Compare Cable TV and Internet Deals in Washington, DC
Change Location
Cable TV and internet in Washington, DC
The capital city of the United States isn’t lacking for political discourse—or cable and internet providers. Washington, DC, is home to several major telecom companies, as well as a handful of independents. Securing a connection in DC is easier than passing legislation, for sure.
What are the best TV and cable companies in Washington, DC?
- Xfinity—X1 DVR/receiver
- DIRECTV—NFL SUNDAY TICKET
- DISH—Hopper 3 DVR/receiver
- Verizon Fios—Fiber-optic TV
- RCN—No-contract packages
What are the best internet providers in Washington, DC?
- Xfinity—Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide
- Verizon Fios Home Internet—Fast fiber internet
- RCN—Eero Plus Wi-Fi security
- Atlantic Broadband—Low-priced plans
- Viasat—Fastest satellite internet
The Big Three of TV providers—Xfinity, DIRECTV, and DISH—cover the majority of Washington, DC, via cable and satellite. Verizon Fios (fiber-optic TV) and RCN (cable) each have a slightly smaller area footprint, but they still offer competitive TV service.
Xfinity and Verizon also come out on top for DC internet coverage and speed, but, while all of Xfinity’s internet connections are cable, not all of Verizon’s are fiber. In some parts of Washington, DC, Verizon offers only DSL internet service, so be sure to ask if you’re getting fiber or DSL.
FYI: Fiber and cable are the fastest internet connections available, followed by DSL (which uses telephone lines) and satellite (which uses a dish that can’t be shared with satellite TV). Like Xfinity, RCN and Atlantic Broadband are cable-delivered internet, while Viasat is satellite-delivered internet.
Cable TV and internet bundles in Washington, DC
If you’re looking for both TV and internet service, bundling the two services through a single provider can save you money and the hassle of separate bills. With some providers, like Xfinity, you can also add phone and home security services.
Besides Xfinity and Verizon, RCN and Atlantic Broadband also offer TV, internet, and phone services in Washington, DC. There’s no multitasking with DIRECTV, DISH, or Viasat though.
Top TV and internet bundles in Washington, DC
- Xfinity—High speeds, large channel counts
- Verizon Fios—Large channel selection, fast fiber internet
- RCN—Low-priced TV/internet bundles
- Atlantic Broadband—Included premium channels
Summary of Cable TV Providers in Washington, DC
Provider | Service Type | Channel Count | Customer Rating (out of 5) |
Features | Prices Starting At* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISH | Satellite | 290+ | 3.8 | Enjoy a 2-year price guarantee. | $64.99/mo. |
DIRECTV | Satellite | 330+ | 3.7 | See out-of-market games on NFL SUNDAY TICKET. | $39.99/mo. |
RCN | Cable | 285+ | 3.9 | Sync recorded shows to your mobile devices. | $29.99/mo. |
*Pricing subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Summary of Internet Providers in Washington, DC
Provider | Service Type | Max Download Speeds up to | Customer Rating (out of 5) |
Features | Prices Starting At* | Area Availability* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | 3.5 | Access millions of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the US. | $24.99/mo. | 100% |
Viasat | Satellite | 25 Mbps | 3.9 | Fastest residential satellite internet in the U.S. | $65.00/mo. | 99% |
RCN | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | 3.9 | Get the help you need with 24/7 customer support. | $29.99/mo. | 96% |
Verizon | Fiber | 940 Mbps | N/A | Fios Internet provides 99.9% network reliability.‡ | $39.99/mo. | 100% |
HughesNet | Satellite | 25 Mbps | $/mo. | 100% |
*Pricing subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Data effective as of 05/07/2020. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. ‡ w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. Charges. § For 24 mos. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
Sports coverage in Washington, DC
Washington, DC, is the home field for pro sports teams Washington Redskins (NFL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Nationals (MLB), Washington Capitals (NHL), DC United (MLS), and Washington Mystics (WNBA).
TV coverage for all these leagues, as well as NCAA college ball, is just a remote click away.
How to watch sports in Washington, DC
Specs and features comparison
Sports team | Channels | Packages |
---|---|---|
Washington Redskins |
|
|
Washington Wizards |
|
|
Washington Nationals |
|
|
Washington Capitals |
|
|
DC United |
|
|
Washington Mystics |
|
|
All of the TV providers in Washington, DC, offer channels that carry local sports in at least one package. Above, we’ve bulleted the lowest-priced cable plans you can get to watch each team.
Local channels in Washington, DC
Want to get your prime-time shows and keep up on local news and weather? Washington, DC, has affiliate stations for all the major networks, as well as minors like MyNetworkTV and ION—you’ll never want for a Law & Order or NCIS marathon.




Local channels are included with most basic TV packages. Here are three of the cheapest we’ve found in Washington, DC:
- RCN Digital Basic: $29.99/mo. for first 12 mos.
- Xfinity Starter: $59.99/mo. for first 12 mos.
- Atlantic Broadband Value Plus: $59.99/mo. for first 12 mos.
Find Store Locations Near Washington
CableTV.com cannot guarantee that all the information displayed below is accurate.
Compare TV and internet providers in Washington, DC
Want to dive deeper? Check out some of CableTV.com’s latest TV and internet reviews.
Washington FAQs
If you don’t want to pay for cable, you can watch TV the old-fashioned way with an antenna or through new-fangled streaming via the internet.
On-demand streaming (like Netflix or Prime Video) and livestreaming (like Sling TV or YouTube TV) require an internet connection of at least 5 Mbps, though we recommend 25 Mbps to get the best picture without buffering.
In the Washington, DC area, the only residential fiber-optic internet provider is Verizon Fios Home Internet. Cable-based providers Xfinity and RCN can match Verizon’s fiber internet download rates but not its upload speeds. Fiber offers equal download and upload speeds; cable upload speed is typically a fraction of its download speed.
In terms of internet speeds and availability, Xfinity, Verizon Fios, and RCN are the top three providers for the Washington, DC area. They’re close in pricing, and all offer bundles with TV and phone service (if you need those too).
We’d recommend Viasat only if absolutely nothing else is available. Satellite internet—which also includes Viasat’s lone competitor, HughesNet—is as expensive as it is slow and unreliable.