When the clock struck midnight, it not only marked a new year, but also the expiration of the deal between the Washington Nationals and MASN. The Nationals’ marriage to MASN was forced upon them by the Orioles as a condition for moving to DC. It has caused a lot of tension between the two franchises, but after a settlement last yearthe Nats are now free to move on.
However, this break with MASN also creates uncertainty. Now that the deal is over, Nats fans are at a loss as to where they will watch their favorite team. The Nats have not found a new TV partner. There are some options that we will discuss and break down.
The first, which I suspect could happen, would be to simply return to MASN. Tellingly, the Nats still haven’t worked out a new deal, or at least not one that’s publicly known. Given the problems of regional sports networks, Nats TV rights are unlikely to be a hot commodity.
There’s a good chance the Nats will return to MASN on a short-term deal and then consider their options moving forward. Between a potential sale, the impending foreclosure and more, a lot could change in the coming years. With that in mind, the Nats may not want to lock themselves in long-term.
However, MASN is far from the only option that could be on the table for the Nats. One option floating around is the idea of ​​moving to Monumental Sports. Monumental is a local RSN that is home to the Capitals and Wizards. On paper, it would make a lot of sense to just add another team to the mix.
The problem with this may be ownership. Monumental is owned by Ted Leonsis, who happens to own the Wizards and Caps. Chances are he won’t be interested in bringing the Nats to Monumental if he doesn’t get part of the team. A partial or even full sale to Leonsis is intriguing given the way the Lerner family runs this team. It doesn’t seem like this is on the table, at least not in the near future.
Another possible option would be selling the streaming rights to ESPN. In a new media rights deal with ESPN, six teams decided to give their streaming rights to ESPN. Many of those teams were affected by Bally’s bankruptcy a few years ago. With the Nats in limbo, this option could be on the table.
There’s also a new development that could be worth following. DAZN is reportedly close to acquiring Main Street Sports Group, which owns the TV rights to 29 MLB, NBA and NHL teams. With new ownership, they could expand their portfolio, and the Nats need a new home.
There’s no guarantee, but it’s worth following. Regardless, the Nats TV situation is in a state of limbo. Like so much in the franchise, there are so many unknowns about this situation.
Fans deserve easy access to their favorite teams’ games. Ideally, the Nats will benefit financially from this, but at the end of the day, the fans have to come first here. This is a story we will continue to follow and hopefully it can be resolved soon.
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