Published: December 7, 2023
Monumental Sports Network is a regional sports network available as a standalone streaming option and through four live TV streaming services.
Fans of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals have a number of choices to watch their favorite team without cable.
Monumental Sports Network, formerly NBC Sports Washington, is bringing a fresh perspective to the sports broadcasting scene in the Mid-Atlantic region.
As with any regional sports network, Monumental is only available to local fans. But Monumental Sports Network has widened its reach, now available on about 25 cable providers across Maryland, Virginia, DC, and parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
Streaming Monumental Sports Without Cable in 2024
| Service | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | Comprehensive sports channels; Unlimited DVR. | High cost ($108.99/month for Choice); Less diverse non-sports content. |
| Hulu Live TV | Well-balanced channel mix; Unlimited DVR storage. | Limited to two screens |
| YouTube TV | Good selection of sports channels; Unlimited DVR and multiple profiles. | Single plan option |
| Monumental Sports DTC | Direct access to local games and original content; Flexible subscription options. | Limited to local team coverage; No additional sports or entertainment channels. |
Monumental Sports direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription offers a unique advantage for fans of local teams like the Washington Wizards and Capitals. Its DTC plan provides exclusive access to live, in-market games and original programming. It costs $19.99/month or $199.99/year. However, its limitation to only local team coverage and the absence of additional sports or entertainment channels might not cater to viewers with broader interests.
For those living in the Washington D.C. TV market, subscribing to DIRECTV STREAM means getting Monumental and MASN along with local channels like WJLA-TV (ABC), WRC-TV (NBC), WUSA (CBS), and WTTG (FOX).
Monumental Sports Network DTC option
Monumental Sports Network is now offering direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription memberships.
This move is a game-changer for local fans without a pay TV subscription. A subscription grants you access to live, in-market games of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and NBA’s Washington Wizards, and other local teams. The service has a variety of original programs and exclusive behind-the-scenes content to dive into.
Subscriptions are flexible, with monthly or annual memberships priced at $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. You can sign up at Monumental Sports Network’s website or through the app available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
For existing viewers accessing the network through a pay TV provider, there’s good news too. You can continue enjoying Monumental Sports Network just as before, plus access its newly launched digital platform at no extra cost.
DIRECTV STREAM: Stream Monumental Sports Network Live
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has Monumental Sports Network in three of its channel packages along with other cable networks that are important to NBA and NHL fans.
The Choice plan has more than 105 channels for $108.99 per month. All subscribers get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. You can watch live TV on unlimited screens within your home.
For sports enthusiasts with a focus on basketball and hockey, the DIRECTV STREAM Choice plan includes the following channels: ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, NBA TV, NFL Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNews, and ESPNU. These channels offer a rich blend of live games, expert analysis, and in-depth coverage of both NBA, NHL and NFL, along with other sports content.
In addition to these sports-focused channels, the plan also offers a wide range of entertainment channels like AMC, HGTV, and Comedy Central.
The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including locals, and sports channels such as NHL Network. The Ultimate package is $119.99 per month.
The DIRECTV STREAM Ultimate package includes several channels not found in the Choice bundle. These channels are FOX Sports 2, fyi, Golf Channel, LMN, LOGO HD, MGM, NHL Network, Oxygen, Revolt, STARZ (East), Sundance TV, Tennis Channel, TVG, and Universal Kids.
The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax and Showtime.
In the DIRECTV STREAM Premier package, there are several exclusive channels not available in the Ultimate, or Choice bundles. These include channels like Boomerang, Destination America, Discovery Family Channel, Discovery Life, HBO (East), HBO 2 East, HBO Comedy East HD, HBO Family East, HBO Latino, HBO Signature East HD, HBO Zone East HD, Starz Cinema East HD, Starz Comedy East HD, Starz Edge East HD, Starz In Black East HD, and Starz Kids & Family. A subscription is $164.99 per month.
A subscription is $164.99 per month.
All of these channel lineups are virtually identical to DIRECTV satellite service, but with a slight price difference.
DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. You can use apps on supported Smart TVs running on Google TV and Android TV. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.
| PLAN | PRICE | CHANNELS |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $79.99/month | 75+ |
| Choice | $108.99/month | 105+ |
| Ultimate | $119.99/month | 140+ |
| Premier | $164.99/month | 150+ |
Hulu Live TV: Streaming Monumental Sports Online
Hulu Live TV provides a well-rounded selection of channels covering news, entertainment, and sports.
ABC News Live, CNN, ESPN, Fox News, FX, HGTV, MSNBC, NBC, NFL Network, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, and USA Network.
Hulu Live TV has only one plan. You can watch live TV on up to two screens at once.
Hulu with Live TV comes with unlimited DVR storage so you can record sports, news, movies or whatever else you want. Hulu carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC across the U.S.
A subscription costs $76.99 per month. You get unlimited access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s on-demand library of movies and TV shows.
College football fans will be able to watch a lot more conferences and games with ESPN Plus.
There are more than 500 live college football games on ESPN Plus throughout the season. Southeastern Conference, LSU, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee are among the teams with select live games.
Hulu Live TV appeals to those who balance sports with general entertainment and news, offering a well-rounded channel selection, a contrast to YouTube TV’s sports-focused package.
With a Hulu Live TV subscription, you can activate the ESPN app for ESPN3, and unlock all live sports on ESPN Plus.
| PLAN | PRICE | CHANNELS |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $76.99/month | 90+ |
| Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $89.99/month | 90+ |
YouTube TV: Get Monumental Sports Networks, ESPN for Sports
YouTube TV has 128 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, Monumental Sports Network and NBA TV for $72.99 per month.
There is only one way to get Monumental Sports Network through the base plan.
The YouTube TV base plan carries other key sports channels for fans such as TNT, TBS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNews, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and MLB Network. YouTube TV carries entertainment networks such as Bravo and Disney Junior.
YouTube TV offers a 4K Plus add-on for $10 per month. The first year of the 4K add–on is $5 per month.
YouTube offers 4K resolution with the following channels: Discovery, ESPN, FOX Sports, FX, Nat Geo, NBC Sports, Tastemade, and MLB Network. The 4K bundle also gives subscribers the ability to stream on unlimited screens, and to download some content.
Unlimited Cloud DVR is included with any subscription. And you can create up to 6 profiles for a household per account.
YouTube TV is ideal for those who prioritize a mix of sports, including NBA and Monumental Sports Network, offering a slightly different selection compared to Hulu Live TV’s broader entertainment focus.
The service works with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. You can get a free 7-day trial, or look over the channel lineup for your area.
| PLAN | PRICE | CHANNELS |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $72.99/month | 128 |
Methodology
I spend hundreds of hours throughout the year conducting hands-on testing of streaming services, including Peacock, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV. I do the same rigorous testing for TV antennas and TV-related hardware. Check out the review policy to see how I compare products and services. The Cord Cutting Report is a reader-supported publication, and may earn affiliate commissions when you pick a streaming service through a recommendation. Read our affiliate policy for more information.
