Could a sale of the Nats to Ted Leonsis’ group lead to an end to the MASN dispute?

[Frobby]

Rumors are floating that Ted Leonsis’ Monumemtal Sports is the favorite to purchase the Nationals.  That group already owns the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics, and the RSN that broadcasts their games, NBC Sports Washington.   From MLBTR:

“The Nationals’ local broadcasting contract currently runs through the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which it shares with the Orioles. The Orioles own approximately 75% of the network, while the Nationals own the remaining share. The two franchises have been embroiled in rights fees litigation for the better part of a decade. The Washington franchise won a major victory in 2019 when an arbitrator ruled the Orioles owed the Nats $105MM. The Baltimore organization appealed that decision, and the matter has still yet to be decided by the New York State Court of Appeals.

“While The Athletic notes it’s unclear how or if the sale of the Nationals would affect the MASN dispute, Talk Nats tweeted in August that Leonsis’ group would be interested in reaching a settlement with the Orioles to buy out of the MASN deal. If that did come to pass, the Nationals would presumably then be broadcast on the NBC Sports Washington platform. That’d obviously be a complicated process that requires negotiations with the Orioles, but it does seem to offer a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the saga.”

[MijiT88]

I think this would also lead to an easier sale of the orioles too... if that happens

[MijiT88]

Off topic but 13 years later I have finally made 100 posts 

[rudyrooster]

It's just ridiculous that this MASN dispute has dragged on for so long.  Hopefully the new Nats owners (regardless of whom they are) can inject a renewed sense of urgency into resolving this matter.

[Can_of_corn]

22 minutes ago, rudyrooster said:

It's just ridiculous that this MASN dispute has dragged on for so long.  Hopefully the new Nats owners (regardless of whom they are) can inject a renewed sense of urgency into resolving this matter.

I don't think the Nats side is the problem.

[DrungoHazewood]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

I don't think the Nats side is the problem.

The Angelos law firm just wants a straightforward, even-handed compromise, like the Nats move back to Montreal, issue a public apology for ever existing, and write them a check for $500M.

[bobmc]

8 hours ago, MijiT88 said:

Off topic but 13 years later I have finally made 100 posts 

Of those hundred, which was most prescient, disturbing or banal?  

[Frobby]

29 minutes ago, bobmc said:

Of those hundred, which was most prescient, disturbing or banal?  

The last one, that said he’d made 100 posts!

Just kidding, let’s see more!

[crowmst3k!]

9 hours ago, MijiT88 said:

Off topic but 13 years later I have finally made 100 posts 

Finally made it out of rookie ball, and it only took 13 years!

[NedFromYork]

If the Nats buy their way out of MASN to be on one of the NBC regional channel, anybody have thoughts on what territory MASN/Orioles would be restricted to for broadcast?

Edited October 22, 2022 by NedFromYork

[CharmCityHokie]

3 hours ago, crowmst3k! said:

Finally made it out of rookie ball, and it only took 13 years!

The John Lindsey of posters!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lindsey

[CharmCityHokie]

2 hours ago, NedFromYork said:

If the Nats buy their way out of MASN to be on one of the NBC regional channel, anybody have thoughts on what territory MASN/Orioles would be restricted to for broadcast?

Just transfer the lawyers from the MASN dispute to the territorial dispute and we'll have a never-ending legal battle with the Nationals over television. 

In all seriousness, I have no idea how that would work. How do the Mets and Yankees make it work, they're on two different networks (or at least they used to be, not sure now)?

[jabba72]

Im curious what they buyout out would be. I can see the O's not wanting to sell the Nats TV rights since they profit off them.

[Frobby]

37 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

Im curious what they buyout out would be. I can see the O's not wanting to sell the Nats TV rights since they profit off them.

So you figure out what the expected profit is, and set the price accordingly.  Business units are bought and sold every day that way.  And we know how much profit the arbitrator has decided is appropriate, because that’s how he set the rights fees.  

As to the territory, they should just continue to share it.  
 

[Jim'sKid26]

In my opinion the sale of the team to a reputable ownership group and the subsequent resolution of the MASN dispute benefits MLB enormously. I would think the other owners would be overjoyed to resolve this issue. Likewise, if it makes the subsequent sale of the Orioles more likely this also benefits MLB. Getting the remarkably dysfunctional Angelos Family out of baseball seems like a huge win for all involved. Let's hope MLB makes this happen.