Cubs TV Deal Stuff

[jersey cubs fan]

My gut reaction is unless CSN has a big contractural obligation that would make it unworkable(e.g. X White Sox games have to be on the primary channel each year), they'd be more than willing to make it work if they see the threat of the Cubs starting their own network(be it on their own or some sort of hybrid like that NBC Sports/ND rumor) as at all serious.

 

So you mean like a big CSN deal that carries them past 2019? Can't imagine them ponying up for that.

 

I mean CSN will think "getting the Cubs from now until 2019 is better than what we have now, and we may not want to encourage them to come up with more creative arrangements since we might REALLY want them after 2019"

 

Personally, I think that if they only sell the rights to the 2015-19 games, there is almost no way they don't go Cubs Network after that.

 

But "Cubs Network" is going to be a partnership with Comcast or Fox.

[SouthSideRyan]

This probably won't matter to the Cubs since by most accounts WGN-TV wasn't going to re-up anyway, but WGN confirmed that they won't air any Chicago sports nationally after this year.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140530/NEWS01/140539978/wgn-america-to-drop-chicago-sports

 

“We will be way, way, way far ahead as a basic cable network without sports, than staying in our current state,” (Tribune CEO Peter Liguori) said.

 

The third "way" convinced me

[Guest]

My gut reaction is unless CSN has a big contractural obligation that would make it unworkable(e.g. X White Sox games have to be on the primary channel each year), they'd be more than willing to make it work if they see the threat of the Cubs starting their own network(be it on their own or some sort of hybrid like that NBC Sports/ND rumor) as at all serious.

 

So you mean like a big CSN deal that carries them past 2019? Can't imagine them ponying up for that.

 

You can't imagine Comcast having interest in partnering with the Cubs past 2019?

 

I just don't see the motivation to overpay that FOX or NBC would seem to have.

 

Doesn't Reinsdorf own almost 50%?

 

CSN in just an entity in which Reinsdorf owns 40%. Comcast is the media company behind it that will be very interested in maintaining a relationship with the Cubs. Comcast will have as much motivation as Fox (and NBC is part of Comcast).

 

Good point. And totally brain farted on the Comcast/NBC relationship (although isn't it more like Comcast is part of NBC?).

[jersey cubs fan]

Good point. And totally brain farted on the Comcast/NBC relationship (although isn't it more like Comcast is part of NBC?).

 

Nooooope.

 

 

I take it you never watched 30 Rock. Comcast is the mothership.

[Guest]

Good point. And totally brain farted on the Comcast/NBC relationship (although isn't it more like Comcast is part of NBC?).

 

Nooooope.

 

 

I take it you never watched 30 Rock. Comcast is the mothership.

 

I haven't much. I just assumed since the RSN's were being rebranded as NBC networks, it was the other way around.

[jersey cubs fan]

Good point. And totally brain farted on the Comcast/NBC relationship (although isn't it more like Comcast is part of NBC?).

 

Nooooope.

 

 

I take it you never watched 30 Rock. Comcast is the mothership.

 

I haven't much. I just assumed since the RSN's were being rebranded as NBC networks, it was the other way around.

 

Comcast is the huge cable company that encompasses it all. NBC is the better television brand.

[WrigleyField 22]

Good point. And totally brain farted on the Comcast/NBC relationship (although isn't it more like Comcast is part of NBC?).

 

Nooooope.

 

 

I take it you never watched 30 Rock. Comcast is the mothership.

I don't know what you're talking about, that was Kabletown.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Banedon]

This probably won't matter to the Cubs since by most accounts WGN-TV wasn't going to re-up anyway, but WGN confirmed that they won't air any Chicago sports nationally after this year.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140530/NEWS01/140539978/wgn-america-to-drop-chicago-sports

 

“We will be way, way, way far ahead as a basic cable network without sports, than staying in our current state,” (Tribune CEO Peter Liguori) said.

 

Holy [expletive] are they ever delusional.

[Bull]

This probably won't matter to the Cubs since by most accounts WGN-TV wasn't going to re-up anyway, but WGN confirmed that they won't air any Chicago sports nationally after this year.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140530/NEWS01/140539978/wgn-america-to-drop-chicago-sports

 

“We will be way, way, way far ahead as a basic cable network without sports, than staying in our current state,” (Tribune CEO Peter Liguori) said.

