Cubs TV broadcast rights

[Bertz]

 

I do legitimately appreciate this, but talent-wise I'd have preferred any other affiliate. Iowa's largely devoid of talent except for Nico and like a handful of pitchers. I'll get pumped when they add Tenn.

[UMFan83]

 

I do legitimately appreciate this, but talent-wise I'd have preferred any other affiliate. Iowa's largely devoid of talent except for Nico and like a handful of pitchers. I'll get pumped when they add Tenn.

 

Right....Tenn or SB would be amazing. Heck throw bring some cameras to those back fields in Mesa and lets watch our Darvish return reach adulthood together.

[Derwood]

Per a report from the New York Post, Sinclair is aiming to launch a new streaming service in 2022 that would bundle up all of its Bally content – all of its RSNs, all the sports – for $23 per month (in-market, though apparently Sinclair is also going to try to secure out-of-market rights, too). That might sound expensive at first blush, but given that regional sports previously have been available only as part of $100+ cable/satellite packages, it is not more than I would’ve expected. Cable partners pay huge carriage fees to the teams’ RSNs in order to include their network channel on their cable package, and thus can charge subscribers huge monthly fees. So if they were going to allow Sinclair to offer a streaming-only option – thus encouraging even more cord-cutting – it was going to have to be for a really significant monthly price.

[jersey cubs fan]

$23/month for the right to watch cubs on marquee and then pre and postgame shows from cincy. What's not to love?

[Banedon]

Can't wait to continue to not give my money to them.

[Andy]

Jon Greenberg said in his Athletic column today that he's hearing that the Marquee crew will be going to all the road games going forward. Not the radio crew, though, which won't travel (unless they drive) until they can do so with the team.

Interestingly enough, Marquee Sports Network, which made commercials about how the broadcasters didn’t have to wear dress shirts and ties anymore, didn’t make a big deal out of it. No tweets alerting Cubs fans that a change had happened. The word is Marquee is going back on the road for good, but no one’s really talking about it.

 

It’s odd because it seems like something the fans would rally around.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jon Greenberg said in his Athletic column today that he's hearing that the Marquee crew will be going to all the road games going forward. Not the radio crew, though, which won't travel (unless they drive) until they can do so with the team.

Interestingly enough, Marquee Sports Network, which made commercials about how the broadcasters didn’t have to wear dress shirts and ties anymore, didn’t make a big deal out of it. No tweets alerting Cubs fans that a change had happened. The word is Marquee is going back on the road for good, but no one’s really talking about it.

 

It’s odd because it seems like something the fans would rally around.

Maybe other Sinclair owned stations aren't sending the crews on the road and they don't want to draw attention to the distinction?

[Andy]

Jon Greenberg said in his Athletic column today that he's hearing that the Marquee crew will be going to all the road games going forward. Not the radio crew, though, which won't travel (unless they drive) until they can do so with the team.

Interestingly enough, Marquee Sports Network, which made commercials about how the broadcasters didn’t have to wear dress shirts and ties anymore, didn’t make a big deal out of it. No tweets alerting Cubs fans that a change had happened. The word is Marquee is going back on the road for good, but no one’s really talking about it.

 

It’s odd because it seems like something the fans would rally around.

Maybe other Sinclair owned stations aren't sending the crews on the road and they don't want to draw attention to the distinction?

Seems the most likely scenario. He mentions in the column that other Bally stations aren't necessarily going on the road yet, or even soon.

[WrigleyField 22]

The only reason to do that is if you have some extreme aversion to cable companies verse streaming services. Cost wise there's no way thats a good deal compared to just going with Xfinity or whoever carries Marquee.

[Bear Cub]

Can Chris Myers please ride off into the sun set now?

[bakester]

Can Chris Myers please ride off into the sun set now?

 

oooofff yeah, I also find him rather difficult to listen to.

[Irrelevant Dude]

One of my biggest Cubs disappointments this season has been Boog Sciambi. He has been fine overall and the Cubs could certainly have done much worse, but he isn't the elite broadcaster that I expected.

 

Where Len Kasper grew on me over time, Sciambi has gone the other direction. The more I hear him, the less impressed I am. I'm sure the inconsistency in the booth hasn't helped, so maybe things will improve over time. He still just feels like generic national announcer guy doing games.

 

He has done an adequate job, maybe even above average, but I expected so much more.

[Tim]

One of my biggest Cubs disappointments this season has been Boog Sciambi. He has been fine overall and the Cubs could certainly have done much worse, but he isn't the elite broadcaster that I expected.

 

Where Len Kasper grew on me over time, Sciambi has gone the other direction. The more I hear him, the less impressed I am. I'm sure the inconsistency in the booth hasn't helped, so maybe things will improve over time. He still just feels like generic national announcer guy doing games.

 

He has done an adequate job, maybe even above average, but I expected so much more.

I expect him to become more invested in the team as the years go by. I'm much more irritated that there are so many games he doesn't cover.

[Derwood]

Yeah, the booth situation has been really random. I have no idea why we have four or five different guys in and out of the booth this year.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Yeah, the booth situation has been really random. I have no idea why we have four or five different guys in and out of the booth this year.

Is that going to be the new normal with contractually obligated days off? Heck, there was one game where Boog was off and he was at the ballpark hanging out in a box.

[jersey cubs fan]

Where Len Kasper grew on me over time, Sciambi has gone the other direction. The more I hear him, the less impressed I am. I'm sure the inconsistency in the booth hasn't helped, so maybe things will improve over time. He still just feels like generic national announcer guy doing games.

It's been half a season. A half of a season in which the team has gotten worse over time and everybody is on the chopping block. I really don't think you can compare Len growing on you over time to your impression of Boog in on half season of a garbage team.

[Derwood]

[Bertz]

[cl smooth]

 

cubs fans:

 

[Bertz]

[UMFan83]

Where Len Kasper grew on me over time, Sciambi has gone the other direction. The more I hear him, the less impressed I am. I'm sure the inconsistency in the booth hasn't helped, so maybe things will improve over time. He still just feels like generic national announcer guy doing games.

It's been half a season. A half of a season in which the team has gotten worse over time and everybody is on the chopping block. I really don't think you can compare Len growing on you over time to your impression of Boog in on half season of a garbage team.

 

Plus its hard when he only goes like 75% of the games, and in about 50% of the games he does his lead color guy isn't there and/or there is a rotating 3rd person in the booth. How did the Cubs organization miss the part where consistency in the broadcast team is important in fans enjoying the overall broadcast. I don't hate any of the PBP guys theyve had this year (though cant say the same about the color guys) but they don't feel like Cubs broadcasters like we've been historically accustomed to with guys like Len, Pat, Stone, Harry, Jack, etc.

[Irrelevant Dude]

When is the last time JD did a game?

[UMFan83]

When is the last time JD did a game?

 

Not sure but I read on Twitter a couple days ago he had a no -COVID related illness

[CubinNY]

Tinfoil hat on > They do not value the announcers/don't want to pay big fees so they are doing this sort of thing and paying per diem to all these 3rd and 4th rate ex Cubs. Len knew this through negotiations with the Cubs/Marquee people and pulled the ripcord.

 

The Ricketts turn everything to horsefeathers.

 

Tinfoil hat off<

[Derwood]

 

The Ricketts turn everything to horsefeathers.