The dream of 'wheelbarrows of cash' for the Chicago Cubs' baseball operations has hit a snag, leading to significant changes at Marquee Sports Network. When the Cubs launched their own regional sports network (RSN) to take over broadcasts after 2019, the goal was to funnel substantial funds into the team, allowing them to acquire top-tier talent. But, the reality has proven to be far more challenging.
Unfortunately, Marquee Sports Network's debut coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down baseball for months. Then, they had to broadcast games from empty stadiums during a shortened season. Following this, the Cubs embarked on a 'rebuild that's not a rebuild' after 2021, and the channel never generated the revenue they had hoped for.
Now, according to a recent article by Jeff Agrest in the Sun-Times, Marquee is making some adjustments.
Key Changes at Marquee:
- Diane Penny, who joined as GM in April 2024 to boost Marquee's digital transformation, has been let go. Her efforts didn't drive the expected revenue, leading to cuts within the digital content team. Content director Tony Andracki and reporter Andy Martinez are among those affected.
- Crane Kenney, the Cubs’ president of business operations, stated that Cubs and Sinclair resources will fill Penny’s role as they assess future leadership needs.
- Colin Faulkner, the Cubs' chief commercial officer, will now oversee game coverage and production, essentially blurring the lines between the team and the network. This places the operational reins in the hands of someone new to the TV industry.
- Faulkner will also manage marketing and talent, and the future of the Marquee website is uncertain.
What Does This Mean for Cubs Fans?
For the most part, the live Cubs games that fans tune in for will remain unchanged.
Marquee is scaling back its diverse programming to focus primarily on game coverage. As Kenney mentioned, live game broadcasts remain the priority. The network's attempts to expand into other areas and sports haven't yielded the desired results, and the pandemic, along with the RSN market dynamics, has played a significant role.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Agrest's article also hints at potential future challenges.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering centralizing teams' media rights, which could pose a problem for Marquee. However, the Cubs and Sinclair have a long-term agreement that may complicate such a move.
And this is the part most people miss...
With all the new national TV agreements announced recently, all of MLB's national rights expire after the 2028 season. Manfred aims to package all 30 teams' local rights (the league already controls the rights for six teams) with the national rights and sell them as a single package. This could be difficult, especially considering teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox, who have partial or full ownership of their RSNs.
In essence, for the average Cubs fan, these changes are likely to be largely invisible. You can still expect to see the live game coverage you love. The impact on pre- and post-game coverage remains to be seen, but some adjustments are likely.
What do you think about these changes at Marquee? Do you believe the focus on live game broadcasts is the right move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
