.99 for one month to cover the Premier League matches from 30th November 2021. | £1,669.75 |
| Source: Uswitch. Total costs calculated using monthly cost + set up fees + additional ons. Prices subject to availability and change. Prices correct as of 21 October 2021 | |||||||
Sky: Customers looking for Sky Sports can take advantage of its Sky TV & Sky Sports package, either with or without broadband.
Without broadband, they will pay £41 a month for 18 months and receive a host of Sky Sports channels. There is also a £20 set up fee.
However, to watch all the events, sports fans must pay £24 a month extra for BT Sport and a one off Amazon Prime fee of £7.99 for the month of December – when the service will be showing a number of Premier League games.
In total, this will set households back £765.99, for the 18 month contract, plus the additional £24 BT Sport fee when needed. Customers have the option to cancel at any time.
Meanwhile, those who get Sky Sports with broadband will be paying £62 a month with average speeds of 59Mb and 158 TV channels.
There is a £20 set-up cost on an 18 month contract, totaling £1,143.99.
The calculation includes the cost of one month of Amazon Prime, but BT Sport will have to be paid for separately at £24 a month, for each month that they need it.
Amazon Prime can be signed up by customers for as little as one month and they will be able to view Premier League matches.
Virgin Media: New Virgin Media customers can get its Bigger Bundle, Sports + Movies package for £79 a month. This includes Sky Sports and BT Sport.
The plan also includes broadband with speeds of 108Mb and 228 TV channels, including the sports channels.
This is an 18-month contract, and customers won’t have to pay a setup fee.
To watch all the games, customers will also need to buy Amazon Prime for £7.99 for just one month, to cover the Premier League matches from 30 November 2021.
In total, for the whole 18 month contract and the month of Prime, customers will be paying £1,429.99.
Finally, BT has a Big Sport + Fibre deal which costs £67.99 per month including the cheapest broadband package which has speeds of 36Mbps.
The 24 -month contract gives access to all BT and Sky Sports channels with customers only having to pay £7.99 as a one off payment to Amazon Prime.
As a result, it is the most expensive deal at £1,669.75 but that is for 24 months, which is the length of the contract. There is also a £30 set up fee.