WGN-TV about to lose Cubs games

[thomas35forever]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...,2270840.story
Screw that long relationship. It's all about the Benjamins, baby.

[mrfourni]

Originally Posted by thomas35forever

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...,2270840.story
Screw that long relationship. It's all about the Benjamins, baby.

That article implies they are either going to lose the cubs or pony up a lot more $$$ to keep them. It will be interesting to follow. You hear a lot of talk about the cubs splitting and forming their own network when the Comcast deal is done. Should be fun to see how this impacts the sox. Hopefully they'll negotiate a big payday with comcast or their own new network as well.

[LITTLE NELL]

Originally Posted by mrfourni

That article implies they are either going to lose the cubs or pony up a lot more $$$ to keep them. It will be interesting to follow. You hear a lot of talk about the cubs splitting and forming their own network when the Comcast deal is done. Should be fun to see how this impacts the sox. Hopefully they'll negotiate a big payday with comcast or their own new network as well.

If this happens and the Cubs leave WGN the Sox need to step in and put as many games they can on WGN. Only good things could come from a move like that. That being said I will believe it when I see it that the Cubs and WGN part ways.

[jdm2662]

Originally Posted by LITTLE NELL

If this happens and the Cubs leave WGN the Sox need to step in and put as many games they can on WGN. Only good things could come from a move like that. That being said I will believe it when I see it that the Cubs and WGN part ways.

I read a few years ago the Cubs made twice as much money per game when they were broadcast on Comcast vs WGN. Local broadcast money is what makes the big boys the big boys. You don't get as much on an over the air station.

I don't know if MLB requires a number of telecasts to be on a over the air channel. I know the NBA requires 30 or 35.

[TDog]

I wonder how losing the Cubs would affect WGN in the cable marketplace. I've been told by cable execs in places where I've lived (which didn't carry WGN, I always seem to end up in such places) that they don't offer WGN because of all the baseball. On the other hand, I have to believe that some cable systems carry WGN because of the baseball. I don't know how many, if any, markets black out WGN baseball.

What WGN has determined they will spend on baseball has to be based on market research showing them they will gain.

In theory, as it would have no effect on me, I would love to see the Cubs limited to their own network. I wouldn't even mind if Cubs executives decided to embrace the pay-per-view future.

[beasly213]

Originally Posted by LITTLE NELL

If this happens and the Cubs leave WGN the Sox need to step in and put as many games they can on WGN. Only good things could come from a move like that. That being said I will believe it when I see it that the Cubs and WGN part ways.

I get what you're saying here, and I get the idea behind it, that another generation of kids will grow up White Sox fans like they did Cub fans when the Cubs were on the WGN when they were growing up..

But times are different now, kids have way more entertainment options then they used to, and I dont see kids coming home from school and sitting in front of the TV to watch White Sox baseball. With most cable packages carrying the MLB network, kids growing up who are big baseball fans are going to flock to the teams that are actually really good and have big stars. It's much easier to follow an out of market team now than it has ever been.

I wouldn't be against the Sox having more games on WGN simply because I think they have a better production than Comcast does. But as others have said in this thread I believe the Sox get more money from their Comcast deal than they would WGN.

[jdm2662]

Originally Posted by beasly213

I get what you're saying here, and I get the idea behind it, that another generation of kids will grow up White Sox fans like they did Cub fans when the Cubs were on the WGN when they were growing up..

But times are different now, kids have way more entertainment options then they used to, and I dont see kids coming home from school and sitting in front of the TV to watch White Sox baseball. With most cable packages carrying the MLB network, kids growing up who are big baseball fans are going to flock to the teams that are actually really good and have big stars. It's much easier to follow an out of market team now than it has ever been.

I wouldn't be against the Sox having more games on WGN simply because I think they have a better production than Comcast does. But as others have said in this thread I believe the Sox get more money from their Comcast deal than they would WGN.

WGN production is way better than Comcast. I sometimes wonder if Comcast is ran by a high school AV club. Their production quality is piss poor.

