Brandwave

BT vs Sky:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sky had more branded searches than BT among TV providers in the United Kingdom. Sky had about 151,000 branded searches, while BT had 6,600. Sky made up 17.1% of all TV provider searches we track, and BT accounted for 0.75%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about TV providers, Sky appeared in all five answers and BT in four. Sky was mentioned before BT in every answer.

Among TV providers in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sky, about 23 searches for every 1 for BT

Sky 151K searchesBT 6.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Sky, mentioned in every answer we collected

Sky in 5 of 5BT in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Sky, named ahead of BT in every answer

Sky first in 5BT never first

Follow BT vs Sky and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top TV providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sky appeared in all five answers. BT was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Sky was listed before BT in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Sky1st
  2. Virgin Media2nd
  3. EE3rd
  4. NOW4th
  5. BT5th
  6. Freely6th
  7. Freeview7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • NOW5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sky5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • EE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Virgin Media5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • BT4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Freeview2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Freely2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about TV providers

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.

Is BT or Sky more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BT and Sky by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven TV providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

BT and Sky among TV providers in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for Sky, BT. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNOWSkyFreeviewFreelyEEVirgin MediaBT
Oct 202553.2%18.7%10.6%7.2%2.6%6.7%0.96%
Nov 202557.6%16.5%11.6%6.3%2.3%4.9%0.85%
Dec 202560.8%13.5%12.2%8.2%2%2.5%0.73%
Jan 202662.9%16.1%12.6%3.8%2.1%1.7%0.76%
Feb 202664.4%15.8%10.5%3.2%2.1%3.2%0.77%
Mar 202664.6%16.3%10.6%2.6%2.6%2.5%0.78%
Apr 202664.3%15.7%12.9%2.6%2.1%1.8%0.63%
May 202663.9%14.3%10.5%5.7%2.1%2.8%0.63%
Jun 202655.8%18.1%13.6%7.5%2.2%1.9%0.82%
Jul 202663.9%14.9%12.8%3.8%2.1%1.9%0.63%
Aug 202667.2%15.6%9%3.3%2.2%1.9%0.66%
Sep 202662.2%17.1%12.4%3.1%2.5%1.9%0.75%

How has the BT and Sky comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Sky was ahead of BT in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BT’s share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom moved from 0.96% to 0.75%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 6.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sky’s share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom moved from 18.7% to 17.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 193K to 151K.

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom TV providers in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Sky gained share of searches among TV providers in the United Kingdom, from 15.6% to 17.1%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for BT in the United Kingdom fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 6.6K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BT’s and Sky’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

BT

1 branded search term

  • bt tv

Sky

3 branded search terms

  • sky glass
  • sky tv
  • sky tv packages

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among TV providers

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.