The long-running MASN dispute is scheduled to reach final arguments today in New York State Supreme Court. Reps for the Orioles-controlled RSN, the Nationals and MLB will all appear before Judge Lawrence Marks in N.Y. MASN last summer filed suit against the league and Nationals, seeking to vacate an internal league arbitration resetting the Nationals' annual local TV rights fee from $41M to about $60M. That award from the league's Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee has been enjoined since August while the suit progresses.
The case holds significant ramifications for the Nationals’ future cash flow and payrolls, the financial viability of the 10-year-old MASN and potentially how MLB in the future resolves rights-fees issues for teams such as these holding equity in the local broadcasters. MASN is arguing the RSDC award was badly compromised on several fronts, including law firm Proskauer Rose simultaneously representing the league, the Nationals and several RSDC members, and the RSDC using an evaluation process inconsistent with how it rules on other clubs in similar situations.
