Quick Answer: Mediacom, which now sells TV under the Xtream name, lists two TV packages on its own site in 2026. Local TV has 50+ channels (your local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and their subchannels), and Variety TV has 170+ channels, including ESPN, TNT, HGTV, CNN and Fox News, with ESPN Unlimited now included. Price trackers list Local TV at about $39.35 a month and Variety TV at about $116.02, but Mediacom adds a local broadcast surcharge and, on Variety TV, a regional sports surcharge on top. You also need Mediacom internet to get either package, and channel numbers change from one Mediacom system to the next.
Which Mediacom package has the channels you actually watch?
Most people looking up the Mediacom lineup want to know one thing: is my channel in the cheap package or the expensive one? Here are the channels readers ask about most. The full, searchable list of every channel follows further down.
| Channel | Local TV | Variety TV |
|---|---|---|
| ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN and ESPN2 | No | Yes |
| Big Ten Network, FS1, CBS Sports Network | No | Yes |
| TNT, TBS, USA Network | No | Yes |
| CNN, Fox News, MS NOW | No | Yes |
| HGTV, Food Network, HISTORY | No | Yes |
| Hallmark Channel | No | Yes |
| Disney Channel, Nickelodeon | No | Yes |
| The Weather Channel | No | Yes |
| Golf Channel | No | Sports and Info PAK add-on |
| NFL Network, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network | No | Not carried |
The pattern is simple. Local TV is essentially the free over-the-air channels plus shopping, faith and C-SPAN. Anything you think of as a “cable channel” needs Variety TV.
Local TV vs Variety TV: the two packages side by side
| Package | Channels | Listed price | What is in it | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local TV | 50+ | About $39.35 a month | Local network affiliates and their subchannels, PBS, C-SPAN, shopping, faith, Music Choice audio | People who watch local news and network primetime |
| Variety TV | 170+ | About $116.02 a month | Everything in Local TV plus the full cable lineup and ESPN Unlimited | Households that want sports, news and cable entertainment in one place |
Worth knowing: Mediacom’s own TV page no longer shows Essential TV, the 125-channel middle tier that used to sit between these two. Some comparison sites still list it. If you see it quoted, ask Mediacom whether it is still sold at your address before planning around it, because without it there is a gap of roughly $77 a month between the two packages.
What does Mediacom TV really cost each month?
The package price is only the first line of a Mediacom bill. Mediacom lists a local broadcast station surcharge separately, and packages with regional sports networks also carry a regional sports surcharge. Both are set per market and both went up on 1 January 2026. In one Mediacom system in western Kentucky, the local paper reported the broadcast surcharge rising from $28.67 to $33.22 and the sports surcharge from $6.11 to $6.28.
Put those example figures next to the package prices and the picture changes:
| Monthly line | Local TV | Variety TV |
|---|---|---|
| Package price | $39.35 | $116.02 |
| Local broadcast surcharge (example market) | $33.22 | $33.22 |
| Regional sports surcharge (example market) | Check your rate card | $6.28 |
| TV total before internet, extra boxes and taxes | About $72.57 | About $155.52 |
In that market the broadcast surcharge alone is about 84% of the Local TV sticker price, which makes Local TV close to $73 a month for channels an antenna picks up for free. That is the single most useful number to check before you sign up. The fees are explained in more detail in our guide to the broadcast TV fee on cable bills.
Note: these are example figures, not a quote. Mediacom does not publish one national price on its TV page, so ask for the rate card for your address, and add the cost of the Mediacom internet plan you must bundle with it.
Why your Mediacom channel numbers do not match anyone else’s
Mediacom does not use one national channel map. A satellite service puts ESPN on the same number everywhere, but Mediacom assigns numbers system by system, so ESPN in Des Moines may sit on a different number than ESPN in Springfield, Missouri. Any list that hands you a single national set of Mediacom channel numbers is guessing, which is why this guide tags each channel by package instead.
To get the exact numbers for your home, use one of these:
- Press Guide on your Xtream remote and search for the channel. This always reflects your own system.
- Open the XtreamTV app while signed in to your Mediacom account and check its guide.
- Use Mediacom’s lineup search at mediacomtoday-lineup.com, which lets you look up the channel lineup and rate information for your area.
- Try our TV Channel Finder to compare a channel’s number across providers.
Most networks also appear twice, once in standard definition and once in HD on a higher number. The HD version is usually the one you want.
