On a budget? You don’t need to miss out on the nation’s most-loved TV shows, boxsets, and movies.
Whether you’re saving up for a special holiday or looking to cut back on your monthly expenses, examining your TV spending habits may be the key to unlocking extra cash.
Research shows that half of UK households are currently wasting hundreds of pounds per year on unused subscriptions – and with communications and TV services costing an average £113 per month, a few thrifty cuts could free up spending money.
So, how can you save money on TV in 2023? Read on for our top tips, with advice on how to find the best shows for free, audit your subscriptions, and take advantage of the best cheap TV deals.
1. Use Freeview Play as your main TV provider
Freeview Play is a one-stop shop for the UK’s most-watched TV shows, bingeable boxsets, and blockbuster movies – and in case you hadn’t guessed from the name, it’s completely free!
A common misconception is that free = low quality. That couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to all the incredible content available on Freeview Play, though. From hit series like The Gold to sporting highlights, Freeview Play is host to 95% of the nation’s most loved TV, plus:
- More than 70 standard and 15 HD live channels1*
- 11 on-demand players
- 30 radio stations
- 60,000 hours of content and over 1,500 boxsets
- Easy navigation from the Explore Freeview Play TV app
- Tailored show recommendations and more
Watching on the go? The Freeview app is free to download for iOS and Android, and allows you to check the TV guide, set reminders, watch live and on demand shows, and discover new shows by category.
How to get started with Freeview Play
2. Top up without overspending
If 60,000 hours of on-demand content isn’t enough for you (no judgement here), then you can top up your Freeview Play service with paid subscriptions from other companies such as Netflix, Now, and Prime Video.
It’s worth doing an audit of all the subscription services you pay for monthly. You may not use them as often as you think, or the platforms aren’t as appealing as they were when you signed up.
Start by cancelling everything – streaming services don’t usually incur cancellation fees, so you won’t lose any money.
Add them back gradually until you’re comfortable with your monthly spend – or only sign up to one at a time, switching every few months so you’re not paying for multiple services simultaneously.
3. Buying a TV? Research the best times to spend
According to experts, the average TV lasts between four and seven years – and as panel technology rapidly advances, it’s easy to be tempted into buying a new set when your old model still works.
Whatever the reason for buying a new TV, it doesn’t hurt to do your research beforehand so you can get the best price possible.
Typically, the lowest TV prices are available during the biggest sales of the year: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day, and the January sales. These are the times when you’re likely to pick up the biggest discounts on home technology, with some retailers offering hundreds of pounds off sets from reputable brands.
Outside of the sales, the simplest way to save on a new TV is to be really sure about what you need (check out our guide to choosing a TV if you’re not sure).
Consider the specifications that matter most to you. Do you want a panel that suits your home decor? Do you want to be able to hook up a soundbar? Are you more likely to watch a big budget blockbuster than a soap opera? Are you a hardcore gamer that needs a refresh rate to match your favourite console?
If you don’t care about black levels and colour accuracy, there’s no point in paying out of pocket for a 70-inch 8K QLED when a 40-inch LED will do the job and cost less than half the price. Or, if you just want to add some smarts to an older TV, a set-top box with Freeview Play built-in is a low cost way of bringing an ageing panel up to date.
Read more:
The best upcoming TV shows on Freeview Play
*All the information in this blog about number of channels, on demand players, hours of content and number of boxsets includes devices supporting the ITV Hub or the ITVX application.
