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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THe issue with waiting is Comcast is getting themselves up for people to shop. And when people shope they find out they can get a better package with a different provider. As an example, I am ready to make the switch to u-verse. I am waiting because I really would rather stay with Comcast. But I have been preparing myself to drop cable and internet. I have set up a gmail address and switched many things I have tied into Comcast to my gmail address. I have also contacted u-verse to get a price. Interesting enough, it will be $30+ cheaper for the same channels AND MARQUEE. My only reservation is I do not like change, or people in my house working. But if/when all my accounts and contacts have been moved over, if Comcast still does not have it together, I am gone. And I think others will as well once they realize cheaper options. So comcast can roll the dice and hope people don't leave. But I think they are making a mistake.
My family as well and my parents and in laws ( both seniors) have been watching every game of the Cubs for years. That is their entertainment and subject of most conversations. Please support them as we have all supported your company by being loyal customers for years.
My 90 year old mother's heart is breaking cause she can't see her Cubs games..she is a longtime comcast customer and is willing to pay more for Cubs coverage. My siblings and I are now looking at switching her to another outlet so she can see her Cub games since Comcast is dragging this out. I think if a person is willing to pay additional fee for something then a smart provider would offer it. Come on Comcast.
Are you sure about the numbers here? If the cost is about $5 for every subscriber, then it would be $10 for 1/2 the subscribers and $20 for 1/4. If Hulu Plus can charge $55 for their pacakage, I find it hard to believe adding Marquee as a stand alone option would be that much. I guess I could see $20 to $25 per month. If more people signed up, then Comcast could drop the price going forward. While this option might be aggravating to some, it is better than having no choice but to switch to Direct TV or pay the $55 to Hulu on top of the current monthly bill.
Why not just make the Marquee Sports Network available as an ala cart option just like HBO? This would allow Cubs fans to see what Sinclair and the Cubs are actually charging. I agree that every Comcast customer should have to pay a large amount for the Cubs if they do not watch them. This would put pressure on the Cubs while allowing Cubs Fans who want to stay with Comcast to do so...albeit at some expense. I'm pretty sure the Marquee option would be far less than the $55 Hulu Plus would cost each month. This would address the Cubs argument that the Cubs can't charge Comcast less than other outlets without renegotiating those contracts. If the Cubs should change their pricing at a later date, then Comcast can add the Marquee Network into the Regional Sports package for a more reasonable cost then. Absent this approach, many die-hard Cub Fans willing to pay the extra will be forced to move to Direct TV and leave Comcast in the next few weeks. Once they leave, they will be gone for years. So, is any consideration being given to the ala carte option? Or should I just switch to Direct TV now and take my $300 per month with me?
One other thought. You say that Marquee wants $4 for every customer who "could" get the channel. If that means every Comcast customer, then how do you compare that to Comcast competitors? It sounds like a penalty for being large. How many customers does Hulu have? Why does Marquee have to be part of the basic package? Why would the cost be calculated on that?
@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?
I'm not concerned about the price as much as whether Comcast will get Marquee onto the Comcast package. If opening day rolls around and their is no Comcast deal - Bye Bye, I'm off to Uverse/AT&T
My guess is, and this is purely a guess, is that if a deal is done what will happen is the channel will be added to the sports/entertainment package which is not on basic cable but is an option that I think cost about 9.99 a month. That way the argument can be made that you are not paying for the marquee network if you don't want too, it is included in the package. Of course if you want NFL Network, Red Zone Channel, NBA Channel, Tennis channel, etc you will have to keep the sports entertainment package for that and Marquee will be added "for free". Then a month or two after it is up and running (assuming it is up and running) the cost of the sports/entertainment package will subtily increase by like 2 or 4 bucks a month and that is how they get all subscribers to pay for the channel wheather they watch it or not. That is really not much difffrent that now as while there are some channels on the SE package that I really want there are some i never watch. This will likely be the same. Now if Marquee is insisting on being on the regular basic cable, like for example ESPN, thus forcing all subscribers to pay for it whether they want to or not, I think it will be a long time before see Marquee on Comcast.
ralphc10
Contributor
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21 Messages
5 years ago
THe issue with waiting is Comcast is getting themselves up for people to shop. And when people shope they find out they can get a better package with a different provider. As an example, I am ready to make the switch to u-verse. I am waiting because I really would rather stay with Comcast. But I have been preparing myself to drop cable and internet. I have set up a gmail address and switched many things I have tied into Comcast to my gmail address. I have also contacted u-verse to get a price. Interesting enough, it will be $30+ cheaper for the same channels AND MARQUEE. My only reservation is I do not like change, or people in my house working. But if/when all my accounts and contacts have been moved over, if Comcast still does not have it together, I am gone. And I think others will as well once they realize cheaper options. So comcast can roll the dice and hope people don't leave. But I think they are making a mistake.
