Comcast’s Xfinity Moves 2 California RSNs to Higher Tier

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

Comcast’s Xfinity TV service today is moving the regional sports networks (RSNs), NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California, from the Popular TV package to the more expensive Digital Preferred/Ultimate TV plan, the cable operator announced.

The move means that Xfinity subscribers will have to pay $20 more a month to watch the Oakland A’s, San Jose Sharks and Sacramento Kings on NBC Sports California and the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors on NBC Sports Bay Area.

“Comcast is pleased to have reached agreements with NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California to continue offering their networks in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports and provides our customers with a choice. We are notifying customers that effective (January 14, 2025] NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California will be available on the Ultimate TV level of service. While the majority of customers shouldn’t be impacted, we have promotional offers for customers with Popular TV service who want to continue receiving NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California,” Comcast said in a statement.

The cable op previously moved several others RSNs from Popular to the Ultimate TV plan including MASN in the Washington/Baltimore market; Root Sports in the Seattle market; and NESN and NBC Sports Boston in the Boston market.

Comcast wants to move RSNs to higher tiers so it won’t have to pay as much in carriage fees because fewer subscribers would have access to it. However, in the case of the two NBC Sports RSNs in California, Comcast is actually reducing the fee to itself. The cable op owns the NBC Sports regional sports networks

The Comcast press statement says Popular TV subscribers will see a reduction in their regional sports fee. In addition, the cable operator says subscribers would be offered promotional plan to upgrade from Popular to Digital Preferred/Ultimate.

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television 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 TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.