How to use the full lineup below
Every channel is tagged with the package that carries it. Because Variety TV includes everything in Local TV, a green tag means you get the channel on either package, and a blue tag means you need Variety TV.
| Tag | What it means |
|---|---|
| Local + Variety | Included in Local TV, and therefore in Variety TV too |
| Variety TV only | Requires the Variety TV package |
The local subchannels (MeTV, Bounce TV, Grit and the like) depend on which stations broadcast in your area, so your Local TV list may be a little shorter or longer than the one below.
Search filters every table below. The tag shows which package carries each channel. Channel numbers vary by market, so check your ZIP for the exact numbers.
Full Mediacom Channel Lineup by Category
This is the Mediacom lineup grouped by category, with the package that carries each channel. Networks that Mediacom carries in both standard and high definition are listed once to keep the list readable.
Local & Broadcast
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| ABC | Local + Variety |
| CBS | Local + Variety |
| FOX | Local + Variety |
| NBC | Local + Variety |
| The CW | Local + Variety |
| MyNetworkTV | Local + Variety |
| PBS | Local + Variety |
| PBS Kids | Local + Variety |
| PBS Create | Local + Variety |
| PBS World | Local + Variety |
| ION Television | Local + Variety |
| ION Mystery | Local + Variety |
| MeTV | Local + Variety |
| Bounce TV | Local + Variety |
| Charge! | Local + Variety |
| COMET | Local + Variety |
| Catchy Comedy | Local + Variety |
| Dabl | Local + Variety |
| Defy TV | Local + Variety |
| GetTV | Local + Variety |
| Grit | Local + Variety |
| Laff | Local + Variety |
| Quest | Local + Variety |
| Court TV | Local + Variety |
| Scripps News | Local + Variety |
| MC22 | Local + Variety |
| MC22+ | Local + Variety |
| Mediacom Main Street | Local + Variety |
| Mediacom On Demand | Local + Variety |
Entertainment
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| A&E | Variety TV only |
| AMC | Variety TV only |
| BBC America | Variety TV only |
| BET | Variety TV only |
| Bravo | Variety TV only |
| CMT | Variety TV only |
| Comedy Central | Variety TV only |
| E! | Variety TV only |
| Freeform | Variety TV only |
| FX | Variety TV only |
| FXX | Variety TV only |
| IFC | Variety TV only |
| Lifetime | Variety TV only |
| Lifetime Movies | Variety TV only |
| MTV | Variety TV only |
| OWN | Variety TV only |
| Oxygen True Crime | Variety TV only |
| Paramount Network | Variety TV only |
| SundanceTV | Variety TV only |
| Syfy | Variety TV only |
| TBS | Variety TV only |
| TNT | Variety TV only |
| truTV | Variety TV only |
| TV Land | Variety TV only |
| USA Network | Variety TV only |
| VH1 | Variety TV only |
| VICELAND | Variety TV only |
| WE tv | Variety TV only |
| Hallmark Channel | Variety TV only |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Variety TV only |
| Great American Family | Variety TV only |
Sports
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Variety TV only |
| ESPN2 | Variety TV only |
| FS1 | Variety TV only |
| FS2 | Variety TV only |
| CBS Sports Network | Variety TV only |
| Big Ten Network | Variety TV only |
| Big Ten Network Overflow 1 | Variety TV only |
| Big Ten Network Overflow 2 | Variety TV only |
| NBC Sports Chicago+ | Variety TV only |
| Marquee Sports Network | Variety TV only |
| Tennis Channel | Variety TV only |
| TUDN | Variety TV only |
| Zona Fútbol TUDN | Variety TV only |
| MotorTrend | Variety TV only |
News & Weather
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| CNN | Variety TV only |
| CNBC | Variety TV only |
| FOX News | Variety TV only |
| FOX Business Network | Variety TV only |
| MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) | Variety TV only |
| HLN | Variety TV only |
| Newsmax | Variety TV only |
| NewsNation | Variety TV only |
| The Weather Channel | Variety TV only |
| C-SPAN | Local + Variety |
| C-SPAN 2 | Local + Variety |
| C-SPAN 3 | Local + Variety |
Kids & Family
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| Cartoon Network | Variety TV only |
| Disney Channel | Variety TV only |
| Disney Junior | Variety TV only |
| Nickelodeon | Variety TV only |
| Nick Jr. | Variety TV only |
Lifestyle, Home & Learning
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| Animal Planet | Variety TV only |
| Discovery Channel | Variety TV only |
| Discovery Life | Variety TV only |
| Food Network | Variety TV only |
| HGTV | Variety TV only |
| HISTORY | Variety TV only |
| Investigation Discovery | Variety TV only |
| Magnolia Network | Variety TV only |
| National Geographic | Variety TV only |
| TLC | Variety TV only |
| Travel Channel | Variety TV only |
| RFD-TV | Variety TV only |
Movies
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| FX Movie Channel | Variety TV only |
