Orioles & Nationals Settle MASN Dispute; Nats to Seek Own TV Deal In 2026

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals announced today that they have ended their decades-old dispute over rights related to the MASN regional sports network which will enable the Nationals to seek a separate local TV deal starting with the 2026 season.

As part of the decision to permit the Montreal Expos to move to Washington, D.C. starting with the 2005 season, Major League Baseball allowed Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos to air the games of both the Orioles and Nationals on MASN, which he also owned. The move was regarded as an incentive for Angelos (who died in March 2024; the Orioles were sold in 2023 to private equity billionaire David Rubenstein) not to fight the Expos move into DC which was then regarded as Orioles territory.

However, MLB’s decision triggered a long legal fight over fees owed to the Nationals which will finally end with today’s new one-year agreement between the clubs. Under the new pact, MASN will again televise the Orioles and Nationals in 2025 but the Nationals will be permitted to “explore alternatives” after this season, according to today’s statement.

It’s unclear if the Nationals will start its own RSN or allow an existing TV service/channel such as Monumental Sports Network or MLB TV to carry its games starting in 2026. Monumental’s owner, Ted Leonsis, has expressed interest in buying the Nationals from the Mark Lerner family and the new MASN arrangement could spark negotiations although Lerner recently said he’s not interested in selling.

What’s also unclear is whether MASN will offer a direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming app for the 2025 season. The Baltimore Sun reported late last year that the RSN is contemplating launching one. As of now, Nats and Orioles fans have to subscribe to Verizon, cable or DIRECTV, or a live streaming service (Fubo or DIRECTV Stream) to watch MASN. Only eight of 30 Major League Baseball teams do not have DTC apps that allow fans to subscribe without a pay TV bundle subscription.

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