DIRECTV Now Charges $20 Regional Sports Fee In Some Markets

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

TV Answer Man, question for you. I have YouTube TV now but I am thinking of getting DIRECTV because YouTube TV doesn’t have the regional sports networks like Monumental Sports now. Do you know if DIRECTV has a regional sports fee? And, if so, what is it? – Sam, Landover, Maryland.

Sam, you’re right. YouTube TV just lost Monumental Sports Network in a carriage dispute. The channel is the regional TV home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. YouTube TV now carries just four RSNs (regional sports networks) – the NBC Sports nets.

You’re also right that YouTube TV doesn’t charge a regional sports fee. But DIRECTV does and it’s included in the total price of each package that includes RSNs. (Choice is the DIRECTV’s least expensive plan with RSNs.)

And get ready for this: DIRECTV now charges as much as $19.99 a month if your plan includes RSNs. That fee would be in markets that have multiple regional sports nets such as the Southern California area and Manhattan. In some markets, the price would be lower. For example, it would be $15.99 a month in Landover, Maryland. You can check your RSN fee here.

The RSN price reflects DIRECTV’s recent decision to raise the sports fee by $2 a month.

The regional sports fee is one of the reasons why DIRECTV’s ‘Signature’ plans are so expensive. With the RSN fee included, and a leased Gemini device, the price for the Choice plan could be as high as $124.99 a month for existing customers. (DIRECTV offers discounts to new users.) That’s a lot of money just to ensure you’re able to watch your local team or teams. (And the price could be even higher; DIRECTV has just raised prices on some plans, but it won’t reveal the increases.)

Sam, DIRECTV carries more than 30 regional sports networks, more than any TV provider. But you’ll have to pay the price to watch your hometown squad.

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