How to get Discovery+ free

Discovery+ is included free with all Sky TV plans, making Sky the cheapest way to access the service if you're also looking for a TV package.

Without a TV bundle, Discovery+ Entertainment is available as a standalone subscription from £3.99 per month, supported across smart TVs, streaming sticks, and mobile devices.

Live TNT Sports coverage moved to HBO Max in March 2026, leaving Discovery+ focused purely on entertainment content.

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Quick answer

Discovery+ is included free with all Sky TV plans.

If you don't have a TV bundle, you can subscribe directly for £3.99 per month for Discovery+ Entertainment. The app works on a wide range of streaming devices, but isn't supported on Virgin Media TV boxes.

• Included free: with Sky Essential TV and Sky Ultimate TV plans
• Standalone price: from £3.99/month
• Devices: works on Android TV, Fire TV, smart TVs and mobiles
• Limitation: not supported on Virgin Media TV boxes

Note: TNT Sports has now moved to HBO Max as of 26 March 2026. Subscribers will be able to download the new app and sign in using their existing details, while Discovery+ Entertainment will continue unchanged.

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Where to get Discovery+ for free

All Sky TV customers get Discovery+ Entertainment included at no extra cost, across both Sky Essential TV and Sky Ultimate TV plans.

Both of these Sky plans also include 12 live Discovery-owned channels as part of the subscription, including Discovery, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Science, Discovery History, Animal Planet, Quest, Really and TLC.

TV-only plans

For those who already have broadband or want to add it separately:

TV and broadband bundles

Often better value when you factor in the broadband cost:

For customers who don't want a minimum term contract, Sky TV plans are also available on a rolling monthly basis through Sky Stream, with Discovery+ and the 12 live channels included at no extra cost. Monthly pricing is higher than the 24-month plans above, but there's no long-term commitment.

Virgin Media customers get the same 12 live Discovery-owned channels included with Mega TV plans, and available as part of the Essential Entertainment add-on with Flex. However, the Discovery+ app isn't supported on either TV 360 or Stream boxes, so on-demand viewing requires a separate £3.99 per month subscription accessed via a smart TV or streaming device.

TalkTalk TV customers may still be able to access Discovery+ depending on their device. The newer Android-powered TV Hub supports the app via the Google Play Store, and the latest Netgem TV boxes also offer access. Older YouView boxes, however, do not support Discovery+, so the service can't be used on those models.

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Discovery+ on Sky

Sky TV includes 12 live Discovery channels across both Sky Essential TV and Sky Ultimate TV, with Discovery+ Entertainment also included at no extra cost for all customers.

These live channels include:

• Animal Planet (141)
• Discovery (138)
• Discovery History (147)
• Discovery Science (148)
• Discovery Turbo (146)
• DMAX (151)
• Food Network (152)
• ID (140)
• Quest (149)
• Quest Red (150)
• Really (153)
• TLC (139)

The following Sky TV packages include Discovery channels and Discovery+ Entertainment at no extra cost:

Sky Essential TV includes Discovery+ Entertainment alongside Netflix and Sky Atlantic. Sky Ultimate TV adds Disney+, Hayu, and HBO Max - including TNT Sports as an optional add-on - making it the most complete streaming bundle currently available from a single provider.

Discovery+ is supported on the Sky Stream Puck and Sky Glass TV, as well as the previous Sky Q box for existing customers.

Read more about Sky TV packages and how to choose between Sky Essential TV and Ultimate TV.

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Discovery+ on Virgin Media

Virgin Media TV boxes don't support the Discovery+ app, so customers have no access to Discovery+ Entertainment or its on-demand library.

However, Virgin Media's TV packages do include 12 live Discovery-owned channels as part of the subscription:

• Animal Planet (178)
• Discovery (177)
• Discovery History (181)
• Discovery Science (179)
• Discovery Turbo (180)
• DMAX (169)
• Food Network (168)
• Investigation Discovery (166)
• Quest (137)
• Quest Red (128)
• Really (165)
• TLC (113)

Virgin Media Flex customers can access the same 12 channels by adding the Essential Entertainment add-on at £15 per month.

Customers who want access to Discovery+ Entertainment will need a separate standalone subscription at £3.99 per month, accessed through a smart TV, streaming device or games console rather than a Virgin TV box.

Read more about Virgin Media TV packages.

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Discovery+ on BT and EE TV

BT and EE TV customers previously received Discovery+ Entertainment included at no extra cost, but this changed in March 2026 when TNT Sports moved from Discovery+ to HBO Max. As a result, Discovery+ Entertainment is no longer included with any BT or EE TV plan, and now needs to be subscribed to separately.

The Discovery+ app is still available on newer EE TV devices - including the EE TV Box Pro, TV Box Mini, and Apple TV 4K - allowing customers to continue watching for £3.99 per month. However, older EE TV boxes lost app support in September 2025 and are no longer compatible.

At the same time, BT and EE TV do not carry Discovery's full range of live channels beyond those available through Freeview, meaning there are no additional Discovery-owned linear channels included, unlike on Sky or Virgin Media.

TNT Sports itself remains part of BT and EE TV packages, with live channels continuing as normal. However, on-demand viewing has moved to HBO Max, replacing Discovery+ as the platform for catch-up and streaming.

This applies across EE TV services under both the BT and EE brands. Read more about BT TV packages.

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Discovery Plus supported devices

Discovery+ is supported on Sky Stream, Sky Glass Air, Sky Glass, the EE TV Box Pro, and the previous Sky Q box for existing customers.

