The timing wasn’t ideal for the Orioles to finally announce a direct-to-consumer in-market streaming option for MASN that no longer requires a cable, satellite, or larger-scale streaming subscription.
More than three weeks into the 2025 season, there are surely fans who assumed this wasn’t coming until 2026 and already locked into other ways to watch Orioles games, which often include longer commitments that make it difficult to pivot. The announcement coming a month or two ago would have been the preference, of course, but the resolution for the years-long MASN dispute between the Orioles and Nationals didn’t come until March 3, which likely complicated any efforts to make this happen before the start of the season.
At the moment, the organization is also hemorrhaging fans’ trust on the field as well as in the front office and dugout after a 9-12 start and Sunday’s humiliating 24-2 loss to Cincinnati. Even the most optimistic fans are struggling to remain upbeat about a club entering Monday with the worst starter ERA in the majors, especially after the rotation was the hot-button topic of discussion all offseason. Whether the Orioles are able to snap out of this early malaise remains to be seen, but it certainly would have been easier to sell hope — and streaming subscriptions — before Opening Day than right now.
But credit president of business operations Catie Griggs, control owner David Rubenstein, and the rest of the investor group for making their most meaningful mark to date on the future of the franchise. The Orioles providing a direct-to-consumer in-market streaming option hardly warrants a parade or a bobblehead as the 28th major league club to do so, but local cord-cutting fans can take satisfaction knowing the organization finally heard them and figured out a way to take their money to watch the games. Before finally deciding to cut the cord myself a few months ago, I was amazed by how many fans I’d encounter everywhere from social media to even my church who’d bemoan Orioles games not being more accessible, especially as Baltimore rose to playoff contention over the last couple years.
The price of $19.99 per month or $89.99 for the entire season also comes in on the lower end of the price points you see for in-market streaming options from major league clubs, which was good to see. Now, MASN must show it’s capable of handling the direct-to-consumer streaming demand as I was among the cable and satellite subscribers who’d encounter problems occasionally using the network’s app over these last few years.
With objectives ranging from successfully executing the upcoming renovations to Oriole Park at Camden Yards to securing contract extensions with any number of the club’s young talents, the Rubenstein regime has plenty of work to do to position the Orioles for long-term success both on and off the field, which includes reaching younger fan demographics.
Monday’s announcement was a step in the right direction to reach an ever-growing number of cord-cutting fans who trend younger — but not all that young overall anymore — than those still clinging to cable and satellite options. It’s a demographic the sport has been painfully slow trying to reach in favor of squeezing every last penny out of dying models of TV viewing.
The timing wasn’t great, but it’s better late than never.
