WGN No More?

[Kid]

https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status...7607987200

[jstraw]

It's Sinclair. Book it.

[rok]

Probably waiting on Sinclair to announce they're buying the Fox RSNs.

[jstraw]

So the Cubs become a cash cow funding Sinclair's political agenda. Joe Ricketts must be so pleased.

[Kid]

Would I prefer that they get a different partner than Sinclair?  Yes, I suppose so.  But provided that the broadcasts aren't politicized - and there's no reason to think that a sports broadcast would be - I don't know how you draw a distinction between differentiating between this network and Sinclair's political agenda when you cheer for a team that's owned by the Ricketts.

[Kid]

There's some speculation in a Mooney article in The Athletic that this channel could serve as a cable home for the Bears in order to provide content during the baseball offseason.  It's not that big of a deal since they wouldn't be able to have any games other than preseason, but noteworthy.

[rok]

That would make some sense since the Bears cut ties with NBCSN for post-game and other weekly shows prior to this past season.

[rok]

The new Cubs mlb.com beat writer speculates that the Cubs might partner with another baseball team. That would make little to no sense, unless I'm missing something.


https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-to-launch-...-302919974

[MrSheps]

Yeah, I don't get that. The article doesn't say it's a baseball team though, does it? That's weird if so, unless it's an RSN-like thing, which is less weird for sure. I guess we'll find out soon.

[rok]

Yeah, I don't get that. The article doesn't say it's a baseball team though, does it? That's weird if so, unless it's an RSN-like thing, which is less weird for sure. I guess we'll find out soon.

From the article I linked:

In his annual panel, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney announced that, yes, the team will indeed be launching its own network in time for Spring Training 2020 and the following season. Right now, though, the team is still in negotiations with an undisclosed partner and Kenney hinted that another baseball team might be involved with the channel.

Still doesn't make any sense.

[jstraw]

 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MrSheps" data-cid="340856" data-time="1547962124">
Yeah, I don't get that. The article doesn't say it's a baseball team though, does it? That's weird if so, unless it's an RSN-like thing, which is less weird for sure. I guess we'll find out soon.

From the article I linked:

In his annual panel, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney announced that, yes, the team will indeed be launching its own network in time for Spring Training 2020 and the following season. Right now, though, the team is still in negotiations with an undisclosed partner and Kenney hinted that another baseball team might be involved with the channel.

Still doesn't make any sense.
 


</blockquote>
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but another baseball team would almost always be playing at the same time as the Cubs. I think the split-screen would be kind of distracting.

[rok]

I dunno. Could make for some zany broadcasts.

[MrSheps]

Thanks Rok. And I think if it's another MLB team it would have to be regionally segmented, meaning it's really two or more channels, right? You could fill schedule on a Cubs network with other local college sports and Bears preseason and so forth, but you can't show Texas Ranges games and "Rangers Talk" talk shows in and around IL, it doesn't make sense.


Current thinking is (was) Disney must sell off the RSNs they'll aquirred in the FOX deal, and Sinclair is a major suitor. Maybe that explains the mlb team partner thing, it's with Sinclair and another team is getting a channel too, and they share risk/ownership across the platform. Just a guess, as otherwise I can't figure out how another MLB team figures in, unless of course it was the White Sox and we know it's not.

[jstraw]

Remind me how we know it's not.

[1060Ivy]

Believe that White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks just re-upped on NSC, (NBC Sports Chicago)