Nats and Orioles MASN deal dissolved. Nats fully own TV rights after 2025 season

[Slateman]

Sounds like the Lerners dont want to get locked into a long term TV deal. Hopefully that means they still intend to sell

[PowerBoater69]

For number 3, what station would want it?

Very good question, the Nats used to be on channel 50 for a while when they first came to town. Now I'd pick 7.3, great signal and nothing on it currently except reruns of Grimm.

[machpost]

I would also demand that MASN make the necessary upgrades to broadcast games in 4K. A handful of RSNs are doing this already.

Oh, and make sure they hire a seasoned professional play-by-play person to replace Carp.

[Smithian]

Sounds like the Lerners dont want to get locked into a long term TV deal. Hopefully that means they still intend to sell

Nats Chat discussed this on initial news break months ago, and they made comment not to be shocked if Nats stay with a renegotiated MASN. It's really hard to spin up a TV network over night and it's an unsettled time for new TV deals. Best option may be for the Nationals to stick with MASN in an altered format.

[PowerBoater69]

Nats Chat discussed this on initial news break months ago, and they made comment not to be shocked if Nats stay with a renegotiated MASN. It's really hard to spin up a TV network over night and it's an unsettled time for new TV deals. Best option may be for the Nationals to stick with MASN in an altered format.

No network is going sign a big money long term contract with the Nats. Best case for now is year by year and see what happens around the league.

[nfotiu]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46285653/commissioner-says-mlb-nearing-broadcast-deals-2026-28-seasons

It doesn't look like the Nats local rights are included in whatever they are selling to ESPN, nor are any other teams except the ones that MLB already broadcasts.  "Manfred said a deal for in-market rights for Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Minnesota and San Diego is also close."

It definitely seems like they will continue on with MASN.   It makes sense, as I'd guess the carriage fee rights are still in the 100-150 million/year range but on a downward spiral.   I'd imagine they could come up with an agreement to just split those in half and give the Nats the freedom to do whatever they want with their broadcasts and each sell their own advertising, etc.  The Os need the Nats to stay on board to keep the existing carriage fee agreements, I'd imagine.

[PowerBoater69]

I'm not sure where to put this, so the MASN thread seems like the best fit.

Leonsis did an interview where he expressed interest in buying the Nats and DC United. What a vulture. Looking to pressure his rival owners to sell while their teams are struggling. I'm all for the Lerners selling the team, but not to the guy who cares more about his cable network than building winning teams.

[imref]

He’s repeatedly expressed interest in buying the Nats. Nothing new here.

[PowerBoater69]

He’s repeatedly expressed interest in buying the Nats. Nothing new here.

Leonsis said: “it takes two to tango and they aren’t ready to sell." Imagine if you owned a business and your biggest local competitor repeatedly made public statements like that? Leonsis is intentionally trying to rile up the fans to call for the Lerners to sell in order to pressure them to drop their sale price. Dirty business tactic.

[HalfSmokes]

The last thing I want is an owner who wants them for the tv rights alone

[nfotiu]

The last thing I want is an owner who wants them for the tv rights alone

Agreed.   And what grand plan does he think he has for a RSN and local streaming app, even if they have all the local teams under one umbrella?   There's no future in that business.  If he loses his middle east backers, he'll go bankrupt pretty quickly.

[Natsinpwc]

Leonsis said: “it takes two to tango and they aren’t ready to sell." Imagine if you owned a business and your biggest local competitor repeatedly made public statements like that? Leonsis is intentionally trying to rile up the fans to call for the Lerners to sell in order to pressure them to drop their sale price. Dirty business tactic.

Dirty business is running the team like a low market franchise.  Which is what the Lerners have done. And I would prefer a new owner not named Ted.

[Smithian]

Leonsis said: “it takes two to tango and they aren’t ready to sell." Imagine if you owned a business and your biggest local competitor repeatedly made public statements like that? Leonsis is intentionally trying to rile up the fans to call for the Lerners to sell in order to pressure them to drop their sale price. Dirty business tactic.

I don't have a problem with that. The guy is a DC sports fan. People asked if he wants to buy the Nats. He said yes, but the Nats don't want to sell. I'm not going to google but I'm certain there are many examples of rich guys saying, "Yeah I want to buy XXXX but they're not selling"

[HalfSmokes]

I don't have a problem with that. The guy is a DC sports fan. People asked if he wants to buy the Nats. He said yes, but the Nats don't want to sell. I'm not going to google but I'm certain there are many examples of rich guys saying, "Yeah I want to buy XXXX but they're not selling"

He doesn’t want the team as a fan, he’s trying to keep Monumental viable which means a longer wait to get onto a real streaming service

[Slateman]

Any ownership would be better than the current one

[HalfSmokes]

Any ownership would be better than the current one

The Wizards are every bit as bad as the nats and probably more hopeless. Ted is hockey owner rich not nba owner rich let alone mlb rich

[Slateman]

The Wizards are every bit as bad as the nats and probably more hopeless. Ted is hockey owner rich not nba owner rich let alone mlb rich

The Wizards are bad because they cant get the two superstar/all star players to get to the playoffs.

[HalfSmokes]

The Wizards are bad because they cant get the two superstar/all star players to get to the playoffs.

The wizards are one of the two worst teams in the NBA

[varoadking]

He doesn’t want the team as a fan...

No he doesn't...and he couldn't care less about fans either...

[PowerBoater69]

I don't have a problem with that. The guy is a DC sports fan. People asked if he wants to buy the Nats. He said yes, but the Nats don't want to sell. I'm not going to google but I'm certain there are many examples of rich guys saying, "Yeah I want to buy XXXX but they're not selling"

In any case, in 40 years of combined ownership of the Wizards and Caps his teams have made the semi-finals once. I don't get how anyone would think that he'd be an upgrade.

[Slateman]

He doesn’t want the team as a fan, he’s trying to keep Monumental viable which means a longer wait to get onto a real streaming service

Hate to tell you this, but no billionaire is looking at buying a team out of fandom. Even Cohen views it as an investment and a business.

[Natsinpwc]

In any case, in 40 years of combined ownership of the Wizards and Caps his teams have made the semi-finals once. I don't get how anyone would think that he'd be an upgrade.

Welp the Nats have six straight losing seasons and no end to that seems in sight.  It’s a low bar.  Once old man Lerner died no hope.  Desperate times for sure.

[Slateman]

I would rather have an owner that wants to build a network than the Lerners. The only way to build a network is increase viewership. Only way to do that for a sports team is to win.

[nfotiu]

It's hard to argue that he wouldn't be a near term upgrade.

His future plans look misguided and destined to fall apart, and he's probably going to be a financial mess in 4-5 years.

[HalfSmokes]

It's hard to argue that he wouldn't be a near term upgrade.

His future plans look misguided and destined to fall apart, and he's probably going to be a financial mess in 4-5 years.

It's easy to argue. Just look at the Wizards