The New York State Court of Appeals confirmed the fair market value of the Washington Nationals’ television rights Tuesday, a step that will help the team collect tens of millions of dollars in missing rights fees. New York’s highest court found the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which is controlled by the Orioles, has no right to take the dispute over $100 million in missing rights fee payments from 2012-16 to an independent arbitrator, which they had been seeking. The court did not compel a payment of the money immediately, and the two sides must continue negotiating over the amount of money to be paid to the Nationals.
Ted Leonsis, owner of three Washington-based professional sports franchises, offered more than $2 billion to buy the Washington Nationals from the Lerner family late last year, according to three people with knowledge of the situation. It’s not clear whether the Lerners rejected the offer or simply did not respond to it, though one person with direct knowledge of the process said the parties have remained in touch.