Recording programmes
Set-top boxes can record shows to watch later and keep them. IPTV relies on catch-up, which covers the main channels for a limited time.
TV packages in Ireland look cheap in the first year and get expensive after it. This page compares the real 2026 prices of Sky, Virgin Media, eir TV, NOW and Saorview with an IPTV subscription, explains what each one is better at compared with Irish IPTV, and shows how much you could save, with a source for every price.
Monthly prices listed in October 2026, times twelve. Broadband extra.
Yes, by a wide margin for most homes. Sky TV with Sky Sports costs about €756 a year at the standard prices listed in 2026, and a NOW Entertainment and Sports bundle about €432, while an IrishIPTV 12-month plan costs €65, with sport, films and 49,000+ channels included. All of these need broadband, so the saving is on the TV part of your bill. Traditional packages still win on some things, like recording to a box, which we cover honestly below.
The official prices we found for the main TV options in Ireland in October 2026. Bundles that include broadband are marked, because an IPTV subscription also needs a broadband connection.
| Service | What you get | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky TV (Essential) | Sky TV channels, 12-month contract | €18 a month | TV only Source |
| Sky Sports add-on | Sky Sports channels on top of Sky TV | €45 a month | On top of Sky TV Source |
| Virgin Media 1Gb + Loaded TV | 100+ channels with 1Gb broadband | €50 a month for 12 months, then €114 | Includes broadband Source |
| Virgin Media sports pack | Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Premier Sports HD | €30 for 12 months, then €79 a month | On top of Virgin TV Source |
| eir 500Mb fibre + TV | eir TV with 500Mb fibre broadband | €49.98 a month intro, then €90.98 | Includes broadband Source |
| NOW Entertainment | Entertainment channels and box sets, streamed | €3.99 for 6 months, then €8.99 a month | No box needed Source |
| NOW Sports bundle | Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Premier Sports | €27 a month on a 12-month saver | Streamed Source |
| Saorview | Irish free-to-air channels through an aerial | Free | Needs an aerial Source |
| IrishIPTV | 49,000+ channels, sport, films and series | €65 a year (€5.42 a month), or €14.99 for one month | Needs broadband |
Prices are in euro as listed on each provider's website or a price comparison site in October 2026, and can change. Introductory prices usually rise when the offer period ends.
Enter what you pay each month for the TV part of your bill, not your broadband, and choose how many screens you need. The calculator compares a year of your current TV with a 12-month IrishIPTV plan.
Screens you need
You could save every year
€63 a month is Sky TV with Sky Sports at standard prices. Change it to your own bill.
Switch and saveMonthly prices hide the full cost. These totals multiply the standard monthly prices listed above by twelve, ignoring short introductory offers.
| Setup | Monthly | Per year | Broadband |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky TV with Sky Sports | €18 + €45 a month | €756 | Broadband extra |
| Sky TV, Sky Sports and Sports Extra | €18 + €45 + €34 a month | €1,164 | Broadband extra |
| NOW Entertainment and Sports bundle | €8.99 + €27 a month | €432 | Broadband extra |
| Virgin 1Gb + Loaded TV after the offer | €114 a month | €1,368 | Includes broadband |
| eir 500Mb + TV after the offer | €90.98 a month | €1,092 | Includes broadband |
| IrishIPTV, 1 screen | €65 for 12 months | €65 | Broadband extra |
| IrishIPTV, 3 screens | €175 for 12 months | €175 | Broadband extra |
Price is not everything. Here is how an IPTV subscription compares with Sky, Virgin Media and eir TV on the things that matter day to day.
| Feature | Sky, Virgin Media and eir TV | IrishIPTV |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | Usually 12 to 24 months | None. Choose 1 to 12 months |
| Price after year one | Often rises sharply when offers end | Same price every time you renew |
| Installation | Box, dish or engineer visit | Install an app in minutes |
| Extra rooms | Multi-room add-ons and extra boxes | 2 or 3 screens on one plan |
| Sport | Separate sport packs and add-ons | Sport and event channels in every plan |
| Films and series | Extra packs or apps | 160,000+ titles included |
| Channels | Around 35 to 100+ depending on package | 49,000+ channels |
| Watching abroad | Limited outside Ireland | Works on any internet connection |
| Recording to a box | Yes, on most packages | No box recording; catch-up on main channels |
| Needs good broadband | Not for satellite or cable TV | Yes, 10 Mbps for HD, 25 Mbps for 4K |
We want you to choose with your eyes open. Traditional TV packages are still the better fit for some homes.
Set-top boxes can record shows to watch later and keep them. IPTV relies on catch-up, which covers the main channels for a limited time.
Satellite and cable TV do not depend on your broadband speed. If your line is slow or unreliable, IPTV will struggle.
Everything is on one box from one company, which some households, especially older relatives, find simpler.
