At a glance
Children’s TV packages typically include Freeview channels and paid-TV subscriptions
Providers such as BT, Sky and TalkTalk offer kids’ TV through NOW Entertainment plans
Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ also offer a wide range of children’s TV
You can check children’s TV features when comparing broadband and TV deals
Popular children’s TV channels
Popular children’s TV channels available in the UK include:
Pre-school – Freeview channels such as CBeebies, Ketchup TV and Milkshake! on Channel 5.
Older children – Freeview channels include CBBC, Cartoon Classics and Yaaas! ITVX kids is available via the ITVX app.
Paid for subscription-based apps:
Netflix – many family movies and kids’ TV shows, including classics such as Scooby Doo and exclusive Netflix originals like Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
Disney+ – home of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, with hundreds of films and series for children.
What free TV channels are available for kids?
Children’s TV channels available to watch on Freeview, Freesat or internet streaming include:
CBBC
CBeebies
ITVX Kids (free streaming via internet)
Ketchup TV (free streaming via internet)
Yaaas! (free streaming via internet).
Which TV providers offer children’s TV packages?
Most of the popular UK broadband and TV providers offer some type of kids’ entertainment package, either as a bolt-on or as part of a TV bundle with sports and entertainment.
These include:
BT (Via EE TV)
Sky
Virgin Media
TalkTalk.
What children’s TV can you watch with BT?
BT TV is now EE TV which uses NOW membership plans on top of the usual Freeview channels.
NOW Entertainment offers a range of channels for all the family, including several kids’ channels. It also offers boxsets from CBeebies and CBBC.
Channels available with EE TV Kids include:
Sky Kids
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
Nicktoons
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
Cartoonito.
What children’s TV can you watch with Sky?
Sky Kids is available as an add-on bundle to Sky TV or NOW Entertainment bundles. It includes several children’s channels which include:
Boomerang
Cartoonito
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
Nick Jr Too
Nicktoons
Cartoon Network
Baby TV.
Did you know?
The Disney children’s channels that you could previously have expected to get with Sky Kids are no longer available on Sky TV. If you want to watch your favourite movies and shows from the Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, you’ll need to get the subscription-based streaming platform Disney+. If you’re a Sky customer you could add Disney+ to your Sky Q package on a monthly rolling-contract basis.
What children’s TV can I watch with Virgin Media?
Virgin Media’s Kids Pack offers the usual Freeview children’s channels as well as several additional channels. Kids Pack is included with Virgin Media’s Max Volt bundle, or as an add-on to its other TV packages.
Virgin Media’s Kids Pack channels include:
Sky Kids
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
Nick Jr Too
Nicktoons
Boomerang
Cartoonito.
What children’s TV can you watch with TalkTalk?
TalkTalk lets you add NOW Entertainment to your deal on a monthly rolling contract, so you can let the kids enjoy it during the school holidays, then remove it during term time if you like.
Channels with NOW Entertainment include:
Sky Kids
Boomerang
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
Nicktoons.
What are some of the best streaming services for children’s TV?
Popular streaming services also offer plenty of great content for kids to enjoy.
The most popular TV streaming services in the UK include:
Netflix: Has a good range of children's TV shows and family films, plus parental controls that let you set up a child profile, lock adult profiles and restrict access to certain content
Amazon Prime Video: Includes a large range of family content, which you can stream on multiple devices
BBC iPlayer: Free to use and is great for larger families, allowing access to multiple screens at a time
NOW: NOW Entertainment includes seven live kids’ channels including Sky Kids, Boomerang, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. You can also get box sets from Milkshake! CBeebies and CBBC
Disney+: Ideal for young and old Disney fans, Disney+ also offers a large range of age-appropriate content for younger children and families.
What broadband speed do I need for streaming?
If you want your kids to enjoy HD movies and shows without being frustrated by buffering, you’ll typically need a minimum download speed of at least 5 megabits per second (Mbps).
But if the internet is being used on other devices in your home, you may need a faster connection. Fibre optic broadband with a speed of around 30-60 Mbps should be enough for most families.
Top tip
If you’re having problems because of a slower internet speed, switching from HD to SD can help avoid buffering.
While the whole family might want to watch a Disney Pixar movie in High Definition, little ones are unlikely to notice the difference while watching their favourite episodes of Bluey or Peppa Pig.
Where can I compare broadband and TV deals?
Right here at Compare the Market. Simply pop in your postcode and we’ll send you a list of the latest broadband and TV offers available in your area.
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Over the past decade, Kate has worked in various industries, including company secretarial, small business support and property investing.
Her move to financial services in 2022 not only helped her find her niche in personal finance writing, but also just how alienating finance can be. She’s now motivated by making everyday money a piece of cake for everyone, helping her readers feel informed and in control.
Kate now specialises in savings and current accounts as well as broadband, mobile and energy products.
Ele Clark is an award-winning editor who has held leadership roles at Which? and news-stand publications in London and Dubai. She’s appeared across the press and media, including BBC’s Panorama. With almost 20 years’ experience in personal finance, insurance and consumer journalism, she leads a talented team at Compare the Market, creating insightful, accessible content to help people make informed financial decisions.
With the UK racing towards gigabit speeds and our phones more integral to our lives, Matt wants to make sure you have great packages that can keep up. And with more than 10 years' experience working with digital brands, he’s shaping our broadband, TV and phone comparison journeys.
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