Brits who plan to watch the bulk of their festive TV using a traditional terrestrial connection are being advised they could collectively save as much as £31 million on their broadband bills over the Christmas period. According to price comparison website Go.Compare, those who are paying for higher internet speeds could save money by switching to a cheaper plan.

After surveying 2,000 UK adults on their telly watching habits and broadband usage, Go.Compare found 43 percent of respondents said they will mainly watch traditional terrestrial or satellite TVs channels for their entertainment this holiday season - all while collectively spending £152 million on their broadband packages in December.

Only 13 percent of traditional telly watchers are paying for speeds of 50Mbps or less, but 44 percent currently pay for internet speeds of 51Mbps or above. It’s this second group who could allegedly save their hard-earned cash.

The firm said speeds of up to 50Mbps are sufficient for “basic online activities and some HD video streaming”, and concluded thousands of Brits could simply switch to a cheaper broadband plan if they weren’t going to rely on high-speed streaming services in December, collectively saving £31 million in total over the Christmas period.

Go.Compare said the average price for a broadband package that supports video streaming (16-50Mb) is £25.37, and the average cost of a streaming service is £7.59 per month. If you’re paying more than £25.37 per month for your internet, you might want to consider switching to a cheaper deal.

“Currently, these broadband users will spend a total of £165 million on their packages in December,” Go.Compare said. “By switching to a cheaper deal which offers lower speeds, these households would save a huge £31 million in total over the Christmas period. Speeds of 50Mb or less could meet these users’ needs for just £20.48 per month on average.”

44 percent of respondents said they would primarily watch TV via streaming services this Christmas, and would therefore benefit from faster speeds.

“Speed is one of the key factors consumers consider when choosing broadband,” said Matt Sanders, broadband expert at Go.Compare. “We often think faster is better, with many deals offering enticing features such as super or ultrafast fibre. But, if you’re not using your current speed, you could switch to a cheaper package and save some money.

“Of course, when you’re shopping around, it’s important to consider the other benefits that can come with various broadband deals, such as faster routers or discounted TV packages. Think about what suits your lifestyle the most when picking out your provider.”

Many broadband providers offer gigabit internet speeds, which are connections of 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) or higher. These are great for online gaming or homes where many people are constantly connected on several devices and demanding video streaming.

But many homes could be overpaying for these zippy speeds when in fact their video watching habits don’t require the pricier connection.

“If you want to make the switch but aren’t sure exactly which to go for, check out our guide on what broadband speed will work for your usage,” Sanders said. “Once you have a better idea of your needs, don’t forget to compare providers to get the right deal for you.”