TLDR
You can cancel Sky Sports and still watch live Premier League football via Now TV Sports day passes (£11.99), TNT Sports for Champions League, Amazon Prime for Boxing Day games, and legally in any pub showing live football. Match of the Day remains free on BBC One. The only thing you genuinely lose is Sky’s 128 live Premier League games per season.
This guide covers how to cancel Sky Sports, what you keep, and the cheapest alternatives so you do not miss games that matter.
Insider Tip
Before you cancel, call Sky’s cancellation line (0333 7591 018) and tell them you are thinking of leaving. Sky’s retention team often offers existing customers significant discounts, sometimes half price for 6-12 months. You are under no obligation to accept but it is worth hearing what they offer before you cancel completely.
How to Cancel Sky Sports
The process depends on how you pay for Sky Sports.
If you have a Sky TV box: Call Sky on 0333 7591 018 and ask to remove Sky Sports from your package. Or log in to My Sky at sky.com, go to My Account, select Manage My Package, and remove Sky Sports from your subscription. Changes take effect at the end of your current billing period.
If you have a Now Sports Membership: Log in to the Now TV website at nowtv.com, go to Membership, and cancel your Sports Membership. Access continues until the end of the current monthly billing period.
Check your contract: Sky TV contracts typically run 18-24 months for broadband and TV bundles. If you are within your minimum term, early cancellation fees may apply. Check your contract before cancelling.
What You Lose When You Cancel Sky Sports
Being clear about what you actually lose helps decide whether cancellation makes sense.
You lose: 128 live Premier League games per season. All England cricket (Tests, one-day, T20). All Formula 1 sessions. All live golf (The Open, Masters etc.). All WSL beyond BBC and ITV allocations.
You keep free: Match of the Day (all Saturday Premier League highlights). Match of the Day 2 (Sunday highlights). Wimbledon on BBC. Six Nations on BBC and ITV. England Women’s internationals on BBC and ITV. UK Athletics on BBC. F1 highlights on Channel 4. England cricket highlights on BBC Two.
Alternatives After Cancelling Sky Sports
Now TV day passes (£11.99). Buy a day pass for specific big games you do not want to miss. A title-deciding Manchester City vs Arsenal in April, or a Champions League semi-final. Do not pay monthly. Pay per game. Over a season, if you buy 10-15 day passes that is £120-180 versus £350+ for a full year’s Sky Sports subscription.
Watch in a pub. All pubs with a Sky Sports commercial licence can screen every Premier League game legally. Find your local sports pub and go for big matches. Free with a drink in hand.
TNT Sports (£30.99/month). For Champions League and Europa League coverage that Sky does not have. If your club is in Europe, TNT Sports is the only option. A better standalone choice than Sky Sports if European football is your priority.
Amazon Prime (£8.99/month). Around 20 Premier League games per season including the Boxing Day and bank holiday matchweeks. If you already have Prime for deliveries, the football is essentially free within what you are already paying.
For an overview of all free and paid sport options, see the free sports streaming apps guide and the full Premier League viewing options breakdown.
Before You Cancel
Call Sky’s cancellation line on 0333 7591 018 first. Sky’s retention team often offers half-price deals for 6-12 months to keep customers. Worth hearing what they offer before you leave.
