MASN yesterday fired back at MLB’s attempt to reconvene its Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee to arbitrate the long-running media rights dispute, calling the move “premature, improper and ... clearly being implemented as part of a collusive course of conduct with the Nationals.” The league late last month notified the Nationals and the Orioles-controlled MASN that, absent court intervention, it intends to bring the matter back before the RSDC in early August, despite multiple appeals on the case still pending before the N.Y. Supreme Court. In a letter from MASN attorney Thomas Hall filed with the court, the RSN called the league’s action purposeless and a waste of time and resources. “There is more than judicial efficiency and economy at stake,” Hall wrote. “That MLB has chosen again to align itself with the Nationals underscores the fact that MLB is not remotely neutral with respect to this dispute and highlights the reason why the RSDC is not an unbiased forum.” Hall also took aim at the reconstituted RSDC membership of Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio, Mariners President & COO Kevin Mather and Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro. “The new RSDC arbitrators just appointed by [MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred] surely know the Commissioner’s views, and know what decision he thinks they should reach,” Hall wrote. “They all also know that MLB has a $25 million vested interest in the outcome, that MLB strenuously fought against vacatur and is seeking to reinstate the prior award on appeal, and that MLB is now supporting the Nationals’ efforts to compel arbitration in the interim.” MLB attorney Joseph Shenker responded in his own letter filed with the court that the league will continue on as planned, adding Hall’s comments were “replete with inaccurate statements of fact and erroneous accusations regarding motive, consequence and course of conduct.” The parties are scheduled to hold a status conference with the court tomorrow.
