Cubs TV Deal Stuff

[Banedon]

We're basically screwed no matter what until they get [expletive] worked out in 2019. I'm just not happy about it.

 

Are there fans of other teams that are also stuck in this dilemma? Where they don't get the local broadcast but are still blacked out of Extra Innings and MLB.TV?

 

Have we just been lucky because games have been on WGN my whole life?

 

If you want to go through the effort, you can use a VPN to mask your location and be able to use MLB.TV. I have a Cardinal fan buddy that does that, and I may end up having to go that route as well.

[Guest]

We're basically screwed no matter what until they get [expletive] worked out in 2019. I'm just not happy about it.

 

Are there fans of other teams that are also stuck in this dilemma? Where they don't get the local broadcast but are still blacked out of Extra Innings and MLB.TV?

 

Have we just been lucky because games have been on WGN my whole life?

 

If you want to go through the effort, you can use a VPN to mask your location and be able to use MLB.TV. I have a Cardinal fan buddy that does that, and I may end up having to go that route as well.

 

I use www.unblock-us.com to watch day games at work. it's pretty simple. like 4.95 a month after the free trial.

[Sammys Boombox]

Slingbox is wonderful if you have a family member that is outside the market and has MLBEI and a fast upload speed. I know that is not possible for many people, but just an idea.

[UMFan83]

Slingbox is wonderful if you have a family member that is outside the market and has MLBEI and a fast upload speed. I know that is not possible for many people, but just an idea.

 

Or MLB.tv if you know how to mask your IP

 

Edit: I should read more posts besides the one I'm replying to.

Edited December 12, 2014 by UMFan83

[Guest]

Danny Ecker ‏@DannyEcker 23s24 seconds ago

Cubs make it official. 25 games on @ABC7Chicago thru 2019. Also say the home for the rest of the games will be announced soon.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

Okay, I need some help from those of you more familiar with the blackout rules than I am. I live in the Indianapolis area. The Cubs, White Sox, and Reds are all considered in our market. When one of those teams is on TV (CSN, Fox Midwest, WGN, etc.) we are never blacked out. All of the other games involving teams other than those three are blacked out.

 

If I were to get the Extra Innings package, would the Cubs games on WGN local, WLS, and WCIU be blacked out for me?

[Andy]

Okay, I need some help from those of you more familiar with the blackout rules than I am. I live in the Indianapolis area. The Cubs, White Sox, and Reds are all considered in our market. When one of those teams is on TV (CSN, Fox Midwest, WGN, etc.) we are never blacked out. All of the other games involving teams other than those three are blacked out.

 

If I were to get the Extra Innings package, would the Cubs games on WGN local, WLS, and WCIU be blacked out for me?

Yes. Blackout doesn't mean you can't watch on cable, it means it's the only place you can watch (no MLBTV, no Extra Innings).

 

You can go to this site and there's a text box to type in your zip code, and it tells you every team you won't be able to watch on MLBTV or EI.

[Guest]

Okay, I need some help from those of you more familiar with the blackout rules than I am. I live in the Indianapolis area. The Cubs, White Sox, and Reds are all considered in our market. When one of those teams is on TV (CSN, Fox Midwest, WGN, etc.) we are never blacked out. All of the other games involving teams other than those three are blacked out.

 

If I were to get the Extra Innings package, would the Cubs games on WGN local, WLS, and WCIU be blacked out for me?

 

I haven't used EI in a couple years so someone can correct me if this has changed, but yes, those games would be blacked out on the EI channels.

[apete6]

From Rovell, I know, but here's an estimate of the ABC deal:

 

Darren Rovell ‏@darrenrovell 29s30 seconds ago

Market value of Cubs 25 games/year deal with local ABC station WLS-TV is about $750K per game. 5-year deal likely worth $90M+

[Wilson A2000]

From Rovell, I know, but here's an estimate of the ABC deal:

 

Darren Rovell ‏@darrenrovell 29s30 seconds ago

Market value of Cubs 25 games/year deal with local ABC station WLS-TV is about $750K per game. 5-year deal likely worth $90M+

 

So the same as what WGN paid in the past?

[Guest]

25 games at 750k is about the same as what they were getting in total from WGN in previous years (~75 games at 250k). If they hit that estimate with WLS, that means whatever they can get for the remaining 50ish games is a pure increase in revenue. At 250k that's ~13 million, at 500k that's 25 million, and at 750k that's 37 million per year.

[Guest]

From Rovell, I know, but here's an estimate of the ABC deal:

 

Darren Rovell ‏@darrenrovell 29s30 seconds ago

Market value of Cubs 25 games/year deal with local ABC station WLS-TV is about $750K per game. 5-year deal likely worth $90M+

 

So the same as what WGN paid in the past?

