The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which serves as the broadcast home of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, launched a direct-to-consumer option this past April allowing fans to subscribe to the channel without a traditional play television subscription. Two months later, the network is expanding that functionality by enabling fans to purchase MASN+ directly through MLB.TV for $19.99 per month or $64.99 for the remainder of the season.
Fans are able to add MLB.TV as a whole for $144.99, granting them access to other games taking place around the league. In addition, they can purchase a bundled subscription including MASN+ and MLB.TV that permits the streaming of out-of-market games, MLB Network, select live Minor League Baseball games, live audio for all MLB clubs and MLB Big Inning. MASN+ subscribers receive access to content airing on MASN and MASN2, which includes all Orioles and Nationals games and other programming. The network continues to be available through cable and satellite television providers as well.
The Orioles and Nationals were two of the final three MLB teams not accessible through a direct-to-consumer platform. At the moment, the Houston Astros are the only franchise for which fans cannot subscribe to a direct-to-consumer service due to “long-term affiliation agreements” with the Space City Home Network RSN. MASN becomes the second regional sports network to be available for purchase directly through MLB.TV, joining SportsNet New York (SNY), the television home of the New York Mets. Those who already have subscriptions to MASN+ are going to be receiving separate invitations to add MLB.TV onto their package.
Prior to the start of the MLB season, the Orioles and Nationals reached a resolution on a longstanding dispute surrounding the broadcast relationship with MASN. Under the terms of the deal, the Nationals organization agreed to a new one-year contract with the network and will be free to explore alternate options for its television rights after the season. The entities also agreed to dismiss all further litigation and disputes pertaining to the matter.
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