MLB seeks solution to MASN rights fees dispute between Nats, O's

[Jordan Tuwiner]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/na ... story.html

Hoping to find a solution to the dispute between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles over the value of the Nationals’ television rights, Major League Baseball has asked a private investment bank to seek potential new owners for the rights that are now held by the regional sports network controlled by Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

Allen & Co., a New York-based investment bank, is seeking buyers to acquire the two franchises’ broadcast rights from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A new owner would essentially separate MASN and Angelos from the Nationals by creating a new regional sports network.

[Matt P]

I wish they would seek potential new owners for the Orioles

[OrangeBlackBird]

Without a MASN revenue stream, could the Orioles have even less to work with in the way of payroll? This, of course, assumes that Angelos would pocket the money he gets from any sale of MASN. I'm not really sure how this would work or impact the Orioles.

[ofahn]

This issue can be a two edged sword. If Angelos sells his interest then MASN would have to compete with the other networks to carry the Orioles and the team's television revenue SHOULD go up. Unless, of course, that Angelos includes a ten or twenty year TV deal as part of the sale price in which case the revenue will do DOWN and Angelos will pocket a much larger buyout price at the expense of the team's future.

IMO MLB absolutely NEEDS to take a strong position here. They should be at least morally obligated to make sure that the buyout is not in any way connected to the team's next TV contract, and that next contract is the result of legitimate competition.