Comcast is the largest cable provider in the Cubs market territory.
Last July, I wrote about a looming issue for many regional sports networks, perhaps including the Cubs channel Marquee Sports Network. You can read the entire issue at that link, but the short version is: Comcast/Xfinity wants to put RSNs on its higher-priced “Ultimate” tier. Teams, of course, resisted that because it would cost fans more money to watch their games.
The July article noted that the now-former Diamond Sports RSNs were being put on Comcast’s Ultimate tier. I also included this quote from Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney:
“On the one side, it’s a true serious moment on the distribution side. On the other side, the programming side, Marquee, our friends there, they just won RSN of the Year nationally for a second straight year in a row. They’ve won (lots) of Emmys. They’re doing a great job on the programming side, but I think distribution is going to be a challenge. And I’m sure you’re going to be asking me … in September, you’re going to go, ‘Hey, what’s going on now?’ Because it’s going to be bumpy.”
This brief appearance by Jesse Rogers on ESPN 1000 last week hints at that “bumpy” ride:
“I don’t know if Marquee is gonna be on Xfinity come Opening Day.”@JesseRogersESPN tells @WaddleandSilvy and @sheanorling that the Cubs may be headed towards a dispute with Comcast ahead of the start of the season pic.twitter.com/JRfzBOWVRE
— ESPN Chicago (@ESPN1000) February 20, 2025
So what’s going on here? In January, I posted this article with all 30 MLB teams’ TV deals for this year. Take a look at what happened with the Giants:
Their games are on NBC Sports Bay Area, which is co-owned by NBCUniversal and the Giants. It provided $92 million of revenue to the Giants in 2022. One important thing to Cubs fans — earlier this month Comcast in the Bay Area moved this channel to a higher tier, meaning subscribers will have to pay more to continue to watch the Giants. Comcast likely wants to do the same thing with Marquee, and that channel and Comcast are on a month-to-month deal. Stay tuned.
Well. I would think that Cubs fans would, grudgingly if necessary, pay that extra amount for the higher tier to continue to be able to watch Cubs games. I will, if needed, as I am a Comcast/Xfinity subscriber. Maybe you wouldn’t. It’s a bit of a dangerous game Comcast is playing here, because Marquee does offer an in-market streaming app option, if you choose to cut the cord.
In the end, in my view it makes sense for both Marquee and Comcast to come to an agreement by Opening Day. Comcast covers about 55 percent of the market, the largest single cable provider in the Cubs market territory. So that’s a lot of Cubs fans. If they don’t make a deal with Marquee, they risk more cord-cutters.
There’s one further note of interest related to this. As you likely know, Chicago Sports Network, the new channel carrying White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls games, has also not reached an agreement with Comcast/Xfinity for carriage. They, too, have an in-market streaming app option. Granted that those three teams haven’t really much been worth watching, they do still have some fans who would certainly like to watch.
To that end, I have learned that the White Sox have offered their season-ticket holders 30 days of free streaming of CHSN through their app beginning on Opening Day. This hints that the Sox don’t believe they’ll have a deal with Comcast by Opening Day.
If the Cubs find themselves in that situation it would be a good idea to do the same thing for their season-ticket holders. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that and that Marquee and Comcast/Xfinity come to a deal before Opening Day. It just makes sense for both parties.