Cubs, WGN TV Agree To New, Reduced TV Deal
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 7, 2015 10:45PM
The Cubs, after months of speculation about their television broadcast deals, agreed in principle with WGN TV to broadcast a reduced schedule of 45 games per season through 2019. The Cubs exercise an opt-out clause in their deal with WGN that expired last season which allowed the ballclub to shop around for a new television home for 70 games on their schedule. The Cubs announced a deal last month to air 25 games on ABC 7.
Both deals and the Cubs current cable television deal with Comcast SportsNet expire in 2019, which will allow the team to pursue a regional network similar to the New York Yankees' YES Network and the Los Angeles Dodgers' blockbuster deal with Time Warner Cable. The Cubs also shifted radio homes and will move from WGN Radio to WBBM Newsradio this season. [Tribune]