Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and Comcast have attained an agreement that will retain the regional sports network’s presence on Xfinity cable packages. The deal, however, will move MASN and MASN2 to its more expensive “Ultimate TV” tier and will officially be implemented on Tuesday. Those who are subscribed to the channel within the Baltimore area looking to watch Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals games on MASN will now need to subscribe to the higher tier if they have not already done so in order not to lose the channel. The tier will eventually cost $20 more per month, a decision that aligns with moves Comcast has made in the Pittsburgh and Seattle marketplaces.
Comcast is set to offer a six-month promotional deal for its “Popular TV” subscribers interested in upgrading to “Ultimate TV.” This deal grants users the new package at no additional charge for the first three months followed by a $10 fee increase for the remaining three months. Ultimate TV costs approximately $115 per month for Xfinity subscribers in the Baltimore area, while the “Popular TV” package is priced at $95 per month.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with MASN to continue carrying its networks and making them available on our Ultimate TV level of service before MLB’s Opening Day,” a Comcast spokesperson said in a statement. “We appreciate MASN working with us to find a solution to maintain MASN and MASN2 on our platform that also provides our customers with a choice.”
The two sides agreed to the deal following a short-term extension, first reported by John Ourand of Puck News. This was necessitated because of the deal’s expiration at the end of February, which is during MLB spring training. Although MASN and Comcast were able to reach an outcome in this instance, the regional sports network has not renewed with other cable providers such as RCN and Charter, nor is it available on streaming platforms such as YouTube TV and Hulu. According to MASN’s website, the network is in the midst of working on a direct-to-consumer application as well.
After winning a World Series championship in 2019, the Nationals have not qualified for the postseason and engaged in a significant restructuring of the roster. Conversely, the Orioles are coming off a 2023 campaign that ended with 101 wins and an American League East division title before falling short in the postseason. The team is in the midst of a sale to an ownership group featuring private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, a transaction that will also include MASN upon approval from MLB owners.
“At MASN, we know how much fans rely on their favorite sports coverage during the MLB season, and we are pleased to ensure Comcast customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region will continue to have access to MASN’s live coverage,” John McGuinness, senior vice president of MASN, said in a statement. “Comcast continues to be one of more than 20 providers delivering Orioles and Nationals games to fans.”
