Nationals owner literally ripped the Orioles TV rights proposal to shreds
The TV rights battle between the Orioles and Nationals is pretty nasty.
Basically, because of old MLB territorial rights, Nationals games are broadcast on a network (MASN) owned by the Orioles. The Nats have a stake in the network, but they either want a bigger one, and are threatening to revoke MASN's rights to Nationals games if they don't get it.
More: Report: Orioles win initial broadcast rights battle over Nationals
According to an affidavit acquired by The Washington Post, Nationals owner Ed Cohen decided to get theatrical in a meeting January 2012 with MASN executives to help accurately convey his displeasure.
“The meeting lasted only a few moments,” [MASN executive VP Michael] Haley wrote in the affidavit. “Almost immediately after the... [proposal] was handed to the Nationals’ representatives, Cohen made a display of literally ripping the [proposal] into shreds. Cohen stated that the Nationals ‘deserved more and would get more.’”
The parties have to file arguments by midnight Wednesday in the next step of the process. Cohen better watch out for paper cuts.
- Dan Gartland