 

Triple what WGN paid

 

 

 

But that's just a guess from Rovell as far as I can tell.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

ok so is any of this crap going to affect mlb.tv

[Cubswin11]

ok so is any of this crap going to affect mlb.tv

It shouldn't, assuming you aren't blacked out

[UMFan83]

So the Cubs are going to be affiliated with CBS (780 AM), ABC (WLS), NBC (Comcast Sportsnet Chicago) and likely the Tribune Company (WGN)

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

ok so is any of this crap going to affect mlb.tv

It shouldn't, assuming you aren't blacked out

they'd be some big bastards if they blacked out cubs games in sacramento county.

[Guest]

I wonder if they'll use ESPN graphics or come up with something of their own. Gonna be weird.

[WrigleyField 22]

The reports yesterday said ABC gets their pick of games. If true it makes sense it'd be a nice deal. They'll take the 25 most valuable games. So the remaining games might hold very little value if they're basically getting what ABC and CSN pick over.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob]

I really hate these stupid blackout rules.

[Irrelevant Dude]

We're basically screwed no matter what until they get [expletive] worked out in 2019. I'm just not happy about it.

 

Are there fans of other teams that are also stuck in this dilemma? Where they don't get the local broadcast but are still blacked out of Extra Innings and MLB.TV?

 

Have we just been lucky because games have been on WGN my whole life?

 

If you want to go through the effort, you can use a VPN to mask your location and be able to use MLB.TV. I have a Cardinal fan buddy that does that, and I may end up having to go that route as well.

 

I use http://www.unblock-us.com to watch day games at work. it's pretty simple. like 4.95 a month after the free trial.

Does that only work for watching on a PC, or can it also be used to mask the location for streaming devices (like a Roku)?

[Guest]

We're basically screwed no matter what until they get [expletive] worked out in 2019. I'm just not happy about it.

 

Are there fans of other teams that are also stuck in this dilemma? Where they don't get the local broadcast but are still blacked out of Extra Innings and MLB.TV?

 

Have we just been lucky because games have been on WGN my whole life?

 

If you want to go through the effort, you can use a VPN to mask your location and be able to use MLB.TV. I have a Cardinal fan buddy that does that, and I may end up having to go that route as well.

 

I use http://www.unblock-us.com to watch day games at work. it's pretty simple. like 4.95 a month after the free trial.

Does that only work for watching on a PC, or can it also be used to mask the location for streaming devices (like a Roku)?

 

Pretty sure it works on some of those types of devices, but not sure if a Roku is one of them.

[Guest]

We're basically screwed no matter what until they get [expletive] worked out in 2019. I'm just not happy about it.

 

Are there fans of other teams that are also stuck in this dilemma? Where they don't get the local broadcast but are still blacked out of Extra Innings and MLB.TV?

 

Have we just been lucky because games have been on WGN my whole life?

 

If you want to go through the effort, you can use a VPN to mask your location and be able to use MLB.TV. I have a Cardinal fan buddy that does that, and I may end up having to go that route as well.

 

I use http://www.unblock-us.com to watch day games at work. it's pretty simple. like 4.95 a month after the free trial.

Does that only work for watching on a PC, or can it also be used to mask the location for streaming devices (like a Roku)?

 

There are ways you can set up a VPN at the router level so it would apply to all devices in your house. I don't have any personal experience though, so not sure how friendly it is to turn on/off when you want to watch the game. Most stuff like this has a browser interface so I assume it wouldn't be too bad, but others would know better than me.

 

EDIT: It looks like for Roku specifically that ecosystem is pretty mature so there's some options. https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/10412/5-best-vpn-for-roku/

[treebird]

lol the 25 best cubs games of the year are only available illegally if you live in the middle of illinois. plus probably a bunch more when they sell the rest to ota wgn. go a's?

[Andy]

lol the 25 best cubs games of the year are only available illegally if you live in the middle of illinois. plus probably a bunch more when they sell the rest to ota wgn. go a's?

Don't forget basically all of northern and central Indiana outside of The Region, as well as pretty much all of Iowa IIRC.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

Okay, I need some help from those of you more familiar with the blackout rules than I am. I live in the Indianapolis area. The Cubs, White Sox, and Reds are all considered in our market. When one of those teams is on TV (CSN, Fox Midwest, WGN, etc.) we are never blacked out. All of the other games involving teams other than those three are blacked out.

 

If I were to get the Extra Innings package, would the Cubs games on WGN local, WLS, and WCIU be blacked out for me?

Yes. Blackout doesn't mean you can't watch on cable, it means it's the only place you can watch (no MLBTV, no Extra Innings).

 

You can go to this site and there's a text box to type in your zip code, and it tells you every team you won't be able to watch on MLBTV or EI.

 

Thanks. That really stinks.