EXCLUSIVE: Comcast/Xfinity and Marquee expected to announce a deal Friday

There’s just one day to go before the beginning of the 2020 60-game MLB season.

Up to now, if you are a Comcast/Xfinity subscriber in the Chicago metro area, you have not been able to watch the Cubs’ new TV channel, Marquee Sports Network.

I have learned that an announcement of a deal between Marquee and Comcast should happen Friday morning, and Cubs games (and other Marquee programming) will thus be available to Comcast subscribers. Comcast covers about 52 percent of the Chicago metro area, the single biggest cable/satellite provider in the area. Once this deal is complete, Marquee will be available in over 90 percent of the Cubs market territory.

I reached out to the Cubs and Comcast for comment. Cubs spokesman Julian Green told me that there was no news to announce and discussions were ongoing. He added “Hopeful there will be a deal.”

Comcast spokesman Jack Segal confirmed that the parties were “still in discussions.”

I trust my source and believe there will be an announcement Friday, just in time for the Cubs’ season opener against the Brewers at 6:10 p.m. CT. Some of you have noted that this game will be on ESPN, but the ESPN broadcast will be blacked out in the Cubs market territory.

One more note: I have no information on any Marquee deal with two other major providers, YouTube TV and Dish Network.

We’ll find out for sure regarding Marquee and Comcast/Xfinity tomorrow.