

It has a wide selection of integrated streaming apps including Netflix, iPlayer and Prime Video, but some key players (like Disney+, Now, and Apple TV+) are missing. Once you do, you’re getting a competitive Sky rival that delivers a huge selection of premium channels (including Sky Showcase, MTV and Comedy Central), the ability to record six programmes simultaneously while watching a seventh, and the same 1TB of storage that the standard Sky box includes.
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The key thing to note is that if you want the Virgin Media TV service, you need to have its broadband too. Accessories: Remote control, 2x AAA batteries, HDMI cableĪfter an alternative to the Sky Q box above? Your best bet is Virgin Media’s Virgin TV 360 box because it offers many of the same premium channels and recording capabilities.The only downside is that these costs add up – you’ll be paying at least £26 with a setup fee (up to £49), and this goes up depending on the add-ons and extras you pick. While Virgin Media and BT offer rival boxes that we’ve included below, we think it’s hard to match the specs that Sky Q offers and this is the best set-top box overall for a subscription. This enables you to pause a broadcast or recording in your living room and then continue it from the bedroom, for example. If you want, you can set up four Sky Q Mini boxes to connect to your central box for a multiroom experience too. This is Sky’s most premium product to date, and it’s often updated with new streaming apps and features. With the default 1TB capacity, there’s enough space to record 500 hours of standard definition TV and 150 hours of HD TV, and the box is capable of recording from six channels while you’re watching a seventh live channel. You can get all these premium channels (including its exclusive Sky Atlantic that’s not on Virgin) in addition to streaming apps from Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and more, all integrated into a simple home screen. With the Sky Q box, the service brings you its massive library of channels and TV shows and movies from its TV package (you can add Cinema and Sports too – if you like). If you’re looking for the best home entertainment setup and you aren’t too worried about the price, we’re sure you’re already looking at Sky. We also check how easy it is to access catch-up and streaming services from the box. We experiment with recording programmes, checking how many you can record and watch at once, and we look at how quickly you can navigate around the interface to find your recordings, so you can get on with watching The Repair Shop as soon as possible. We try out the best set-top boxes and test out all the functions, including pausing and rewinding live TV, using them just like you would at home.

They come with built-in storage for recording your programmes, and many of the best set-top boxes connect to the internet to bring your streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video straight to your TV. They all connect to your TV via an HDMI cable and deliver hundreds of channels (if not more) through either your aerial or dish. We’ve included Freeview, Freesat and subscription boxes in our roundup.

There are benefits to getting a pay TV subscription box from the likes of Sky or Virgin too, as these have more premium channels for extra movies and shows. But, you can only pause and rewind live TV if you have a set-top box. Once you’ve connected them to an aerial or satellite dish, all of today’s TVs pick up one or both of the UK’s free-to-air digital TV services (Freeview and Freesat). Here’s our pick of the best TV set-top boxes for your TV in 2023: That’s helpful if you’re a Wimbledon fan but the kids want to watch something else. Good quality TV set-top boxes give you access to a wide range of free-to-air digital channels – or to subscription channels through Sky or Virgin – and will let you record them to catch up later. We think you can’t beat the convenience of pausing, rewinding and recording your favourite live TV, and you’ll need one of the best set-top boxes to store those programmes. A recent survey found that 90% of Brits want to see continued support for Freeview and broadcast radio.Īnd for those of us who prefer recordings to catch up, don’t want to pay for Sky channels, or just want to cut back on subscription direct debits, free-to-air digital channels on Freeview or Freesat are essential. Viewing habits may be shifting towards internet content, but we think you’ll agree that public service broadcasters are important for society. There may be a lot to watch on streaming services in 2023, whether that’s The Crown, Bridgerton or the latest Disney film, but Brits still value broadcast TV with 85% of us watching terrestrial telly each week.
