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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jstraw" data-cid="352997" data-time="1582469951">
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My interest in the Cubs and MLB is at its lowest ebb in years, and this isn't helping.

Quote:My interest in the Cubs and MLB is at its lowest ebb in years, and this isn't helping.

Quote:"There is also some lingering resentment towards Sinclair, which was criticized last year when it tried to take over WGNs owner, Tribune Media, because of its political positions and how it operates. They did not endear themselves in any way to Chicago," Feder said.



"On top of that, the top managers of Marquee are from out of town. They're making these decisions on a product that is supposed to appeal to Chicagoans, but theyre flying blind," Feder said.



Feder credited Marquee for hiring Bob Vorwald, who had been executive producer of WGN Sports, as one move that would make Cubs fans comfortable when they tune in to the new network.



McCarthy said that hiring Vorwald was part of Marquee's effort to be sensitive to the folklore and long history of the Cubs on TV.



"I think we will more than replace what folks are used to watching on other television outlets here in Chicago," he added. "Even at the Cubs convention, after the owner was booed, when the roster of former Cubs that would be appearing on the network were announced, there was nothing but cheers from the fans, he said. They were asking How do I get this channel, which is what we were hoping to hear."



McCarthy said he watched the Cubs in New York on the WGN Superstation. And when he arrived in Chicago, he lived in an apartment just beyond Wrigleys bleachers to soak up the atmosphere. "One of the most dramatic things I've been able to do is take someone in the stadium when its empty in the winter. People got emotional, because it feels like youre going back in time," he said.



Murray Hits Leadoff



On Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. CT, Cubs fan Bill Murray was set to lead off for the network as it signs on with Marquee Debut, a one-hour show introducing the channel. The Cubs first exhibition game was to start at 2 p.m. but was pushed back at the last minute. That first day Marquee was to air a documentary on Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks.



During the season, each game will be preceded by Cubs Live and followed by Cubs Postgame Live.



The networks programming will include a local Chicago sports talk show produced by Stadium, a service partly owned by Sinclair, and Follow the Money, a gambling show from Las Vegas produced by VISN.



The schedule will be filled out with documentaries, player profiles and game replays, plus other programming from Stadium and the Fox Sports Regional Networks, now owned by Sinclair.



Marquee will also air a package of Cubs minor league games that will feature farm teams in Des Moines, Iowa, and South Bend, Indiana, markets where the network is looking for distribution.



McCarthy said Marquee has won over sponsors. Those with high profiles in Wrigley Field and on TV remain on board, including the local Toyota dealers group, AB InBev, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Wintrust Bank. "Those folks didnt lose interest," he said. In many cases they doubled down. "They appreciated that there's one place to buy Cubs telecasts. That wasn't the case the last few years."



"Marquee has also formed a unique relationship with the local plumbers union," McCarthy said. "They were very interested in having a presence within Cubs telecasts and they stepped up," he said.



After its up and running the network also plans a robust outreach to the community. "We look forward to learning more about how we can best deploy our services to help folks in Chicagoland," McCarthy said. McCarthy was in Mesa, Arizona, where the Cubs have spring training, early last week, returning for some last-minute tweaks to the graphics they would use for Cactus League games from Sloan Park.



Members of the staff - more than 60 people have been hired - are still getting to know each other and finding a working rhythm for things, like how often the network should be posting on social media.



"We're learning as we go, but the basics, like the truck and the signal and the announcers, we've been prepping for a while and were ready, so it will be fun," McCarthy said.

Quote:This would not be an issue if MLB would just allow the Cubs to sell subscriptions to Marquee in-market without a cable bundle. So much for returning the local TV rights back to teams.

Quote:Who is the local broadcast partner for the Cubs?