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TRAFTER
Frequent Visitor
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12 Messages
5 years ago
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TRAFTER
Frequent Visitor
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12 Messages
5 years ago
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CubsandFredFfan
New Poster
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3 Messages
5 years ago
Please add Cubs games on Marquee Network to my sports package.
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Franschle1
New Poster
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1 Message
5 years ago
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BelAiregirl
New Poster
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1 Message
5 years ago
Are you going to add Marquee Network or do I have to go to DirecTV?
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Andyr1
Gold Problem Solver
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8K Messages
5 years ago
Good luck getting DirectTV. AT&T is sharply cutting back on who can get it.
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19693
New Poster
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1 Message
5 years ago
Will be switching to another service on 3/20 unless comcast nets marquee sports
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johnfran
Contributor
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20 Messages
5 years ago
is comcast get marquee sport network thank you
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BSeggelke
New Poster
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2 Messages
5 years ago
My 90 year old mother's heart is breaking cause she can't see her Cubs games..she is a longtime comcast customer and is willing to pay more for Cubs coverage. My siblings and I are now looking at switching her to another outlet so she can see her Cub games since Comcast is dragging this out. I think if a person is willing to pay additional fee for something then a smart provider would offer it. Come on Comcast.
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KenD22
New Poster
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9 Messages
5 years ago
Are you sure about the numbers here? If the cost is about $5 for every subscriber, then it would be $10 for 1/2 the subscribers and $20 for 1/4. If Hulu Plus can charge $55 for their pacakage, I find it hard to believe adding Marquee as a stand alone option would be that much. I guess I could see $20 to $25 per month. If more people signed up, then Comcast could drop the price going forward. While this option might be aggravating to some, it is better than having no choice but to switch to Direct TV or pay the $55 to Hulu on top of the current monthly bill.
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KenD22
New Poster
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9 Messages
5 years ago
Why not just make the Marquee Sports Network available as an ala cart option just like HBO? This would allow Cubs fans to see what Sinclair and the Cubs are actually charging. I agree that every Comcast customer should have to pay a large amount for the Cubs if they do not watch them. This would put pressure on the Cubs while allowing Cubs Fans who want to stay with Comcast to do so...albeit at some expense. I'm pretty sure the Marquee option would be far less than the $55 Hulu Plus would cost each month. This would address the Cubs argument that the Cubs can't charge Comcast less than other outlets without renegotiating those contracts. If the Cubs should change their pricing at a later date, then Comcast can add the Marquee Network into the Regional Sports package for a more reasonable cost then. Absent this approach, many die-hard Cub Fans willing to pay the extra will be forced to move to Direct TV and leave Comcast in the next few weeks. Once they leave, they will be gone for years. So, is any consideration being given to the ala carte option? Or should I just switch to Direct TV now and take my $300 per month with me?
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KenD22
New Poster
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9 Messages
5 years ago
One other thought. You say that Marquee wants $4 for every customer who "could" get the channel. If that means every Comcast customer, then how do you compare that to Comcast competitors? It sounds like a penalty for being large. How many customers does Hulu have? Why does Marquee have to be part of the basic package? Why would the cost be calculated on that?
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Mcimaru7
New Poster
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4 Messages
5 years ago
I'm not concerned about the price as much as whether Comcast will get Marquee onto the Comcast package. If opening day rolls around and their is no Comcast deal - Bye Bye, I'm off to Uverse/AT&T
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pkwrig72
Frequent Visitor
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11 Messages
5 years ago
My guess is, and this is purely a guess, is that if a deal is done what will happen is the channel will be added to the sports/entertainment package which is not on basic cable but is an option that I think cost about 9.99 a month. That way the argument can be made that you are not paying for the marquee network if you don't want too, it is included in the package. Of course if you want NFL Network, Red Zone Channel, NBA Channel, Tennis channel, etc you will have to keep the sports entertainment package for that and Marquee will be added "for free". Then a month or two after it is up and running (assuming it is up and running) the cost of the sports/entertainment package will subtily increase by like 2 or 4 bucks a month and that is how they get all subscribers to pay for the channel wheather they watch it or not. That is really not much difffrent that now as while there are some channels on the SE package that I really want there are some i never watch. This will likely be the same. Now if Marquee is insisting on being on the regular basic cable, like for example ESPN, thus forcing all subscribers to pay for it whether they want to or not, I think it will be a long time before see Marquee on Comcast.
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