Whoa, Nellie! DIRECTV Stream Now Charges $120 a Month to Get a Regional Sports Network

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Former editor of Satellite DIRECT magazine. Reported on DIRECTV for 30 years.

TV Answer Man, I love the Lakers and Dodgers but it’s getting incredibly expensive to watch their games on cable, satellite or streaming. I have DIRECTV Stream which has their games but they just raised their fees! Did you see that?! It’s ridiculous! — Todd, Santa Monica. 

Todd, I feel your pain. The cost of watching sports on television is out of control, something everyone agrees on except, of course, for the companies forcing TV providers to pay enormous fees to carry their sports channels. It’s bad enough that you need multiple subscriptions to watch live sports these days (Peacock, ESPN+, pay TV service, etc.). But when you total the monthly cost, it’s enough to consider another pastime besides following your favorite teams.

The most recent example of the escalating cost of watching sports came yesterday when DIRECTV, DIRECTV Stream, U-verse and DIRECTV Via Streaming all raised their monthly subscriber fees. DIRECTV Stream’s Choice plan, the live streamer’s least expensive package with regional sports networks, was bumped up from $108.99 a month to $114.99 a month. Plus, you have to pay taxes on the plan in most states which is another $5-6 a month or more. Total cost: $120 a month. Just to ensure that you can watch your local team on a regional sports network.

DIRECTV and DIRECTV Stream carry more regional sports networks than any other TV provider, but the cost is out of control.

(In the streaming category, Fubo is second with regional sports networks and is less expensive at around $90-95 a month with the regional sports network fee included. But unlike DIRECTV Stream, Fubo does not carry MASN, the home of the Nationals and Orioles, Spectrum Sports LA, the home of the Dodgers, or Monumental Sports, the home of the Wizards and Capitals. The streamer also doesn’t have the Turner networks which shows MLB, NBA and NHL games.)

I have subscribed to DIRECTV Stream in the past but it will be difficult to return if it doesn’t do something about the RSN entry fee.

DIRECTV Stream obviously understands what it’s up against with a current $60 discount over three months for new customers. But what about existing subscribers, DIRECTV Stream?

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.