Report: Washington Nationals likely to join MLB's TV umbrella

It appears there is now a clear idea as to how fans will be able to watch the Washington Nationals in year one of the Blake Butera era.

With the calendar officially turned to 2026, all eyes have quietly turned to what the future is with the organization and MASN. Though the initial belief was the contract expires on New Year's Day, Andrew Golden of Washington Post reported earlier this month that the deal is expected to run through February with the two sides still working toward a finalized agreement. But that may not come to fruition.

Sports Business Journal reported on Tuesday that the Nationals "will likely be joining MLB's TV umbrella this year," marking a new tenure for the franchise.

The team has been with MASN since 2004. In March, the Nationals and Orioles settled a prolonged legal dispute over television rights, which allowed Washington to seek other options following the expiration of its one-year deal with MASN for 2025. Orioles President of Business Operations Catie Griggs had said MASN remained interested in working with the Nationals to retain the rights. Washington would become the seventh team under MLB’s TV umbrella, joining the D-backs, Padres, Rockies, Twins, Guardians and Mariners. Nationals blogger Talk Nats previously reported the likely decision.

- Sports Business Journal

It would mark a new era for the Nationals, but the growing belief was that the Nationals leaving their contract to thoroughly review offers in the open market a focus.

The Nationals have partnered with MASN ever since moving from Montreal to Washington DC, though disputes have risen over the relationship spanning two decades after MLB agreed to the Orioles receiving an uneven revenue distribution in exchange for giving up exclusive regional access.

MASN resolved a dispute between the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles in March of 2025 after announcing that Washington "will continue to be televised locally exclusively by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) under a new, one-year contract."

"After this term, the Nationals will be free to explore alternatives for their television rights for the 2026 season and beyond. As part of the settlement, all disputes related to past media rights between the Nationals, Orioles, and MASN have been resolved, and all litigation will be dismissed," MASN announced at the time.

But with a chance for the organization to finally capture as they evaluate media rights distribution networks, a divorce with MASN appears all but finalized. Catie Griggs, Orioles president of business operations, noted back in July 2025 that discussions have started "over whether the Nats will continue to share a television network" with the Orioles began with talks stalling into the new year.

“The Nationals have been a great partner,” she said on the SBJ Sports Media Podcast. “We recognize that we have fans across the D.C. and Baltimore areas. We’d love to keep them, but we recognize we want to make sure that we’re keeping them in a way that makes sense for both of us. So, we look forward to having that conversation later this year.”