Monumental Sports Network, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has introduced a direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription service, priced at $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. The service, which began today, provides access to all programming from the main channel, including coverage of the Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics games within the teams' respective regions.
Zach Leonsis, President of Media and New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, stated that the pricing aligns with other regional programming offerings. The launch coincides with the start of the Capitals' regular season, with the first game scheduled against the Penguins this Friday. The Wizards' regular season begins on October 25, with preseason games also available.
Monumental joins the growing list of regional sports networks (RSNs) offering DTC services for fans who do not subscribe to traditional pay-TV services. What sets Monumental's service apart is its comprehensive access for in-market subscribers, encompassing all games of the Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics. The service will not initially offer subscriptions on a per-game basis but may consider it in the future.
The DTC service is accessible for free to existing authenticated pay-TV subscribers, aiming to ensure that in-market fans without cable or satellite subscriptions can still access the games.
Subscribers can enjoy on-demand viewing, multiple camera angles, and personalisation features, with Monumental leveraging Sportradar for betting features and Ticketmaster for ticket management. New subscribers receive a 20% discount on team merchandise and the first 10,000 subscribers will receive three bobbleheads featuring the Caps' Alex Ovechkin, the Wizards' Kyle Kuzma, and the Mystics' Elena Delle Donne.
Monumental Sports Network officially rebranded from NBC Sports Washington three weeks ago, with the lead time used for preparations to launch the DTC service. Leonsis noted that the Capitals' preseason served as a successful public beta test for their digital platform, allowing them to address issues and ensure a seamless DTC launch.