I do not know what the status of Marquee sports will be but I do object to the cost of their fans and non-fans. I for one will consider changing my choice of TV provider if the cost goes up to support the Cubs payroll. Comcast, please hold the line and not pay the Cubs
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I agree that comcast is trying to play hard ball with Marquee. They are going against the biggest local broadcast group (Sinclair) in the nation. We are nort only talking about Comcast reach in the Chicago metro area, we are also talking downstate, Indiana and Iowa, the Cubs television territory. If by 5 days before opening day an aggrement is not done, Xfinity TV it our of my house as others will and they will have a greater decline in revenue then they already have with people CUTTING THE CORD.
If you read down the thread the problem is with Sinclair and not with Comcast. It's always "fun" to blame Comcast for everything but in this case it's Sinclair.
Funny how Sinclair’s ownership of the channels wasn’t a sticking point for AT&T, RCN or WOW. But then again, the Cubs didn’t have a previous partnership with those outlets.
Seems the Cubs games broadcasts will be limited this year to ESPN and Fox and only a few games unless you pay for a MLB subscription. NBC Sports did most of the games last year and Comcast Sports Net before that. Will Comcast offer any free channel this season for fans to watch Cubs games?
We switched to DirecTV and AT&T Fiber internet 2 days ago. $30 less/month for the same amount of channels; we regained WE TV and Investigation I, faster internet (953 Mbps upload, 925 mbps download, compared to out 200 mbps Comcast internet) and NFL Sunday Ticket for the upcoming season, plus $400 in rewards cards.
Heck with Comcast playing chicken with Marquee. When my parents could get it (They have U-Verse) and I couldn't because I had Comcast, I knew it was time to switch.
That would be a big fat no. The Cubs have aligned themselves with Sinclair to create a channel called Marquee. They will carry all non-national TV games (of which there will be about 140). Comcast has yet to reach a deal with Sinclair/Marquee. (See thread below for more chatter.)
FOX and FS1 will carry nine games, ESPN will carry around 10 in-market (and around 10 more that will be blacked out in Chicago) and TBS gets to carry one in-market game per year when they start in mid-July, but they’re not obligated to. NBCSCH will carry the four games the Cubs play against the White Sox. So all told, Comcast subscribers will see about 20-25 games max unless they reach a deal. Not holding my breath.
Seems the Cubs games broadcasts will be limited this year to ESPN and Fox and only a few games unless you pay for a MLB subscription. NBC Sports did most of the games last year and Comcast Sports Net before that. Will Comcast offer any free channel this season for fans to watch Cubs games?
Be warned: there's a good chance that if you live somewhere where you used to be able to watch on NBC Sports Chicago, then MLB.com will black out the Cubs games on Marquee where you live.
I am not a Cub fan. But Cub fans should have access to their new network. But as a non cub fan, I won’t be watching them, so I do not want my bill raised for something I don’t want. So Xfinity, give them this network for free, or make it a separate fee for anyone who wants it.
@Kambala9 wrote: I am not a Cub fan. But Cub fans should have access to their new network. But as a non cub fan, I won’t be watching them, so I do not want my bill raised for something I don’t want. So Xfinity, give them this network for free, or make it a separate fee for anyone who wants it.
I think the problem with that - and keep in mind that this is just speculation - is, Marquee supposedly wants $4 per month from everyone who could get the channel - and probably wants everybody who currently gets NBC Sports Chicago to get Marquee as well. Assume 20% of the people that have a tier with NBC Sports Chicago (including what I assume is the vast majority who never watch it) want a Cubs network; in order for Marquee to get the money it wants, Comcast has to charge everyone who wants Marquee $20/month. If only 10% of the people in that tier want Marquee, that's $40/month. How many Cubs fans would pay that?
The other problem with that idea is what about the people who would rather have Marquess instead of the current channel that carries the Bulls, Blackhawks and Sox. I couldn’t care less about any of those teams and I have to pay for them. So if people who don’t care about the Cubs have to pay for them, I really don’t feel sorry for them. We are talking about $4. What does the other sports network cost? For that matter Comcast could have just hidden the cost by charging a few dollars more for equipment. It is not a big deal.
We appreciate all the inquiries and interest in regard to the Marquee Sports Network. At this time, Comcast does not carry the Marquee Sports Network. If this changes in the future, we will be sure to update this post with additional details.
Below you will find some additional Frequently Asked Questions about Marquee Sports Network. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Marquee Sports Network?
The Marquee Sports Network is a new regional sports network operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Chicago Cubs that launched February 22, 2020. It is devoted exclusively to Cubs baseball and televises games previously on NBC Sports Chicago, WLS-TV and WGN-TV.
