Judge Orders Orioles to Pay Almost $300 Million to Nationals After TV Dispute
By Parker White
It doesn't matter what it is: if it's happening in 2019, the Baltimore Orioles can't win it.
A judge has confirmed through an arbitration hearing that the Orioles owe the Washington Nationals, who jointly own the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, $296.8 million for their television rights from 2012-2016.
NEW: Judge confirms decision in favor of Nationals in TV rights dispute with Orioles/ MASN. https://t.co/jQsVbpULco
— NBC Sports Nationals (@NBCSNationals) August 23, 2019
These two have been fighting in the courts for years about how much money the Nationals are owed under this television agreement, which appears to be an unusual setup between the two clubs.
The O's asked New York Supreme Court Justice Joel M. Cohen to reject the decision, but according to Cohen, there is no reason to throw out the arbitrator's call, even though the Orioles argued for a conflict of interest on the arbitration panel.
How much the Nats will get in additional local rights fees will be determined by a judicial hearing officer (appointed by the court to perform subordinate duties such as this). Huge win for the Nats after more than seven years of fighting with the MASN/Orioles.
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBG) August 23, 2019
To make matters even worse, the Nationals are also entitled to interest on the lump sum of money they have yet to receive. Exactly how much interest is still unknown at this time, but it'll likely make the total amount over $300 million.
The MASN network was established in March 2005 after the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals, giving the DMV two teams in an area that had been the Orioles' exclusive broadcast territory since 1972.