tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post3909999368181857315..comments2024-01-06T02:22:33.000-05:00Comments on Camden Depot: 20 Questions About the MASN DisputeJon Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521809778977098687noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-54332147907493044982016-08-16T14:58:55.001-04:002016-08-16T14:58:55.001-04:00First, let's be clear that the annual rights f...First, let's be clear that the annual rights fee numbers are not just for the Nationals. MASN is contractually obligated to pay the O's the same amount, so in essence this dispute should also benefit the Baltimore team as much as the Washington team. It is a fact that Peter Angelos has been shifting little if any of his MASN profits back into the O's player budget. Instead, he has been putting those BILLIONS directly into his pockets. So why doesn't he pass the windfall on to the team? Because doing so would increase how much the team would be taxed by MLB in revenue sharing. Profits from RSNs, however, are not.<br /><br />Everyone knows that Angelos has alienated DC baseball fans but what puzzles me is why O's fans aren't as angry. MASN isn't helping the O's, it's hurting them!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-44068864064159110152016-08-16T04:26:14.082-04:002016-08-16T04:26:14.082-04:00The goal of the Lerner's all along has been to...The goal of the Lerner's all along has been to crush MASN and break it, so that they can get offers from Comcast's CSN or FOX Sports, etc. They think they're worth the money, but in reality MASN TV ratings for Nats games are far below the Orioles. I've read the ratings numbers. The Orioles are #4 in RSN TV ratings according to Sports Business Daily and other sources right now and the Nats are #22. Sure, it's a huge bigger market, but if no one is watching, what is it worth? I think far less than the Lerner's claim.BaltoMediahttp://baltomedia.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-1560164224749019172015-05-22T16:08:25.616-04:002015-05-22T16:08:25.616-04:00I agree that the Lerners' won't want to gi...I agree that the Lerners' won't want to give MASN slack but I wouldn't be surprised if MLB made them. It's also possible that the court could force them as well. This is total conjecture on my part and I could be wrong. <br /><br />After reading the final testimony though, I'm expecting the two sides to settle.Matt Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191574755038653061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-32704791752429776802015-05-22T12:46:34.041-04:002015-05-22T12:46:34.041-04:00It sure doesn't seem like the Lerners would be...It sure doesn't seem like the Lerners would be in any mood to cut MASN any slack on meeting its payments to them. I doubt if they would be open to any renegotiation, even to delay payments. They've already been made to wait two years, they won't want to wait any longer. I'll bet that the Lerners will hold MASN to the terms of the agreement, i.e. pay up on time or lose the rights.James Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924076186902270786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-40742485676854763432015-05-21T22:21:18.655-04:002015-05-21T22:21:18.655-04:00MASN will also have to pay the Nationals the extra...MASN will also have to pay the Nationals the extra money for 2015. Another $8.5 million or so (depending on when the ruling is tendered) of which at least a part will go to MLB.Matt Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191574755038653061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-47166504079822864492015-05-21T22:17:25.124-04:002015-05-21T22:17:25.124-04:00If MLB wins then MASN will be forced to pay the Na...If MLB wins then MASN will be forced to pay the Nationals the extra $10.6 million in rights fees for 2014 right away or agree to an acceptable payment plan with MLB and the Nationals. <br /><br />The Orioles will then bring this case to the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and ask them for a legal opinion. Depending on what happens there (probably nothing), MASN will then be forced to pay the Nationals and Orioles the extra money for 2012, 2013 and 2015 and the Orioles the extra money for 2014. <br /><br />However, given that MASN would owe the clubs/MLB over $100 million at that point, I expect that the arbitrator would get all sides to agree to some sort of payment plan over a number of years. I don't think it's reasonable to ask MASN to pay that much money in one shot nor do I think MLB would demand it.<br /><br />But if I had to guess, I'd say that Justice Marks is waiting to announce his opinion because he wants the sides to reach a settlement. He's probably given them a hint of how he'll rule and is hoping that will give them an incentive to work something out.Matt Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191574755038653061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-87955831454208239382015-05-21T18:32:58.448-04:002015-05-21T18:32:58.448-04:00Care to speculate what happens if MLB wins this ca...Care to speculate what happens if MLB wins this case?James Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924076186902270786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-61162059071448441992015-05-18T18:00:14.014-04:002015-05-18T18:00:14.014-04:00There's no precedent for this of which I'm...There's no precedent for this of which I'm aware.<br /><br />The MLB Executive Council has the rights to amend a teams' home television areas. In theory, the Nationals and Orioles could request (it wouldn't be MASN) that their broadcast area be changed to exclude North Carolina. I see no reason why the Executive Council would refuse their request. <br /><br />It's a long shot. But the point is that the Orioles and Nationals own a large territory from which they're gaining minimal benefit and it's unlikely that they'll gain significant benefit in the reasonable future. There's got to be a way to turn that to their advantage.Matt Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191574755038653061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-81168646726022032412015-05-18T14:39:55.087-04:002015-05-18T14:39:55.087-04:00Regarding question number 6, about how Time Warner...Regarding question number 6, about how Time Warner doesn't want to carry MASN in North Carolina:<br /><br />I currently live in NC and I'm blacked out of the Reds, Nationals, Orioles, and the Braves. How exactly could MASN sell this territory to the Braves? Is there precedent for this?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02837480202311615631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-72172831395795067632015-05-13T15:27:06.831-04:002015-05-13T15:27:06.831-04:00You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words.You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words.Matt Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191574755038653061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-58758008564115053102015-05-13T13:46:40.771-04:002015-05-13T13:46:40.771-04:00Thank you for this excellent and unbiased examinat...Thank you for this excellent and unbiased examination of what we can all agree is a complicated situation.James Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924076186902270786noreply@blogger.com