The Chicago Cubs are will leave their current partnership with the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks that puts all four of the teams’ games on NBC Sports Chicago in favor of launching their own cable network according to a report from 670 the Score. According to a report from the Score’s Bruce Levine, the Cubs have hired former MSG Networks president Mike McCarthy and hope to have the channel launched by the conclusion of the 2019 season.
The four aforementioned teams entered into a deal with NBC Sports Group in 2004 that gave each entity a 20% stake in NBC Sports Chicago. That initial 15 year deal expires in 2019. While the Cubs have decided to go their own way, the other three teams have hired former Comcast SportsNet Chicago general manager Phil Bedella to run a new regional sports network.
A Cubs network, whatever the official name ends up being, is drawing some heavy interest across the sports media landscape. According to Levine, “The likes of Disney and NBC Sports as well as other big media companies are interested in a partnership with the Cubs.” What that partnership will look like remains to be seen.