Do you plan to offer the channel in the future? We can’t make guesses about possible channel additions in the future. However, we regularly evaluate our channel lineups as our customers' interests change and make changes we think will add more value to their services.
Gee.... thanks for telling us what we already know! It is seriously time to start looking into how much DirecTV cost because EVERYTIME we ask we get the same, canned response.
Gee.... thanks for telling us what we already know! It is seriously time to start looking into how much DirecTV cost because EVERYTIME we ask we get the same, canned response.
Would you rather hear this over and over again: "We do not discuss our negotiations with channels in public - and, in case you haven't noticed, neither do (a) the channels, nor (b) any other cable/satellite companies also in negotiations."
For some reason, nobody discusses these things in public. I think that one side or the other does not want "the competition" to know how much a particular cable/satellite service is paying.
dewald827
New Poster
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1 Message
5 years ago
I agree that comcast is trying to play hard ball with Marquee. They are going against the biggest local broadcast group (Sinclair) in the nation. We are nort only talking about Comcast reach in the Chicago metro area, we are also talking downstate, Indiana and Iowa, the Cubs television territory. If by 5 days before opening day an aggrement is not done, Xfinity TV it our of my house as others will and they will have a greater decline in revenue then they already have with people CUTTING THE CORD.
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sriv94
Contributor
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113 Messages
5 years ago
This is not promising, Comcast...
https://twitter.com/RichLightShed/status/1233097335204392960?s=20
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Again
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32K Messages
5 years ago
If you read down the thread the problem is with Sinclair and not with Comcast. It's always "fun" to blame Comcast for everything but in this case it's Sinclair.
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sriv94
Contributor
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113 Messages
5 years ago
Funny how Sinclair’s ownership of the channels wasn’t a sticking point for AT&T, RCN or WOW. But then again, the Cubs didn’t have a previous partnership with those outlets.
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ralphc10
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21 Messages
5 years ago
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JDF70
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1 Message
5 years ago
Seems the Cubs games broadcasts will be limited this year to ESPN and Fox and only a few games unless you pay for a MLB subscription. NBC Sports did most of the games last year and Comcast Sports Net before that. Will Comcast offer any free channel this season for fans to watch Cubs games?
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brixxenivy
Regular Visitor
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4 Messages
5 years ago
We switched to DirecTV and AT&T Fiber internet 2 days ago. $30 less/month for the same amount of channels; we regained WE TV and Investigation I, faster internet (953 Mbps upload, 925 mbps download, compared to out 200 mbps Comcast internet) and NFL Sunday Ticket for the upcoming season, plus $400 in rewards cards.
Heck with Comcast playing chicken with Marquee. When my parents could get it (They have U-Verse) and I couldn't because I had Comcast, I knew it was time to switch.
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sriv94
Contributor
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113 Messages
5 years ago
FOX and FS1 will carry nine games, ESPN will carry around 10 in-market (and around 10 more that will be blacked out in Chicago) and TBS gets to carry one in-market game per year when they start in mid-July, but they’re not obligated to. NBCSCH will carry the four games the Cubs play against the White Sox. So all told, Comcast subscribers will see about 20-25 games max unless they reach a deal. Not holding my breath.
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ThatDonGuy
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836 Messages
5 years ago
Be warned: there's a good chance that if you live somewhere where you used to be able to watch on NBC Sports Chicago, then MLB.com will black out the Cubs games on Marquee where you live.
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Directv2
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5 years ago
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Kambala9
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5 years ago
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ThatDonGuy
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5 years ago
I think the problem with that - and keep in mind that this is just speculation - is, Marquee supposedly wants $4 per month from everyone who could get the channel - and probably wants everybody who currently gets NBC Sports Chicago to get Marquee as well. Assume 20% of the people that have a tier with NBC Sports Chicago (including what I assume is the vast majority who never watch it) want a Cubs network; in order for Marquee to get the money it wants, Comcast has to charge everyone who wants Marquee $20/month. If only 10% of the people in that tier want Marquee, that's $40/month. How many Cubs fans would pay that?
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ralphc10
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21 Messages
5 years ago
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pkwrig72
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11 Messages
5 years ago
Gee.... thanks for telling us what we already know! It is seriously time to start looking into how much DirecTV cost because EVERYTIME we ask we get the same, canned response.
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ThatDonGuy
Problem Solver
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836 Messages
5 years ago
Would you rather hear this over and over again:
"We do not discuss our negotiations with channels in public - and, in case you haven't noticed, neither do (a) the channels, nor (b) any other cable/satellite companies also in negotiations."
For some reason, nobody discusses these things in public. I think that one side or the other does not want "the competition" to know how much a particular cable/satellite service is paying.
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