Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney was on The Score to talk about a variety of pressing business issues, including Wrigley Field renovations, the facilities in Arizona, and the concert lineup at Wrigley (or lack thereof). You can listen to his full interview here, or at the bottom of this post in the embed. For me, I specifically want to touch on TV issues.
As you know, the Cubs have partnered with Sinclair to create a new RSN, the Marquee Sports Network, which will launch for Spring Training 2020. Having announced the network, though, is really just the start of the work in getting things off the ground, as Kenney, himself, said in the interview.
Some notes …
Carriage is always going to be the huge question as the channel gets up and going: how many providers will actually carry Marquee, and how wide will the Cubs’ footprint spread? Kenney admitted, like with the Wrigley Field work and the development of Sloan Park, there will probably be hiccups and issues along the way. The focus is on getting things right for the very long term, but Kenney wasn’t exactly promising 100% carriage on Opening Day next year. Hopefully the Cubs can avoid a nightmare situation like what has happened in Los Angeles.
To that end, though, Kenney mentioned that the were meeting with distributors in Arizona this week, talking to them about what things they find important in retaining subscribers. Interestingly, Kenney noted that one of those distributors is YouTube TV, so that confirms that, yes, the Cubs are having talks with non-traditional providers about carrying Marquee (but note that MLB’s blackout restrictions are very likely to remain a thorny issue).
Also, Kenney says the Cubs’ goal is to have more subscribers with their channel on Opening Day next year than have their games (via NBC Sports Chicago) right now. How could that realistically be possible? Well, it would require a really strong carriage in the Chicago area, AND expanding the Cubs’ reach for Marquee well into Indiana and Iowa, to places where NBCSC is not currently carried.
He could not get into specifics yet, but Kenney says they are thinking about ideas to target younger fans. For example, although there will always be the traditional broadcast you know and love, but what if there was a second broadcast – same game feed, but different broadcast – which was angled more toward stats and/or gambling? Just something the Cubs might be considering.
As for whether the channel will carry other live/local sports programming, Kenney suggested the Cubs have plenty of options – particularly college sports – if they want, but this is designed to be a Cubs channel. So they are thinking carefully about what they want to include and not include.
Kenney says the Cubs will be launching a YouTube channel on Monday, which may give folks a look at the kinds of things they could see on Marquee – outside of the games – when the time comes. Seems a pretty smart way to tease out the channel in advance of its arrival next year. (A reminder that my offer still stands to do a “Brett Does Baseball” show, where I try to do some crazy and awesome Cubs baseball thing, showing just how hard it is, and almost certainly embarrassing and injuring myself in the process. Talk about getting subscribers, AMIRITE!?)
Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here.
Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.
Even with tonight's rainout, the Chicago Cubs are still making some roster moves. When Patrick Wisdom was removed (perfectly healthy) from the I-Cubs game in the 4th inning on Wednesday, we had an idea of what was coming next. When...
The weather wasn't going to cooperate for Jameson Taillon's season debut, and tonight's Cubs-Marlins tilt has been postponed. The game will instead be part of a split-doubleheader this Saturday, with the first game at 1:20pm CT and the second at...
If you're into tracking young pitchers with star potential like I am—as I watch Jack Leiter's debut while typing this column—then you're probably itching to see Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes make his way to Pittsburgh sooner than later. While...
Cubs vs Marlins — Whew! The Cubs got through their first West Coast road trip of the year, and did so with a winning record (5-4) against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. They definitely let a couple games slip out...
As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...
Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...
Given the way the offseason played out for super agent Scott Boras's top available clients - Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery - you wouldn't be shocked to see some unhappiness behind the scenes. Did Boras overplay...
Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...
Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...
On Friday, Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies (11-8) open a series versus Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (3-15) at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out all the details...
The Atlanta Braves (12-5), with Chris Sale on the hill, host the Texas Rangers (11-9) who will counter with Nathan Eovaldi, at 7:20 PM ET on Friday.The article below will provide you with everything you need to watch Atlanta play...
The Cleveland Guardians (13-6), with Triston McKenzie on the mound, host the Oakland Athletics (8-11) who will start Joseph Boyle, at 7:10 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...
On Friday at 6:45 PM ET, Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros (6-14) play C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals (8-10) at Nationals Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch Houston play Washington.When...
The New York Yankees (13-6), with Clarke Schmidt on the hill, host the Tampa Bay Rays (11-9) who will start Tyler Alexander, at 7:05 PM ET on Friday.The article below will give you everything you need to know to watch...
The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls meet to start the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Heat are favored by 1.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:00 PM ET. The matchup has...
On Friday, April 19 at 6:40 PM ET, a three-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the visiting Boston Red Sox will begin.Pirates vs. Red Sox Series Info Red Sox @ Pirates Time: Friday, April 19 at 6:40 PM ET...
A three-game series between the New York Yankees and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays will start on Friday, April 19 at 7:05 PM ET.Yankees vs. Rays Series Info Rays @ Yankees Time: Friday, April 19 at 7:05 PM ET Yankees...
The Cincinnati Reds will be hosting the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 6:40 PM ET on Friday, April 19.Reds vs. Angels Series Info Angels @ Reds Time: Friday, April 19 at...
A three-game series featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and the visiting Chicago White Sox will begin on Friday, April 19 at 6:40 PM ET.Phillies vs. White Sox Series Info White Sox @ Phillies Time: Friday, April 19 at 6:40 PM ET...
NEWSLETTER
