What TV costs in Ireland: Sky, eir and Virgin Media prices compared

An IPTV subscription in Ireland can cost from €19.99 per month for a television component to €124 per month after an introductory broadband-and-TV offer ends. Those figures are not directly interchangeable. Sky sells television packages delivered over broadband, eir makes its TV service conditional on having eir Fibre Broadband, and Virgin Media Ireland advertises combined broadband-and-TV bundles. Saorview sits outside the monthly-subscription market altogether.

A comparison of published Irish TV prices from Sky, eir and Virgin Media: what each price covers and what it rises to after the offer ends. What Irish courts have decided about such services is set out in IPTV and the law in Ireland. IPTV sales pages commonly concentrate on low monthly equivalents, long prepayment periods and headline channel numbers. They do not show the two costs that matter most in a household budget: the price after an introductory offer expires and the broadband service that may be compulsory before television can be ordered.

All prices below are shown in euro (€). We checked them on the operators’ own pages on 26 September 2026. Prices and promotions can change, so confirm the order summary before entering a contract. Our own plans and what they include are listed on the IPTV subscription page.

Irish IPTV subscription prices compared

The table separates the initial price from the later price wherever the operator publishes both. This prevents a discounted first-year figure from being mistaken for the normal ongoing monthly cost. It also identifies whether broadband is included, since a €45 broadband-and-TV bundle cannot be compared with a €20 television-only offer as though they purchase the same thing.

The Sky figures and included services come from Sky Ireland’s current TV deals page. Essential TV is advertised at €20 per month and Ultimate TV at €27 per month for 12 months, both for new customers only. Both carry a 12-month minimum term. Sky’s deals page gives the standard prices as €31 per month for Essential TV and €41 per month for Ultimate TV. Sky says these packages use Sky Stream or Sky Glass, so no satellite dish is required, and it recommends broadband of at least 25 Mbps.

The Virgin Media figures come from Virgin Media Ireland’s broadband and TV bundle page. Its headline prices include broadband, which partly explains why they are higher than Sky’s television package prices. The important comparison is not simply €20 against €45. It is television-only pricing against a combined connectivity and television bill.

eir TV is a further named option, listed at €19.99 per month including VAT in eir’s official price list. It is not included as a fully comparable row because eir’s price list does not give a contract term or channel line-up for it. It does make one condition clear: eir Fibre Broadband is required, and eir TV is not sold as a standalone service. A shopper therefore cannot treat €19.99 as the complete household cost unless eligible eir broadband is already in place.

The introductory price is not the real long-term comparison

Virgin Media Ireland’s price change after the introductory period is a large practical gap. The 500Mb + Core TV bundle moves from €45 to €95 per month after its 12-month introductory period. That is a difference of €50 each month. The 500Mb + Loaded TV bundle moves from €50 to €104, a difference of €54 each month (Virgin Media Ireland).

The same pattern applies to the faster Loaded TV bundles. The 1Gb option is advertised at €50 per month for 12 months or €55 per month on a 24-month term, then €114 per month. The 2Gb option is €70 on a 12-month offer or €75 on a 24-month offer, then €124 per month. These are published step-ups, not estimates.

A useful comparison should calculate at least three figures:

• The initial monthly bill: what leaves the bank account during the discounted period.
• The post-offer monthly bill: what the same service is listed to cost after the introductory period.
• The combined cost over the intended ownership period: the initial months plus any months charged at the later rate.

For example, the published price of Virgin Media’s 500Mb + Core TV bundle produces an initial 12-month cost of €540. If a household then keeps it for another 12 months at the published €95 monthly price, those later 12 months cost €1,140. The resulting 24-month total is €1,680, or an average of €70 per month across those two years. This calculation uses only the two prices published by the operator; it does not assume that a future promotion or renegotiated rate will be available.

Applying the same method to the 500Mb + Loaded TV bundle gives €600 for the introductory year and €1,248 for a further year at €104 per month (Virgin Media Ireland). The 24-month total would be €1,848, averaging €77 per month. This is why comparing only the large headline number on a deal page can produce a misleading household forecast.

The contract period and the pricing period also need to be read separately. A promotional price can have a defined duration, while the service may continue unless the customer changes or cancels it under the applicable terms. Before ordering, record the date on which the introductory price finishes and set a reminder early enough to review the account. The operator’s checkout summary and contract documents should be treated as the final statement of the offer presented to that household.

Broadband, equipment and the Irish no-subscription baseline

There are three different product structures in this market. Sky’s current packages are delivered through Sky Stream or Sky Glass over a broadband connection. eir TV requires eir Fibre Broadband. Virgin Media’s compared offers bundle broadband with television. Those distinctions affect both eligibility and the total price.

