Under the latest proposal, the Nationals' stake in MASN would be boosted to 33% almost immediatelyGETTY IMAGES
The Orioles have proposed a series of settlements to MLB in "hopes of finally resolving the television rights fee disputes" with the Nationals that "hovers over both teams like a cloud," according to sources cited by Jeff Barker of the the BALTIMORE SUN. The Orioles have "offered to increase the National's ownership stake" in MASN ahead of schedule. Sources said that the Orioles have "grown weary of battling" MLB over the RSN. Under the '05 agreement that brought the team to DC, the Nationals' stake in MASN -- and their share in its profits -- started at 10% and was to increase by 1% every year, topping out at 33% in '32. The Orioles under that deal "get the rest." Under the latest proposal, the Nationals' stake "would be boosted" to 33% almost immediately. Sources said that the Orioles have "proposed variations of the offer for years," but none have been accepted. However, a source noted that the teams "remain far apart," and the offer the Orioles made several months ago "wasn't substantially different from a prior proposal that Nationals' ownership rejected." The six-year-old dispute has been a "lingering embarrassment to MLB." The Orioles "currently own" 81% of MASN despite the fact that the net "broadcasts both teams' games" (BALTIMORE SUN, 7/2).
