The Sports Economist finds irony in the Baltimore Orioles-Washington Nationals TV deals:
Major League Baseball negotiated with Peter Angelos, owner of the Orioles, and granted him the broadcast rights for the region. Angelos created the Mid Atlantic Sports Network, MASN, to broadcast Orioles’ and Nationals’ games, witht the Orioles getting 90% of the revenues. The Nationals get a $20 million licensing fee. Eventually the Nationals are to become a 1/3 owner of MASN.
Comcast, the cable broadcaster, and the Orioles are now in a legal battle as Comcast refuses to air Nationals’ games via the MASN. Comcast is staking out territory as the protector of consumers against the monopoly on rights granted the Orioles by Major League Baseball. Anyone who has ever dealt with Comcast will see the irony in Comcast’s position.