First-year bundle offers can be good value if you switch every year and manage the renewal dates.
€65 a year on one screen compared with hundreds of euro for a TV package.
Pay for what you want, when you want, at the same price.
Sport, films, series and international channels without add-on packs.
Firestick, smart TV, phone or laptop, at home or abroad.
Answer these honestly before you switch. If you can say yes to most of them, IPTV is likely to save you money without missing anything you care about.
Run a speed test on the TV. 10 Mbps is enough for HD, 25 Mbps for 4K on one screen.
If catch-up on the main channels is enough for you, you will not miss a recording box.
The more sport packs you pay for now, the more you save with one IPTV plan.
Switching at the end of a contract avoids exit fees and the first-year price rise.
IPTV works through an app on a Firestick or smart TV. Our team helps you set it up on WhatsApp.
Most broadband and TV bundles in Ireland are sold on an introductory price that lasts 12 months, then rises. For example, Virgin Media lists its 1Gb broadband with Loaded TV at €50 a month for 12 months, then €114 a month, and eir lists 500Mb fibre with TV at €49.98 a month, then €90.98. If you do not switch or renegotiate when the offer ends, the second year can cost more than twice the first. Put the end date of your offer in your calendar.
Check your account or last bill. Leaving before the end may mean an early exit fee.
IPTV runs on your broadband. You can usually drop TV and keep broadband, or move broadband to a cheaper broadband-only plan.
Start the free 24-hour trial while your current TV still works, and test it on a busy evening.
A Firestick per TV is the simplest setup. Many smart TVs need no extra device at all.
Return TV boxes as your provider asks, so you are not charged for them.
An aerial gives you free Irish channels as a backup, side by side with IPTV.
Yes. IPTV streams over the internet, so you need a broadband connection of about 10 Mbps for HD or 25 Mbps for 4K on one screen. The good news is that broadband-only plans in Ireland are often cheaper than TV bundles. For example, Sky lists 500Mb broadband at €30 a month for 12 months, rising to €67.50, and Virgin Media advertises 1Gb broadband-only offers. Compare broadband-only prices when you switch, and see our buffering fix guide to get the best from your line.
Run the free 24-hour trial while your Sky, Virgin or eir TV still works, and compare them on the same evening.
Yes. Sky TV with Sky Sports costs about €756 a year at the standard prices listed in 2026, while an IrishIPTV 12-month IPTV Ireland plan costs €65 with sport, films and 49,000+ channels included. Both need broadband.
Sky Essential TV was listed at €18 a month on a 12-month contract, with Sky Sports at €45 a month on top, as of September 2026.
Virgin Media listed 1Gb broadband with Loaded TV at €50 a month for 12 months, then €114 a month, in October 2026.
eir 500Mb fibre with TV was listed at €49.98 a month on introduction, then €90.98 a month, according to a comparison site in 2026.
Saorview is free through an aerial but has only a small set of Irish channels. For a full channel line-up, an IPTV subscription from €5.42 a month is far cheaper than any traditional package.
Usually yes. Most providers let you drop TV and keep broadband, though you may need to wait for your contract to end or pay an early exit fee.
IPTV includes Irish, UK, sport, film and international channel categories. Test the channels you watch most during the free trial before you cancel anything.
No, IPTV does not record to a box. Instead, catch-up on the main channels lets you go back and watch programmes that have already aired.
On good broadband, a quality IPTV service is very stable. Satellite and cable TV do not depend on broadband, so if your line is weak, a traditional package may be more reliable.
No dish and usually no box. A Firestick or a recent smart TV is enough.
Yes. The 2-screen plan costs €115 a year and the 3-screen plan €175 a year, with no extra boxes needed.
The price usually rises to the standard rate. Check the end date of your offer and compare prices before it renews.
NOW is often cheaper and has no box, but sport costs extra. In 2026 NOW listed Entertainment at €8.99 a month after an intro offer and a Sports bundle at €27 a month on a 12-month saver.
Yes. Many homes keep an aerial for free Irish channels and use IPTV for sport, UK channels and films.
Yes. Start the free 24-hour IrishIPTV trial while your current TV still works and compare them side by side.
We checked them in October 2026 on each provider's website or a price comparison site. Prices and offers change often, so confirm with the provider before you decide.
At standard 2026 prices, Sky TV with Sky Sports costs about €756 a year. An IrishIPTV 12-month plan costs €65, so the saving is about €691 a year on the TV part of your bill.
Yes. IPTV works on any Irish broadband, including Virgin Media, eir, Sky, Vodafone, Pure Telecom and 5G home broadband.
No. Those boxes only work with their own service. Use a Firestick, Android box or smart TV app instead.
Test IrishIPTV side by side with your current TV, free for 24 hours. No card, no contract, set up on WhatsApp in minutes.