Rejoice, Cubs fans! Those of you who have Comcast Xfinity in the Chicago area (that’s about 50% of you), and even those of you who don’t. Because today’s news is HUGE for your fellow fans, and also pretty big for the organization as a whole.
Finally, the Cubs’ new network, Marquee Sports, is on Channel 202 for Comcast subscribers:
Marquee Sports Network secures a transportation agreement with Comcast to broadcast the Cubs’ television channel https://t.co/LlYcQtMI8Z
– Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) July 24, 2020
With that deal, more than 90% of Cubs fans in the team region (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and a little bit of Wisconsin) will have access to Marquee through one provider or another. Most areas will have multiple options, be it Comcast or Hulu + Live TV or DirecTV or AT&T or RCN.
The only two holdouts at the moment are DISH and YouTube TV, the former of which has drifted away from regional sports networks, and the latter is getting a boost from Marquee.
So, Cubs fans with Comcast: You can watch the Cubs’ first game tonight against the Brewers at 6 p.m. CT. It really is happening. You’ve waited long enough.
As for the Cubs and Marquee, reaching this transport agreement this year, before the low season, is essential for the financial stability of the network and, therefore, in part, the flow of income that reaches the organization of the Cubs. No, the reality at this point is that the big bucks aren’t going to make it to the Cubs’ books in time for a spending spree this offseason. I still believe that almost no organization is going to spend a lot this offseason due to the pandemic, but it does. make next year and beyond look a lot sunnier than it would have been if there weren’t yet a deal with Comcast on the NEXT gear.