If suitable broadband is already paid for, a television-only figure may be the most useful starting point. If the household needs new broadband at the same time, a bundle can be easier to assess because the advertised monthly figure covers both elements. The trade-off is that changing one service later may affect the other. Broadband speed should be chosen for the household’s actual connectivity needs, not solely because the highest tier appears beside a television offer.

Ireland also has a local alternative to paid television packages. Saorview is the national free-to-air terrestrial television platform, available to more than 98% of Irish homes. It carries RTÉ, TG4 and Virgin Media channels plus radio, with no monthly subscription and no contract. It requires an externally mounted aerial and either a set-top box or a television with an integrated digital receiver.

That makes the Irish baseline unusual and important. A household may already have access to national television through its aerial, so the relevant purchasing question is not necessarily “How do I get television?” It may instead be “Which paid channels, bundled apps or viewing features justify a recurring bill on top of Saorview?”

Saorview is not a replacement for every paid package because its published channel offering is different. It is, however, a real zero-monthly-fee reference point. Viewers who mainly want the national channels can compare the one-off practical requirements of an aerial and compatible receiver against a continuing television subscription.

Equipment affects convenience as well. Sky’s current packages do not require a dish, but they do require suitable broadband and the relevant Sky Stream or Sky Glass equipment. eir’s service depends on eir Fibre Broadband and is delivered through its supported television setup. Saorview depends on terrestrial reception rather than internet delivery.

How to choose without comparing unlike products

Begin by writing down what the quoted amount actually buys. A broadband-and-TV bundle, a television package delivered over existing broadband and a no-monthly-fee terrestrial platform solve different problems. Ranking them only by the number before “per month” hides those differences.

1. Separate television from connectivity. Note whether broadband is included, required from the same operator or supplied independently.
2. Compare the whole intended period. Use the introductory and later prices rather than multiplying the promotional rate indefinitely.
3. Check what is included. Compare the channels and included apps you expect to use rather than headline totals.
4. Confirm physical requirements. Check broadband availability, receiver equipment, television compatibility and, for Saorview, aerial reception.
5. Read the checkout documents. Confirm the minimum term, activation or equipment charges, cancellation terms and the exact date of any price change before paying.

Channel totals are a weak shortcut because they do not reveal whether the specific content a household wants is included. Sky lists 70+ channels for Essential and 110+ for Ultimate, while Virgin Media identifies 35+ for Core TV and 100+ for Loaded TV. Those counts help distinguish tiers within the same operator, but they are not proof that two packages contain equivalent programming.

Device choice should follow the selected service. Installation should not be the first decision, since an app or box cannot grant access to content that the underlying subscription does not include.

A sensible shortlist for an Irish household may include one television-only package, one broadband-and-TV bundle and the existing Saorview setup. Comparing those three side by side exposes the actual incremental cost of paid television. If a paid option earns its place through specific channels, bundled apps or convenience, choose it on that basis rather than on a headline catalogue figure alone.

Frequently asked questions

Which TV subscription is cheapest in this comparison?

eir TV has the lowest listed television price at €19.99 per month including VAT, but it requires eir Fibre Broadband and is not sold as a standalone service. Sky Ireland Essential TV is €20 per month for new customers on a 12-month minimum term. The total household cost depends on whether broadband is included, compulsory or already paid for separately.

Does Virgin Media Ireland stay at its advertised introductory price?

No. Virgin Media publishes higher prices that apply after the offer ends. The 500Mb + Core TV bundle is advertised at €45 per month for 12 months and then €95. The 500Mb + Loaded TV bundle is €50 for 12 months and then €104. The 1Gb and 2Gb Loaded TV options later rise to €114 and €124 per month respectively (Virgin Media Ireland).

Do Sky Ireland TV packages require a satellite dish?

Sky Ireland’s current TV packages use Sky Stream or Sky Glass and do not require a satellite dish. Sky recommends a minimum broadband speed of 25 Mbps. Essential TV is advertised at €20 per month, and Ultimate TV at a promotional €27 per month for 12 months, each on a 12-month minimum term.

Can I buy eir TV without eir broadband?

No. The official eir price list states that eir Fibre Broadband is required to receive eir TV and that television is not sold as a standalone service. The €19.99 monthly TV price should therefore be considered alongside the required broadband service.

Is there a television option in Ireland with no monthly subscription?

Yes. Saorview is Ireland’s national free-to-air terrestrial television platform and has no monthly subscription or contract. It carries RTÉ, TG4 and Virgin Media channels plus radio. Reception requires an externally mounted aerial and either a set-top box or a compatible integrated digital television.

What should I check before paying for an IPTV subscription?

Check whether the price covers television alone or a broadband bundle, the minimum contract term, the end date of any promotion, the later monthly price, the included channels and apps, and the required equipment. Confirm every figure in the operator’s checkout and contract documents because offers may have changed since we checked them.

The best-value option is the one whose full cost and content match the household’s needs. Compare the post-promotion bill, compulsory broadband and equipment before treating any headline monthly rate as cheap.