| TCM | Variety TV only |
Spanish-Language
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| Univision | Variety TV only |
| UniMás | Variety TV only |
| Telemundo | Variety TV only |
| TUDN | Variety TV only |
| Zona Fútbol TUDN | Variety TV only |
Faith & Inspiration
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| 3ABN | Local + Variety |
| BYUtv | Local + Variety |
| CTN | Local + Variety |
| EWTN | Local + Variety |
| INSP | Local + Variety |
| SonLife | Local + Variety |
| TBN | Local + Variety |
| TBN Inspire | Local + Variety |
| Daystar | Variety TV only |
| Great American Faith and Living | Variety TV only |
Shopping & Music
| Channel | Package |
|---|---|
| HSN | Local + Variety |
| HSN2 | Local + Variety |
| QVC | Local + Variety |
| QVC 2 | Local + Variety |
| ShopLC | Local + Variety |
| Jewelry Television (JTV) | Variety TV only |
| Music Choice (45+ audio channels) | Local + Variety |
Sports on Mediacom: what Variety TV has, and what it is missing
Variety TV covers the big national sports channels: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, CBS Sports Network, Tennis Channel and Big Ten Network with its two overflow feeds for busy Saturdays. It also carries Marquee Sports Network, the Chicago Cubs channel, in the markets that get it. Since Mediacom added ESPN Unlimited to Variety TV, you can also sign in to the ESPN app with your Mediacom account, as long as you stay on an eligible plan and are 18 or older.
Several channels sports fans expect are simply not on the lineup:
- NFL Network is not carried. NFL RedZone is sold separately as a seasonal add-on.
- ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network and ACC Network are missing, which matters if you follow college sports outside the Big Ten.
- MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network are not part of either package.
- Golf Channel is only available through the Sports and Info PAK add-on.
If those gaps rule Mediacom out, the YouTube TV channel lineup carries NFL Network, SEC Network and ACC Network in its base plan, and you can stream it over the Mediacom internet you already pay for.
Premium channels and add-on PAKs
Neither package includes premium movie networks. Mediacom sells HBO Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and STARZ as monthly add-ons, and third-party price trackers show them running from roughly $10 to $19 a month each. Mediacom also sells themed Digital PAKs, such as Sports and Info, Kids and Variety, Movies and Music, and a Spanish-language PAK, each for a small monthly fee. Prices vary by market, so confirm them on your rate card.
Mediacom TV problems and likely fixes
| Problem | Likely fix |
|---|---|
| A channel number from a website shows the wrong channel | Mediacom numbers are set per system. Press Guide and search by name instead. |
| A channel says you are not subscribed | It is probably Variety TV only or part of an add-on PAK. Check its tag in the list above. |
| The ESPN app will not accept your Mediacom login | ESPN Unlimited is tied to Variety TV. Confirm your package, then sign in with the email on your Mediacom account. |
| A second TV has no service | Each TV needs its own Xtream1 box, and extra boxes carry a monthly fee. The XtreamTV app on a streaming stick is often cheaper. |
| Your bill is higher than the package price | Look for the local broadcast surcharge, the regional sports surcharge, extra box fees and taxes, which are all separate lines. |
| A local channel goes dark | This is usually a carriage dispute between Mediacom and the station owner. An indoor antenna keeps the channel on while it is sorted out. |
Is Mediacom TV worth it in 2026?
That depends almost entirely on which package you would buy. Local TV is hard to justify once the broadcast surcharge is added, because those same channels are free with an antenna in most Mediacom towns, and our guide to watching local channels without an antenna covers the streaming options if reception is poor.
Variety TV makes more sense for a household that watches a lot of ESPN, Big Ten football, cable news and lifestyle channels on several TVs and likes one remote and one bill. Just compare the real total, with surcharges and internet included, against a live TV streaming service before you commit. The deciding question is usually simple: add up what Mediacom would charge at your address, then check whether a streaming service carries every channel on your must-watch list for less.
The author specializes in U.S. cable, satellite, and streaming TV services, with hands-on experience analyzing channel lineups, regional restrictions, equipment requirements, and contract terms. All the content is written with clear, easy-to-understand explanations to help readers compare services accurately and make informed decisions.