MASN and Comcast have reached a carriage deal that will see Orioles and Nationals games move to a pricier cable package. The agreement, announced on Friday, will result in MASN and MASN2 being elevated from the basic package to the Ultimate TV package on Xfinity’s cable packages. The change is set to take effect on Tuesday, with Comcast contacting customers to communicate the change.

For subscribers already on the Ultimate TV package, there will be no change in pricing. However, for Popular TV customers who do not wish to continue with MASN, there will be a reduced RSN fee each month. Those who opt to continue watching MASN will face an additional $20 charge per month on their Xfinity TV bill. Nonetheless, Comcast has announced a promotional offer for customers transitioning to the Ultimate TV package, with the first three months being free, followed by three months at an extra $10, and finally, the $20 charge taking effect in the seventh month.

Expressing satisfaction with the deal, a Comcast spokesperson stated, ‘We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with MASN to continue carrying its networks and making them available on our Ultimate TV level of service before MLB’s Opening Day. We appreciate MASN working with us to find a solution to maintain MASN and MASN2 on our platform that also provides our customers with a choice.’

The carriage deal between MASN and Comcast was initially set to expire at the end of February but was extended for a week as negotiations continued this month. John McGuinness, MASN senior vice president, emphasized the importance of ensuring Comcast customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region continue to have access to MASN’s live coverage, saying, ‘At MASN, we know how much fans rely on their favorite sports coverage during the MLB season, and we are pleased to ensure Comcast customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region will continue to have access to MASN’s live coverage.’

Comcast has been gradually moving regional sports networks to higher tiers or letting contracts expire. This move aligns with the broader industry trend of reevaluating the distribution of sports programming on cable packages.