Customers can also access Discovery+ directly on a wide range of smart TVs, streaming devices and mobile platforms.

Supported devices include:

• Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
• Apple TV (4th generation and newer)
• Android TV devices
• Google Chromecast (2nd generation and newer)
• Roku streaming devices
• Samsung Smart TVs (2017 models and newer)
• LG Smart TVs (2018 models and newer)
• Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S
• iPhone and iPad (iOS)
• Android smartphones and tablets
• Web browsers via discoveryplus.com

Discovery+ is not currently supported on Virgin Media TV 360 or Virgin Media Stream boxes, meaning Virgin Media customers need a separate compatible device to access the app.

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What's on Discovery Plus?

Discovery+ is a subscription-based on-demand streaming service that first launched in the UK in 2020.

While live channels are available through Sky and Virgin Media, the majority of Discovery+ content is on demand.

As a result, customers who want to watch the Discovery channels live will need a pay TV subscription with either Sky or Virgin Media. Sky Essential TV and Sky Ultimate TV both include the Discovery channel suite, while Virgin Media includes Discovery in its Mega TV plans or as part of the Essential Entertainment add-on with Flex.

Discovery+ previously included TNT Sports as part of its higher-tier subscription, but following the move to HBO Max at the end of March 2026, live sport is no longer available on the platform.

Discovery+ now offers a single Entertainment membership tier:

Entertainment

Discovery+ Entertainment draws on content from Warner Bros. Discovery brands, with Food Network programming also woven throughout the library:

• Discovery - adventure, survival, factual, and annual Shark Week programming
• TLC - relationship and lifestyle reality
• Quest - motoring, adventure, and factual
• Investigation Discovery - true crime
• Really - home renovation and paranormal
• Quest Red - true crime
• Animal Planet - wildlife and vet series
• HGTV - home renovation and design
• Food Network - cooking competition and food programming

The range is broad. TLC carries relationship and lifestyle reality - the 90 Day Fiance franchise alone spans more than a dozen series, alongside Sister Wives, 1000-lb Sisters, My 600-lb Life, and Say Yes to the Dress.

Investigation Discovery and Quest Red are almost entirely true crime, with hundreds of episodes across Evil Lives Here, Deadly Women, People Magazine Investigates, and American Monster. Recent UK commissions have leaned into high-profile subjects, with The Kim Kardashian Heist and Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood among the latest additions to the catalogue.

HGTV focuses on home renovation - Fixer Upper, Home Town, Rock the Block, and Flip or Flop - while Food Network centres on cooking and competition, including Guy's Grocery Games, The Pioneer Woman, and Beat Bobby Flay.

Discovery and Quest lean into adventure, survival, motoring, and factual programming - Gold Rush, Deadliest Catch, Wheeler Dealers, Guz Khan's Custom Cars, and Expedition Unknown - alongside annual Shark Week releases spanning dozens of titles.

Paranormal content is spread across Really and Discovery, with Ghost Adventures and its many spin-offs forming a significant part of the catalogue, while Animal Planet covers wildlife and vet series including Crikey! It's the Irwins, Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet, and Pit Bulls & Parolees.

The subscription includes unlimited access to all episodes, individual profiles, a watchlist, and parental controls. All plans include ads.

Discovery+ Entertainment costs £3.99 per month - and as outlined above, it's included at no extra cost with Sky TV packages, where customers also get 12 live Discovery-owned channels.

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TNT Sports

TNT Sports has been through more rebrands and platform shifts than almost any other sports broadcaster in the UK.

It launched as BT Sport in 2013, became TNT Sports in 2023 when Warner Bros. Discovery took over distribution, and moved onto the Discovery+ platform at that point. In February 2025, Eurosport's UK content was folded into TNT Sports, adding cycling Grand Tours, tennis Grand Slams, and winter sports to a rights portfolio that already included the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, UFC, and WWE.

From 26 March 2026, TNT Sports moved off Discovery+ entirely and onto HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery's flagship streaming platform in the UK. Existing direct and Discovery+ subscribers can download the HBO Max app and sign in with their current account details to continue watching.

A standalone TNT Sports subscription costs £30.99 per month via HBO Max. Read more about how to watch TNT Sports and the full range of packages available.

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Verdict: The best way to watch Discovery Plus

Sky TV offers the most complete Discovery+ experience. All customers get Discovery+ Entertainment included at no extra cost, with the app supported across Sky Stream, Sky Glass and Sky Q, alongside 12 live Discovery channels included in both Essential TV and Ultimate TV packages. Sky Ultimate TV goes further, also bundling Netflix, Disney+, Hayu, and HBO Max at no extra cost.

Virgin Media includes the same 12 live Discovery channels with its Mega TV packages, but does not support the Discovery+ app on its TV boxes. That means on-demand viewing requires a separate £3.99 per month subscription, accessed via a smart TV or streaming device.

BT and EE TV customers no longer receive Discovery+ Entertainment as part of their TV plan following the March 2026 move of TNT Sports to HBO Max. The app remains available on newer EE devices - including the TV Box Pro, TV Box Mini, and Apple TV 4K - so customers can still subscribe separately for £3.99 per month, but neither platform includes live Discovery channels.

For those without a TV bundle, Discovery+ Entertainment is available as a standalone subscription for £3.99 per month, supported across a wide range of smart TVs, streaming devices, and games consoles.

Overall, Sky remains the strongest option - the only platform to combine the app, live channels, and included access at no extra cost.