The Cubs’ regular-season TV schedule link has always been one of the most popular on this site, because the team has been on several different TV channels over the last couple of decades. Last year’s, for example, was the most-read article on this entire site in 2019, with over 175,000 page views.
That probably won’t be the case this season as the Marquee Sports Network debuts and will carry most of the Cubs regular-season games. Earlier today we learned that Marquee and Comcast had come to a deal and now Marquee will be available in more than 90 percent of the Cubs market territory.
In any case, I thought I’d make this post at least to indicate to you the national TV games that will not be on Marquee, in addition to listing some games that are on FS1 and ESPN that will also be on Marquee (in italics). They are as follows (home games in boldface, all times Central):
Friday, July 24, vs. Brewers, 6:10, ESPN*
Saturday, July 25, vs. Brewers, 12:05, Fox-TV
Thursday, August 6, at Royals, 6:05, Fox-TV
Sunday, August 9, at Cardinals, 6:05, ESPN
Tuesday, August 11, at Indians, 6:05, FS1
Tuesday, August 18, vs. Cardinals, 7:05; FS1
Monday, August 24, at Tigers, 6:05, FS1
Sunday, September 6, vs. Cardinals, 6:05, ESPN
As you can see, there are eight national games listed above, four exclusive to national networks, four that will also be shown on Marquee. The asterisk in front of the July 24 game indicates ESPN’s broadcast will be blacked out in the Cubs market territory. There could be more added at a later time; so far, this is what’s been announced.
Some weeknight games might also appear on ESPN as part of their Monday and Wednesday packages. Those ESPN broadcasts are non-exclusive and will also appear on Marquee. Some of them might also be available within the Cubs market territory.
TBS will begin doing Sunday games at some point during this season and could add a Cubs game. Per MLB rules they are allowed to show one such game inside the Cubs market territory.
Lastly, if you for any reason don’t have access to Marquee in the Cubs market territory, you can watch the six games against the White Sox (August 21-23 and September 25-27) on the Sox’ home channel, NBC Sports Chicago.
I will list all of these broadcasts in each day’s game preview. Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies return as the announcers for the Marquee Sports Network, to be joined by a large roster of former Cubs as analysts, and ESPN’s Chris Myers will fill in for Len on occasion.
All 60 games will be carried on WSCR radio, 670 The Score, with Pat Hughes, Ron Coomer and Zach Zaidman. Len Kasper might sub for Pat on play-by-play for a few games on radio.