By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Author of TV Dot Com.
TV Answer Man, if we lose MASN on Comcast Xfinity, how else can we watch the O’s without having to go to the games? And do you think that Comcast will get rid of MASN this week? — John, Huntingtown, Maryland.
John, you’re not alone in your concern. Comcast’s agreement to carry MASN, the regional TV home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, expires at the end of this month, which means Thursday. There’s no indication that a settlement is near and, as we reported here on February 1, Comcast will likely demand to move the RSN (regional sports network) to a more expensive programming package. If MASN balks, there could be a blackout of the channel starting Friday. (Here’s why MASN could balk.)
Update: Comcast Signs New Deal With MASN
If there is a blackout this week, I suspect it won’t last more than month with the regular season scheduled to start on March 28. I would also suggest the odds of a blackout starting this Friday (March 1) are better than 50-50 because it’s only spring training now. Fans are less likely to get upset if the channel is missing in March, particularly since MASN broadcasts relatively few spring training games.
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But starting Friday, if you need to replace Comcast with a TV provider that carries MASN, you have a few options.
DIRECTV carries MASN in the entire Washington/Baltimore market, as does its streaming service, DIRECTV Stream. The latter might be an attractive choice because it does not require a two-year contract. (DIRECTV’s satellite service does.) You could get DIRECTV Stream for a month and then cancel if Comcast and MASN settle by March 28. (Note that DIRECTV Stream plans that include MASN start at $109 a month.)
Verizon’s FIOS also carries MASN in select markets in Virginia, DC and Maryland. You can see which markets here. Cox has the RSN in Fairfax, Virginia, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Roanoke, Virginia and Hampton Roads, Virginia. And there are some small cable TV providers that offer MASN, mostly in small suburban communities outside Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. You can see a list here.
YouTube TV, the leading live streaming service, does not have MASN nor does Hulu Live, Sling TV or Fubo.
However, there is one other option. You could subscribe to MLB TV ($149 for the entire season; $29.99 a month) and install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which can eliminate in-market blackouts. You can learn more about MLB and VPNs here.
Hopefully for Nats and O’s fans, it won’t matter which providers carry MASN and a deal is worked out this week. The TV Answer Man will continue to monitor this situation and report back here if anything significant changes.
Until then, happy viewing and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
