Area TV may not carry opener

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The Washington Nationals' season-opening game is not certain to be televised in the Washington area, team President Tony Tavares and TV industry executives said yesterday.

"I haven't ruled it out, but I haven't ruled it in, either," Mr. Tavares said of a broadcast of the Nationals' game against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Monday.

The Nationals have been unable to proceed with plans for a telecast because of ongoing negotiations between Major League Baseball (MLB) and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos over territorial rights for TV broadcasts.

MLB President Bob DuPuy said March 17 that the game "without question" would be televised in the Washington area.

However, several key steps needed to televise the opener have not been completed. The Nationals have yet to:

• Secure a channel on which to the show the game.

• Reserve a broadcast truck in which the telecast would be produced.

• Obtain satellite coordinates for the distribution of video and audio from the game.

• Hire on-air talent and technical personnel.

• Coordinate the battery of commercials and Nationals promotional spots to run between innings.