[Moses_Scurry]

Originally Posted by TDog

I wonder how losing the Cubs would affect WGN in the cable marketplace. I've been told by cable execs in places where I've lived (which didn't carry WGN, I always seem to end up in such places) that they don't offer WGN because of all the baseball. On the other hand, I have to believe that some cable systems carry WGN because of the baseball. I don't know how many, if any, markets black out WGN baseball.

What WGN has determined they will spend on baseball has to be based on market research showing them they will gain.

In theory, as it would have no effect on me, I would love to see the Cubs limited to their own network. I wouldn't even mind if Cubs executives decided to embrace the pay-per-view future.

WGN is pretty awful if you take away the baseball. I can only watch so many AFV reruns.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by Moses_Scurry

WGN is pretty awful if you take away the baseball. I can only watch so many AFV reruns.

Subjective, of course, but I think their local news is the best in the area.

[Huisj]

Originally Posted by jdm2662

I read a few years ago the Cubs made twice as much money per game when they were broadcast on Comcast vs WGN. Local broadcast money is what makes the big boys the big boys. You don't get as much on an over the air station.

I don't know if MLB requires a number of telecasts to be on a over the air channel. I know the NBA requires 30 or 35.

Are you sure about this? I don't know of any Pistons games that are broadcast over the air here. Everything is on cable on Fox Sports Detroit. Same with the Tigers. I suspect it is that way in most markets with a big regional sports network. Chicago seems like the rare exception these days.

[asindc]

Originally Posted by jdm2662

I read a few years ago the Cubs made twice as much money per game when they were broadcast on Comcast vs WGN. Local broadcast money is what makes the big boys the big boys. You don't get as much on an over the air station.

I don't know if MLB requires a number of telecasts to be on a over the air channel. I know the NBA requires 30 or 35.

Originally Posted by Huisj

Are you sure about this? I don't know of any Pistons games that are broadcast over the air here. Everything is on cable on Fox Sports Detroit. Same with the Tigers. I suspect it is that way in most markets with a big regional sports network. Chicago seems like the rare exception these days.

Same with Wizards games here. All on cable.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by Huisj

Are you sure about this? I don't know of any Pistons games that are broadcast over the air here. Everything is on cable on Fox Sports Detroit. Same with the Tigers. I suspect it is that way in most markets with a big regional sports network. Chicago seems like the rare exception these days.

Yeah, I don't think it's over the air, I think it's regional; it essentially assure RSN's that they will get a nice size chunk of NBA games, otherwise there'd be little incentive for them if they knew all of a good team's games would be on ESPN or TNT.

[jdm2662]

Originally Posted by Huisj

Are you sure about this? I don't know of any Pistons games that are broadcast over the air here. Everything is on cable on Fox Sports Detroit. Same with the Tigers. I suspect it is that way in most markets with a big regional sports network. Chicago seems like the rare exception these days.

I thought I saw that some time ago, but I guess not. The Bulls usually have at least 30 games on WGN and WCIU. 12-15 games are usually on the Superstation.

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by doublem23

Subjective, of course, but I think their local news is the best in the area.

Skilling and seeing whatever suit Robert Jordan picked out that day is enough to make them my favorite. Plus, they have easily the least annoying sports anchors.

[LITTLE NELL]

Originally Posted by beasly213

I get what you're saying here, and I get the idea behind it, that another generation of kids will grow up White Sox fans like they did Cub fans when the Cubs were on the WGN when they were growing up..

But times are different now, kids have way more entertainment options then they used to, and I dont see kids coming home from school and sitting in front of the TV to watch White Sox baseball. With most cable packages carrying the MLB network, kids growing up who are big baseball fans are going to flock to the teams that are actually really good and have big stars. It's much easier to follow an out of market team now than it has ever been.

I wouldn't be against the Sox having more games on WGN simply because I think they have a better production than Comcast does. But as others have said in this thread I believe the Sox get more money from their Comcast deal than they would WGN.

For me it would be great as I only get to see them when they are on WGN or when they are playing the Rays and watch on SunSports.
The other thing I was thinking is that we might become relevant nationally, I'm not saying we would become America's team but maybe ESPN would realize there are 2 teams in MLB with Sox in their names. I'm tired of people when I meet them and tell them I'm originally from Chicago and the first thing they ask is if I'm a Cub fan.