The 24/7 channel would be an even better idea, if MLB relaxed its blackout restrictions. That would mean people that pay could actually see every single Cubs game on TV. I don’t know the likelihood of the blackout restrictions being relaxed, especially the ones by Fox on Saturdays.

in the early 80’s into markets like mine in Iowa made me a Cubs fan. I watched many games thinking I would like to be there. So yes Al, you are 100% correct about building a fan base. If I’m not watching a game, or listening to the WGN radio feed on a local radio station (or both) it means work got it the way.

I think the logical step is to expand the TV market, with caution, and here it is. Comcast was never picked up by our local cable company in the hometown of the Iowa Cubs and a dominate cubs market. Myself and others, went to satellite TV for our cubs. Our same local cable provider did not pick up the Big Ten Network, just adding it about a month ago. This means a new Cubs only network still has to have the national attention and price to be picked up by cable and satellite and not be cut out of the market for common fans like me. The baseball package would be my only alternative and I would do it, but reluctantly. The intention should be to get the games to the fans across the country, not remove it because of high dollar pricing. MLB is going to have to cooperate and remove some antique rules on blackouts too.

I like the plan and it is a logical step. Just don’t leave us common fans with our Cubs.

who has never lived in chicago, i probably wouldn’t get access to a YES-like network should they go that route.

at least i’d get to see the games on MLB or EI, though.

I’ve never lived in Illinois, but in the early 80’s the little Iowa town I was living in had cable, and if I left work early each weekday, I could catch the end of most Cub games. i was hooked.

so the idea of not getting to watch the Cubs when they are on is fairly foreign to me. When I was at WIU I wouldnt get games that were being shown in the chicago area on CLTV or WCIU but that was only a couple games a year.

You would definitely get a lot of cash by having the Cubs only network but it seems like it would make smart business sense to keep as many games on WGN for a national broadcast as possible to keep the fans around the country happy and to introduce the Cubs to new fans near and far.

WGN is pretty much the sole reason Im a Cubs fan here in NY…..for whatever reason, Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace were two of my favorites as a little leaguer, probably b/c I played second and had a hand me down first baseman glove, so were I not able to watch them on a regular basis, I probably wouldve been a Mets fan (gasp!)….so thank you WGN.

WGN also introduced me to the concept of time zones…ha.

CUBSTV would be awesome though.

I lived in an international dorm when I was in college. One day while watching a game on WGN a new student from Kenya sat down next to me to watch the game. I started explaining baseball and he just looked at me and said I’m a huge Cubs fan. His family could get WGN off of a satellite. I think it was for a military network for overseas soldiers. Anyway, he actually decided to go to college in Illinois so he could go to Cubs games. That was the fall of 1984.

would be how to sell it to cable providers.

I remember reading that Mets and Yankees fans are essentially paying an additional $10-20 per month solely for their team’s netowrk.

Then there’s the problem of getting it on the air- think of all the near blackmail the BigTenNetwork had to do to get on everyone’s cable.

I’m another fan of the Cubs from my days of watching WGN. Over the past several years (2004) I have supplemented my condition by watching the Cubs on mlb.tv, most likely go with EI next year.
I think that the addition of a Cubs Network, WBCB would be a great addition even though I’m not sure if I would be able to receive it in South Georgia. Unfortunately I don’t have the option of getting dish/satelite without fighting the HOA for approval. (this means no Bears either :(.

The Cardinals actually own part of the radio station that they’re on, why not the Cubs?

In addition to airing the current game and rebroadcasting historic games from years gone by, The Cubs Network should take a page from MASN and broadcast the occasional Cubs minor league game. These games wouldn’t garner large ratings, but they would educate the Cubs fan about the stars of tomorrow. And on day game days at Wrigley, the prime time slot is open, perfect for Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, or Peoria.

Hey, I would love a Cubs channel. Could be interesting…

seems like a no-brainer if Mark Cuban is the owner. He knows technology, how to work and manage it, and probably has the resources to do so (see: broadcast.com). I think this is a huge advantage Cuban has over the other possible owners – resources to bring this team into the 21st century. The rest of the guys? Money, but maybe not as much long-term goals or insight.

Dan

…I am in favor of a Cubs network in principle. But it seems there are some very complicated rules in play here that no one here probably has a full grasp on. For some reason, WGN can broadcast Cubs games nationally in the same manner that ESPN, FOX and TBS do. However, YES, and the FSN regionals cannot. You can get those stations through various means but the games themselves are blacked out (presumably by MLB). It makes sense too, if they didn’t black them out, no one would pay for EI. My assumption is that a Cubs network would be playing by the same rules as a YES network. I’m guessing giving 70 games a year to WGN would hurt the profitability of a Cubs network.

As the rules stand right now, it seems a Cubs network might post some short term gains, but may ultimately lead to a shrinking fan base. WGN is a stark advantage enjoyed by no other teams in MLB. I’m not sure how one can quantify the dollar value of this approach versus an in-house network but, I would be very careful before I put that advantage at risk.

You’ve ben on the money two days in a row. I totally agree with your suggestions on how to renovate Wrigley Field (including the Jumbotron, and especially the clubhouse for Cubs players) and the proposed Cubs TV network.

the Stankees with Yes and the Red Sux with NESN, so it would make sense for Zell to add WGN into the mix for the sale of the Cubs.

Zell should wake up and sell this most attractive media/sports package of Cubs product to the potential buyers.

Behind the plate $500 each? Down the lines – $325? They are crazy in New York! For a baseball game?

or at least due to start on the 19th in AZ. Are we to expect to hear anything out of that? I don’t imagine Bruce Levine is going to be out there covering this will he?

when they went national is the same thing some folks talk about being a downside for the players: Daytime only baseball.

The Cubs had no [sports] competition weekdays for years. Everyone knew that without lights, the Cubs at home meant day baseball. Add in the charm of the ballpark that was starting to turn around, Harry Caray with Arne Harris and the crew plus Ryno and there you go. The best marketing tool in MLB at the time.

Every year out of town relatives and friends (especially those from overseas) that plan their vacation time in the summer to be in Chicago want to do several things. One of those is to go to the Cubs game. Every January an Aunt and Uncle that come in from California, schedule their time here so I can get them Cubs tickets. They never lived in Illinois, let alone Chicago but come hell or high water, every year they make it to the Shedd, mag mile and Wrigley.

WGN did that. Too bad other MLB owners of that era had the same thoughts as the old tight-wad Arthur Wirtz (then his son Bill).

Any ‘Cub Network’ would be featured on “Extra Innings” just as any Comcast Chicago Cubs cablecast is now. As stated already, the difference is that the Cubs would profit from advertising, not the cable rights holder — Comcast.

If you watch games on EI now, you’d never tell the difference between Comcast and the so-called Cubs TV. But, I’d guess WGN America games would be few and far between. That’s probably inevitable.