Comcast continues to move regional sports networks to higher, more expensive tiers as current agreements reach their expiration.
Xfinity customers in the Washington, D.C. area are being notified that Monumental Sports Network, the regional sports network that airs live Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics games, will be moved from the “Popular TV” package to the “Ultimate TV” level beginning September 15. Upgrading tiers will run customers about $20 per month.
Current subscribers to the “Popular TV” tier will receive a free preview of “Ultimate TV” through September 30 before Monumental officially goes behind the paywall of the higher tier. Comcast will offer current customers promotional offers to upgrade to the higher package.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with Monumental Sports Network, home to the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, to make it available on our Ultimate TV level of service effective September 15,” a Comcast spokesperson told Awful Announcing in a statement. “Our viewership information shows that the majority of customers who watch Monumental Sports Network already subscribe to Ultimate TV so there will be no impact to them. Popular TV customers will receive a free preview through September 30 so they may enjoy some of the Capitals pre-season games. Promotional offers are available for those who want to continue watching.”
Monumental Sports Network joins the other D.C.-area regional sports network, MASN, in the higher tier.
Comcast has held a hard line against regional sports networks in recent years, forcing nearly every single one, with little exception, into the higher tiers, lest the distributor drop the channel from its lineup entirely. While the moves aren’t ideal for regional sports networks as they will earn fewer per-subscriber fees from Comcast under the new arrangements, it is still much preferable to being dropped from Comcast’s offerings and earning no revenue at all.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.