Nationals Leave MASN, Move Broadcasts to MLB

The Washington Nationals are making a landmark move that signals the end of a long, often turbulent chapter in the franchise’s media history.

They’re cutting ties with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and shifting local broadcast distribution to Major League Baseball.

This move lines up with a growing league-wide shift away from the old regional sports network model.

The End of the Nationals–MASN Era

After nearly two decades, the Nationals’ relationship with MASN is finally ending.

That partnership started in 2005, right when the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington, D.C.—which, of course, was considered Baltimore Orioles territory at the time.

As part of that relocation, MASN was created and jointly owned, but the Orioles kept the majority stake.

Sure, the deal brought baseball back to D.C., but it also set the stage for years of legal headaches and some pretty obvious tension between the two franchises.

Arguments over TV rights fees and endless arbitration hearings became a running theme during the MASN era. Sometimes it even drowned out what was happening on the field.

How Ownership Tensions Shaped the Relationship

The Orioles’ control over MASN never really sat well with the Nationals.

From Washington’s side, the setup stifled their revenue growth and limited their independence. Some reports even hinted that ongoing broadcast disputes complicated the Lerner family’s efforts to sell the team in 2022.

MASN wasn’t just a TV headache—it turned into a franchise-level roadblock.

MLB Takes Over Local Broadcast Distribution

Starting in 2026, Major League Baseball will take charge of the Nationals’ in-market broadcasts through MLB.tv and new cable and satellite partnerships that are still in the works.

Nationals owner Mark Lerner sounds pretty upbeat about the change. He’s talking up better production quality and more teamwork all around.

According to Lerner, the new setup should bring:

A Clean Break, But Not an Abrupt One

This split didn’t happen overnight.

Back in March, the teams finally settled their financial disputes after the Orioles were sold to billionaire David Rubenstein. That agreement set the Nationals’ rights fees for 2025 and, maybe more importantly, let Washington look for new broadcast options starting in 2026.

The Bigger Picture: The Decline of RSNs

The Nationals aren’t alone in ditching the regional sports network model.

They’re now the seventh MLB team to hand local broadcast control to the league—a trend that’s picking up steam as RSN operators face more financial trouble.

Main Street Sports, which runs the old Bally Sports and FanDuel networks, is probably the biggest cautionary tale here.

Recently, Main Street missed rights payments to teams like the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, and that’s set off a chain reaction across the league.

Why Teams Are Walking Away

So far, nine MLB teams have bailed on RSN deals, leaving their local TV rights up in the air.

Main Street is reportedly looking for buyers and getting ready to wind down after the NBA and NHL seasons. They’re also hoping to work out shorter, hybrid deals with MLB teams through 2028.

For the Nationals and others, the league-run model just feels steadier in a media world that’s anything but certain.

It’s hard to say if the finances will pan out long-term, but at least fans won’t lose access to games because of missed payments or network shutdowns.

What This Means for Nationals Fans

For viewers, things are about to shift. You’ll probably notice games are easier to stream locally now—streaming’s taking center stage.

For the franchise, this is a long-overdue escape from a messy, restrictive deal. Honestly, it’s been a headache for years.

The Nationals have spent two decades tangled in lawsuits, ownership drama, and broadcast confusion. They’re hoping MLB’s new, centralized plan finally brings some order—and maybe a bit of excitement—both on the field and at home.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Nationals Depart MASN, Turn Broadcasts To MLB