Broadcast TV Shut-Out On MLB Orioles Games

There will be no lineup of Orioles baseball games on WJZ or any other over-the-air Baltimore broadcast channels this season, the CBS-owned station and Orioles confirmed Tuesday.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the end to a Baltimore TV tradition that dates to 1954, when the Orioles’ first home game was played on WMAR, is the result of a decision made by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, according to WJZ and the Orioles.

MASN is a regional cable network owed by the Orioles and Washington Nationals. The Orioles are owned by the Angelos family. John P. Angelos is president of MASN.

K.C. Robertson, a WJZ spokesman, said his station has been broadcasting Orioles games since the mid-1990s. Last year, WJZ broadcast 20 games, including Opening Day.

WJZ will have an hour of Opening Day coverage Thursday starting at 12:30 p.m. but will not be carrying the game.The Orioles could still be seen occasionally on a local affiliate if its network has rights to a game.

MASN also confirmed in a separate statement that it will be the sole place to see Washington Nationals games in the region this season. There will be no lineup of games on a Washington broadcast station, which could benefit the radio broadcasts on WJFK 106.7 the Fan.  Games also air on WJFK1580 AM , WFED 1500 AM and the HD3 signal of  WIAD 94.7 FM in Washington DC.