Summary (tl;dr)

MASN, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, is trending as the Washington Nationals have officially launched their new broadcasting partnership with Major League Baseball, Nationals.TV, for the 2026 season, following the resolution of a long-standing TV rights dispute with the Baltimore Orioles and MASN.

Essential Background

For nearly two decades, the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles were entangled in a contentious legal battle over broadcast rights and fees with MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network), a regional sports network majority-owned by the Orioles. This unique arrangement stemmed from the Nationals' relocation to Washington, D.C. in 2005, which led to the creation of MASN to appease the Orioles, who previously held exclusive broadcast rights for the region. The dispute often left the Nationals as the only MLB team unable to independently sell its local TV rights, leading to financial disagreements and fan frustration over game availability and coverage.

The Full Story

MASN is trending due to significant developments in the broadcasting landscape for both the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. As of March 3, 2025, a years-long dispute between the Orioles and Nationals over TV rights with MASN was finally resolved, with Major League Baseball officials announcing a settlement. This agreement stipulated that the Nationals' games would continue to be televised locally on MASN under a new one-year contract for the 2025 season. Crucially, after this term, the Nationals would gain the freedom to explore alternative options for their television rights for the 2026 season and beyond.

Today, March 26, 2026, marks a new chapter as the Washington Nationals have officially debuted their new platform for streaming home games, Nationals.TV, after officially leaving their broadcasting deal with MASN. This partnership with Major League Baseball for broadcast and distribution means Nationals games are now accessible online and through local cable providers. Concurrently, MASN launched its own direct-to-consumer streaming service, MASN+, in April 2025, offering in-market fans a way to watch both Orioles and Nationals games without a cable subscription. The Orioles are also in the news for announcing new features at Oriole Park and their 2026 Opening Day roster.

Why It Matters

This trend signifies a major shift in how fans in the Mid-Atlantic region will access baseball games. For Washington Nationals fans, the launch of Nationals.TV offers more control and potentially wider accessibility to their team's games, ending a long period where their broadcast options were largely dictated by MASN and the Orioles' controlling interest. The resolution of the dispute and the Nationals' new broadcasting deal eliminate a source of contention that many believed hindered the team's revenue and fan experience. Meanwhile, MASN's direct-to-consumer streaming service, MASN+, reflects the broader industry trend of "cord-cutting" and provides flexibility for fans who prefer not to subscribe to traditional cable. These changes are critical for the financial health and fan engagement of both MLB franchises in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Geographic Location

• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (Washington Nationals' new broadcasting deal live debut)
• Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States (Baltimore Orioles' announcements and MASN operations)