• Loading stock data...
Friday, November 22, 2024

Orioles, Nationals Reach MASN Deal, This Time Without Legal Drama

  • An agreement could aid in resolving larger issues surrounding both clubs.
  • A new deal is a marked change in tenor, speed from the prior decade-plus of acrimony.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There is another settlement in the long-running Mid-Atlantic Sports Network saga. The last agreement took more than a decade to hash out; this one required only a few weeks of negotiations.

The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals have agreed on the teams’ local media rights for the 2017-21 seasons, jointly telling the Supreme Court of the state of New York that they concur with a recent MLB arbitration decision that each club is due $304 million for those five years, amounting to nearly $61 million annually.

The agreement marks a massive change in tenor compared to the more than 12 years the clubs spent in an active and bitter legal dispute over the 2012-16 rights term, a situation resolved only this past summer when the Orioles-controlled MASN agreed to pay the Nationals some $100 million in incremental rights fees for that period.  

The MASN situation has long been one of MLB’s thorniest issues, with the Nationals arguing they had been receiving below-market rights fees, while the Orioles and MASN contended that network profitability and long-term survival were at risk. The creation of MASN — and the requirement to review rights fees payments due to the Nationals every five years — stemmed from a still-active MLB settlement with Orioles owner Peter Angelos following the Montreal Expos’ 2004 relocation to become the Nationals.

Up Next: Reviving Nats Sale?

The Orioles, Nationals, and MASN will now move to determining the rights fees for the 2022-26 period, though those talks will be overshadowed by cord-cutting and accelerating disruption across the media landscape. 

Still, the additional settlement could also help revive a lagging sale process for the Nationals, as they can now provide additional clarity on its revenue picture. Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics, has expressed continued interest in adding to his sports empire.

The deal also provides some needed clarity for the Orioles, who have been entangled in their own uncertainty surrounding club ownership and a much-discussed lease extension for Oriole Park at Camden Yards. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

How D.C.’s Capital One Arena Deal Flies Against the Grain

The somewhat unusual agreement codifies and furthers a renovation deal struck in the spring.

Washington Spirit Player Blows Out Knee Throwing Out Nats First Pitch

She was named NWSL Rookie of the Month three times this year.

Las Vegas, Seattle NBA Expansion Fees May Soar As Team Values Climb

NBA team values continue to shoot up, driven by media-rights deals.

Esports Winter: NBA 2K League Hits Pause Button Amid Industry Decline

The previously high-profile esports league is now effectively on hiatus amid widespread layoffs.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Who Can Actually Afford Juan Soto?

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.
A photo of Around the Horn's set

‘Around the Horn’ to End 23-Year ESPN Run in 2025

ESPN had reportedly been thinking of canceling the show since the summer.
Nov 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers play during the second half at TD Garden.
November 20, 2024

Cavs vs. Celtics Draws Big TV Numbers in NBA Cup Showdown

The game averaged 1.94 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million.
November 21, 2024

NBA Legend Hubie Brown Stepping Away From ESPN at 91

Brown has been associated with the league for over 50 years.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 20, 2024

NFL Ratings Hold Strong Through Election Season, Chiefs Lead TV Pack

In 2016, NFL ratings fell 8% from the prior year.
November 20, 2024

Comcast’s SpinCo: New Home for USA Network, Golf Channel, Sports Rights

The move by NBC Sports’ parent company reflects how dramatically the linear television business has changed.
Nov 18, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.
November 19, 2024

Will NBA Flex Last-Place Sixers From National TV Games?

Philadelphia is 2–11, tied for last in the NBA.
November 19, 2024

Bills’ Dethroning of Chiefs Draws Highest TV Ratings of NFL Season

The massive rating continues Kansas City’s dominance as the NFL’s No. 1 TV team.