The MASN battle continues…

[imref]

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/orioles-mlb/orioles-nationals-masn-tv-rights-fees-55JU4CYRGRCZTOT3VQHKC44MU4/

The Washington Nationals have taken legal action to confirm a decision that would require the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to pay the team an average of more than $64 million per year in TV rights fees for 2022 to 2026.

In court documents filed on Monday, Nationals attorney Patrick Curran asked New York Supreme Court Judge Andrew Borrok to certify a decision made by the Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee of Major League Baseball that the fair market value of the broadcast rights was over $320.49 million.

They note that MASN subscribers had dropped to 3.3 million in 2023, down from 5.6 million in 2018.

[Smithian]

They note that MASN subscribers had dropped to 3.3 million in 2023, down from 5.6 million in 2018.

Cord cutting is incredible.

[imref]

Cord cutting is incredible.

MASN's biggest problem, IMHO, is the lack of streaming options. Other than the DirectTV package, which runs about $115 a month with RSNs the last time I checked, there are no options other than traditional cable.

[HalfSmokes]

Good to know that I can continue hating the Orioles even under new management.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/orioles-mlb/orioles-nationals-masn-tv-rights-fees-55JU4CYRGRCZTOT3VQHKC44MU4/

They note that MASN subscribers had dropped to 3.3 million in 2023, down from 5.6 million in 2018.

Read that too fast and thought it said Patrick Corbin. Just assumed they're so cheap that they used him as their lawyer as well.

[nfotiu]

MASN's biggest problem, IMHO, is the lack of streaming options. Other than the DirectTV package, which runs about $115 a month with RSNs the last time I checked, there are no options other than traditional cable.

The problem is if all the RSNs were on YTTV, then YTTV would be over $100 as well.   Even if they were on YTTV, it would mean 3.3 million subscribers vs the 2.9 or so they probably have in 2024.   It would stop the bleeding a bit, but not by much.

RSNs on live tv bundles is not going to be the future of local sports TV.

[imref]

Yep. Selling MLB rights to a streaming service like ESPN+, Netflix, or Prime seems to be a better option.

[HalfSmokes]

Yep. Selling MLB rights to a streaming service like ESPN+, Netflix, or Prime seems to be a better option.

I'm not sure they would buy it. The nats have the right to renegotiate periodically with arbitration by owners should negotiations fail. That's what MASN owns. If Netflix bought out MASN, they'd have to go through this every 5 years, but the owners could screw Netflix insisted of one of their own. If Netflix bought out that provision from the Nats, the Os would probably balk because they Nats would end up getting more money out of a network majority owned by the Os

[HalfSmokes]

The problem is if all the RSNs were on YTTV, then YTTV would be over $100 as well.   Even if they were on YTTV, it would mean 3.3 million subscribers vs the 2.9 or so they probably have in 2024.   It would stop the bleeding a bit, but not by much.

RSNs on live tv bundles is not going to be the future of local sports TV.

YTTV has actually been dropping RSNs. They know consumers are price sensitive and it's really easy to switch to hululive or sling or direct tv

[Natsinpwc]

YTTV has actually been dropping RSNs. They know consumers are price sensitive and it's really easy to switch to hululive or sling or direct tv

Yea I don't think there are any RSNs on the package in Orlando 

[imref]

YTTV has actually been dropping RSNs. They know consumers are price sensitive and it's really easy to switch to hululive or sling or direct tv

YTTV just raised their price $10 a month too.

[imref]

I'm not sure they would buy it. The nats have the right to renegotiate periodically with arbitration by owners should negotiations fail. That's what MASN owns. If Netflix bought out MASN, they'd have to go through this every 5 years, but the owners could screw Netflix insisted of one of their own. If Netflix bought out that provision from the Nats, the Os would probably balk because they Nats would end up getting more money out of a network majority owned by the Os

I'm thinking more of eliminating the RSNs and going NFL-style with a national TV package.

[HalfSmokes]

I would love to be able to do a single team subscription through mlb

[PowerBoater69]

I couldn't find the 2024 ratings but in 2023 the Nats beat the Marlins and the As and in 2022 the Nats beat the Marlins, As, and Rangers. Hard to complain too much about TV revenue when no one is watching.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2023/10/05/mlb-regional-sports-networks-see-7-gain-for-2023-season/

[IanRubbish]

I couldn't find the 2024 ratings but in 2023 the Nats beat the Marlins and the As and in 2022 the Nats beat the Marlins, As, and Rangers. Hard to complain too much about TV revenue when no one is watching.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2023/10/05/mlb-regional-sports-networks-see-7-gain-for-2023-season/

15 teams had their y/y ratings move by more than 20%, ultimately has a lot to do with who was good that year.   Nats were 0.95 in 2023 no surprise, but over 2.5 in 2019.  Bigger issues are the size of the DC area and the Nats failure to capitalize on building the fanbase in a top 10 market after the WS win.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2019/10/15/2019-mlb-regional-tv-ratings-in-prime-time-remain-solid/

[Count Walewski]

Here is a graph showing how the value of MASN has changed over the course of this lengthy legal battle:

https://www.edwardtufte.com/product/napoleons-march/

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That graph is hardcore data science pron

Here is a graph showing how the value of MASN has changed over the course of this lengthy legal battle:

https://www.edwardtufte.com/product/napoleons-march/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

That graph is hardcore data science pron

tufte used to do the NYT/ CBS poll in 1980. Was a prof when I was an undergrad. I imagine it's others now doing the work in his name.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Here is a graph showing how the value of MASN has changed over the course of this lengthy legal battle:

https://www.edwardtufte.com/product/napoleons-march/

[Slateman]

Here is a graph showing how the value of MASN has changed over the course of this lengthy legal battle:

https://www.edwardtufte.com/product/napoleons-march/