Williams Signs Bill Requiring Comcast to Broadcast Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill that would require Comcast to put the Washington Nationals on television in the District was signed by Mayor Tony Williams on Tuesday.

The measure would require the city and Comcast to enter into negotiations to explore getting the team's games on the air unless Comcast starts airing the games on Wednesday.

Most of Washington's games are shown on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which is owned by Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

Comcast is refusing the carry MASN because of a dispute with Angelos over the television rights to the Orioles.

Angelos plans to move Orioles telecasts to MASN next season after their deal with Comcast SportsNet expires. Comcast is suing Angelos, contending that its contract was improperly terminated.

"This standoff was not created by Comcast, and I am not taking sides in the legal dispute that centers on the broadcast rights for these games," Williams said in a statement.

However, Williams said that having the games on television locally would help the team "build a broad fan base."

Comcast Executive Vice President David L. Cohen said in a statement that the cable company "is working to find a solution that will put the Nats' games on TV immediately."

MASN was created by Angelos and Major League Baseball as compensation to Angelos for sharing television territory with the Nationals after they moved from Montreal last year. Angelos receives 90 percent of MASN's revenues this season.

The House Government Reform Committee had previously called on representatives from both Comcast and MASN to enter into negotiations and settle the television dispute.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)