 

Holy [expletive] are they ever delusional.

 

In my head, this was read by Commandant Lassard

[Guest]

This probably won't matter to the Cubs since by most accounts WGN-TV wasn't going to re-up anyway, but WGN confirmed that they won't air any Chicago sports nationally after this year.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140530/NEWS01/140539978/wgn-america-to-drop-chicago-sports

 

“We will be way, way, way far ahead as a basic cable network without sports, than staying in our current state,” (Tribune CEO Peter Liguori) said.

 

Holy [expletive] are they ever delusional.

 

In my head, this was read by Commandant Lassard

It kind of fits because without the Cubs, WGN is pretty much just Police Academy movies.

[J.R.]

Once upon a time, one could tune in to WGN and feel as if Chicago was just outside their door no matter what part of bum [expletive] America in which they lived. The Bozo Show, WGN News, stuff like the Bud Billiken parade and of course the Cubs every damn day in the summer.

 

That service began to deteriorate in the early 1990s, a slow process that will now conclude this fall. I used to adore this superstation, knew the channel number by heart at all my relatives' homes and it was the first thing I checked upon getting into a hotel room. Now I can't even tell you where it lands in my satellite lineup - I always watch the feed via MLB.tv.

 

I suppose I'm trying to say that this was a terrific arrangement in days long past and its expiration should come as a surprise to no one. Might have to have a Bud for Harry and actually tune in to WGN for the last game.

[Sammy Sofa]

I can't imagine they're going to start producing original content a la TNT or even TBS, so I guess it's just a reruns/syndication dumping ground now?

[SouthSideRyan]

They want to do original content. They came out with their first show a month or 2 ago

[Sammy Sofa]

They want to do original content. They came out with their first show a month or 2 ago

 

What show?

[Guest]

I can't imagine they're going to start producing original content a la TNT or even TBS, so I guess it's just a reruns/syndication dumping ground now?

 

 

I didn't realize they didn't broadcast those terrible CW shows on the superstation.

[UMFan83]

They want to do original content. They came out with their first show a month or 2 ago

 

What show?

 

Some stupid witch show

[Sammy Sofa]

They want to do original content. They came out with their first show a month or 2 ago

 

What show?

 

Some stupid witch show

 

Ah, I thought that was just something syndicated that they picked up a la Arsenio.

[Andy]

They want to do original content. They came out with their first show a month or 2 ago

 

What show?

 

Some stupid witch show

And they're coming out with another one soon, I think about a post-nuclear town or something? Ads for it have been running all over the place.

[ConstableRabbit]

@CrainsChicago: #Chicago @Cubs broadcasts leaving @WGNRadio for @WBBMNewsradio, @RobertFeder reports: http://www.robertfeder.com/2014/06/03/why-wgn-radio-lost-the-cubs/

[J.R.]

WBBM 780 AM features excellent skywave propagation - very comparable to WGN 720 AM and maybe better for some folks. The hinterlands rejoice.

[Banedon]

@WGNRadio

 

WGN Radio President Jimmy de Castro will be on the @CochranShow at 9:10 to talk about the Cubs' departure from WGN.

[Guest]

WBBM 780 AM features excellent skywave propagation - very comparable to WGN 720 AM and maybe better for some folks. The hinterlands rejoice.

It also means that with the score being their sister station as part of the cbs family, they'll have to talk cubs baseball more often.

[Felix Leiter]

Very interesting stuff. With the White Sox contract with The Score up after the 2015 season, it might make more sense to move the Cubs there after 1 year on WBBM. No one cares about the White Sox and I can see The Score lowballing the Sox to drive them away or simply not even bid.

 

No matter where the Cubs are the fans will follow. Remember the Blackhawks had to pay The Score just to carry their games in the early 2000's and now their radio broadcasts are red hot.

 

I wonder about the Cubs radio affiliates and it used to be pretty widespread. Will the non-CBS stations who currently carry the Cubs games have problems now?

[Banedon]

Do the Cubs really wanna change stations again after a year though?

[Banedon]

WGN Radio Pres on now. Worked very hard to try to continue the relationship with the Cubs...saying that the current arrangement just doesn't make business sense, as much as they value the relationship...yadda yadda. The Cubs basically wanted more money, and WGN wasn't willing to pay.