Quick Answer: The regional sports fee is a monthly charge for carrying regional sports networks, the channels that show your local teams’ games. It is not a government fee. In 2026 it runs from $0 to $22.00 a month on Cox depending on the market, up to $23.99 on DIRECTV satellite and up to $16.99 on Fubo, while Hulu + Live TV lists it at $0.
Last checked October 13, 2026, against Cox’s 2026 surcharge sheet, DIRECTV’s satellite package page, Fubo’s regional sports fee help article (updated August 26, 2025), Hulu + Live TV’s plan page, Xfinity’s fees support article and YouTube TV’s sign-up page.
Regional sports networks, or RSNs, carry games that are not on national TV. NESN, YES Network, MSG and FanDuel Sports Network are examples. They are some of the most costly channels a TV provider pays for, so many providers bill the cost as a separate line instead of putting it in the advertised price.
Xfinity’s support article on bill fees says the fee is not set by the government. It also says the fee can change during a promotion or contract, and that you get notice first. If anyone tells you it is a government charge, that is not correct.
How Much Is the Regional Sports Fee in 2026?
The amount depends on your provider and on which teams’ channels your area gets. Here is what each provider’s own page showed on October 13, 2026.
| Provider | Regional sports fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cox | $0 to $22.00 a month | Set by market. See the Cox table below. |
| DIRECTV satellite | Up to $23.99 a month | On Choice, Ultimate and Premier. DIRECTV’s page does not list it for Entertainment. |
| Fubo | Up to $16.99 a month | Only on plans with regional sports, and only where you get them. Sign-ups through Roku pay $16.00. |
| Xfinity | Varies by market | Listed on older plans. Xfinity says its new 2026 TV packages include it in the package price. |
| Hulu + Live TV | $0 | Hulu’s plan page lists the regional sports fee as $0. |
| YouTube TV | None listed | The sign-up page shows one price, $82.99 a month, with no regional sports fee. |
| Spectrum | Not confirmed | TV Select Plus is now called Stream TV Pro. We could not confirm a 2026 fee from Spectrum, so check your bill. |
What Does Cox Charge in Each Market?
Cox is the only big cable company we found that publishes its fee for every area. Its sheet shows how much the same fee can change from one city to the next. The 2026 amounts took effect on January 1, 2026.
| Cox market | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | $19.00 | $22.00 | Up $3.00 |
| Palos Verdes, CA | $19.00 | $22.00 | Up $3.00 |
| Connecticut | $19.00 | $21.00 | Up $2.00 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $19.00 | $19.00 | No change |
| Gainesville, FL | $14.00 | $15.00 | Up $1.00 |
| Northern Virginia | $13.00 | $15.00 | Up $2.00 |
| Gulf Coast | $11.00 | $13.00 | Up $2.00 |
| Middle Georgia | $12.00 | $13.00 | Up $1.00 |
| Rhode Island | $12.00 | $12.50 | Up $0.50 |
| San Diego | $13.00 | $11.25 | Down $1.75 |
| Cleveland | $13.00 | $11.00 | Down $2.00 |
| Roanoke, VA | $6.00 | $6.50 | Up $0.50 |
| Hampton Roads, VA | $6.00 | $6.50 | Up $0.50 |
| Phoenix | $6.00 | $6.00 | No change |
| Las Vegas | $6.50 | $5.50 | Down $1.00 |
| Omaha | $5.00 | $5.00 | No change |
| New Orleans | $7.50 | $4.50 | Down $3.00 |
| Greater Louisiana | $7.50 | $4.50 | Down $3.00 |
| Oklahoma City | $4.50 | $4.50 | No change |
| Tulsa | $4.50 | $4.50 | No change |
| Kansas and NW Arkansas | $3.75 | $3.75 | No change |
| Sun Valley | $0.00 | $0.00 | No change |
Over a year, the gap is large. A Cox customer in Orange County pays $264 a year in this fee, while one in Tulsa pays $54. Cox also charges a $32.00 monthly broadcast surcharge in every market on the same sheet, which our broadcast TV fee guide explains.
Why Is the Regional Sports Fee Separate From the Package Price?
Billing it on its own line lets a provider advertise a lower package price. The real cost shows up only on the bill. The broadcast TV fee works the same way.
The fee also sits outside your deal. Xfinity says these fees are not part of promotional or minimum-term pricing, so they can go up while your package price stays locked. That is why a bill can rise in the middle of a promotion.
Does Paying the Fee Mean You Get Your Team’s Games?
Not always. The fee pays for the regional channels your provider carries in your area. If a provider and a channel cannot agree on a deal, the channel can be missing while the fee stays on the bill.
Chicago is a recent example. The Chicago Sports Network launched in fall 2024 without a deal with Comcast. It only reached Xfinity on June 6, 2025, after a tentative agreement put it on Xfinity’s top TV tier. During that gap, Xfinity customers in the area could not watch the teams on that channel through Xfinity.
Some teams are also moving games to free local stations. In October 2025, for example, the Miami Heat named WPLG Local 10 the local home of select Heat games. If your team does that, an antenna may get you games that used to need a regional sports channel.
How Does Fubo’s Regional Sports Fee Work?
Fubo shows the fee clearly but bases it on your area. Its help article says the fee applies only on plans with regional sports, and only if those channels are available where you live. It can be up to $16.99 a month, or $16.00 for anyone who signed up through Roku.
Fubo says you can avoid the fee by moving to a base plan without regional sports. Our Fubo channel lineup shows its current plans and prices.
Can You Get the Regional Sports Fee Removed From Your Bill?
Usually only by changing your plan. These are the realistic options.
- Drop to a lower package. On DIRECTV satellite the fee is listed for Choice and higher, not for Entertainment. On Fubo, a base plan without regional sports avoids it. You lose the regional sports channels either way.
- Switch to a service that does not bill it separately. Hulu + Live TV lists it at $0 and YouTube TV lists no such fee. Check which regional channels each one carries in your ZIP code first, because many do not carry them all.
- Check if your team is on a local station. If it is, an antenna gets those games for free.
- Call the retention team. Ask for a credit or a better offer. Providers would often rather lower your bill a little than lose you.
If you are comparing providers for local sports, the YouTube TV channel lineup and the DIRECTV channel lineup show what each one carries. Whatever you choose, ask for the full monthly price with every fee before you sign up.
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.
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