Unless you actually went to university purely for academic reasons, you and your flatmates are definitely going to need a TV package. The earlier you organise it, the better. Having a television is going to be essential for those brutal hangovers where all you want to do is draw the curtains, order some pizzas and watch some movies. You’re also going to need a TV when you want to watch the football and it’s not possible to squeeze into your local pub. Having access to a plethora of TV channels is pretty much essential while you’re at university. It definitely helps doing some research, as your options are many.
Basic packages
Between you and your flatmates, you can get a basic digital TV package for around £5 a month, like Virgin Media digital TV. A basic package would be great to keep costs down, particularly if you’re sharing the bill with other flatmates, as well as the cost of the TV license. This will cut extra expenses and give you the basic TV that you need.
Bundle packages
On the other hand, since you are students and you’ll require high-speed internet for gaming and downloading, it might be worth investing some time into researching bundle packages. Most of them are competitively priced, so there’s a strong chance you’ll be able to find something that you and your flatmates can afford.
Therefore, it’s worth thinking about saving money by bundling your internet with a TV package. There are unlimited variations on what connection speed and which channels you’ll be able to have.
The finer details
Provided you live in the right area, providers like Virgin can offer you all-round packages that will sort you out for your academic year. You could get a deal with around 50 TV channels as well as a TiVo box, along with unlimited broadband speeds, ranging up to 30MB.
Usually, the bundle packages require a 12 month contract, with cheaper bills for the first few months, increasing thereafter.
Other things to consider
What you have to consider is the actual location of your flat. It doesn’t usually matter for TV, but if you’re going for a bundle package that includes internet, your location will have to be factored in.
Even though a lot of providers promise ‘unlimited’ broadband, there are areas where the fibre optic cables haven’t been installed. Alternatively, if you live in an area full of students, the speeds will actually slow down once everyone gets home from lectures and logs onto the internet at around the same time.