Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals may become arch rivals after rights fees issue-MLB Update
Television rights fees issues with the Baltimore Orioles of the Washington Nationals can lead toward the emergence of a new rivalry in the Major League Baseball.
Both teams are involved in a dispute related to the rights fees from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).
The Orioles have the majority shares in MASN and thus they control it. Using their power, they are unwilling to grant the Nationals the amount of money that they seek from the television rights fees.
The issue between these two organisations is so critical that the MLB had to intervene. Even after the MLB formed a committee to resolve the dispute, both sides did not agree to compromise.
Lately, it was reported that the MLB has decided to award Television rights of the matches of the Nationals to some other network and take them back from MASN.
As a result, the Nationals will be allowed to decide new terms and conditions, as opposed to follow those that were agreed upon previously.
They can fetch a higher amount of money by inking a new agreement.
Considering the fact they performed extremely well during the 2012 season, their fan base has widened, which means the new Network can conveniently accept their demands with regard to the rights fees.
Alan Rifkin, a club counsel for the Orioles, is of the view that the Nationals should act upon the clauses mentioned in the existing contract. He considers the demand by the Nationals for the raise in the rights fees is a violation of the contract.
"The only comment I will make is the comment I have made before,'' Rifkin said. "Contracts are meant to be honored. The 2005 Settlement Agreement, which sophisticated parties signed, including the Nationals and Major League Baseball, provided in clear and
certain terms the formula to be applied to determine the fair market value of the rights fees for the clubs. That formula is tried and true, and fair and equitable. We have every reason to expect that it will be enforced and effectuated."
The next couple of days will be important as the MLB can announce the name of the new network that will be televising games of the Nationals for the upcoming season.
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