Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles to end a long-standing dispute over the Nationals’ television rights. The agreement allows the Nationals to continue broadcasting their games locally on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) for the 2025 season, but gives them the option to explore alternative deals starting from the 2026 season.
The dispute has its roots in the late 1970s when the Washington Senators moved to Texas, and the Nationals were awarded TV rights to the Baltimore Orioles-owned MASN. The payments made by MASN for those rights have been a source of contention since 2012, contributing to ongoing litigation between the two franchises.
MLB Commissioner Manfred has expressed hope that this agreement marks an amicable end to the dispute, and both teams have praised his efforts in resolving the issue. However, details about any financial agreements made are not publicly disclosed.
The resolution could lead to a new influx of revenue for the Nationals, which have significantly reduced their spending since winning the 2019 World Series. Monumental Sports Network, owned by Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, is expected to be a potential bidder for the Nationals’ TV rights starting from the 2026 season.
While both teams appear to be on good terms with MLB, the Nationals have not commented further on the agreement, leaving room for uncertainty about what’s next for the franchise.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/03/sport/washington-nationals-baltimore-orioles-mlb-spt/index.html