Remove Marquee Network from Basic Sports Packages in Chicagoland
Remove Marquee Network from Basic Sports Packages in Chicagoland
The Issue
On February 22, 2020, the Cubs and Sinclair Sports Network launched the Marquee Sports Network, a channel dedicated exclusively to the Chicago Cubs.
Today, October 20 2020, millions of Xfinity subscribers received a notice that in order to support the Marquee Sports Network, Xfinity will increase its regional sports fees by $6.20 per month, retroactive to October 1st. It is worth mentioning that this fee increase comes in the middle of a global pandemic and at a time when the national and global economy is in peril.
In essence, in-market subscribers for Xfinity (and information for other TV service providers will be added as it becomes available) are forced to pay a premium for the addition of this channel. While fans may see a small decrease in the fees being charged by the stations that previously hosted the Cubs, this fee will not fully offset the new fees associated with Marquee.
This new channel is expected to bring the Cubs an additional $30M of revenue compared to other stations, excluding any advertising and the aforementioned regional sports fee. This fee will be subsidized not just by Cubs fans, but by all TV subscribers with any cable package that exceeds basic cable, who will pay this regional sports fee regardless of whether or not the cubs are playing games.
This regional sports fee is a fee being charged to all in-network TV subscribers against their will. The Marquee Sports Network should be removed from standard sports lineup and only be offered as a premium channel to those willing to pay extra.
Chicago Tribune - "Diehards and nonfans alike to foot the bill for the new Cubs pay TV network"
Bleed Cubbie Blue - "Marquee Sports Network will cost Comcast/Xfinity customers $6.20 a month more"
800-THE-CUBS (800-843-2827)
fanservices@cubs.com
Wrigley Field
1060 West Addison
Chicago, IL 60613
The Issue
On February 22, 2020, the Cubs and Sinclair Sports Network launched the Marquee Sports Network, a channel dedicated exclusively to the Chicago Cubs.
Today, October 20 2020, millions of Xfinity subscribers received a notice that in order to support the Marquee Sports Network, Xfinity will increase its regional sports fees by $6.20 per month, retroactive to October 1st. It is worth mentioning that this fee increase comes in the middle of a global pandemic and at a time when the national and global economy is in peril.
In essence, in-market subscribers for Xfinity (and information for other TV service providers will be added as it becomes available) are forced to pay a premium for the addition of this channel. While fans may see a small decrease in the fees being charged by the stations that previously hosted the Cubs, this fee will not fully offset the new fees associated with Marquee.
This new channel is expected to bring the Cubs an additional $30M of revenue compared to other stations, excluding any advertising and the aforementioned regional sports fee. This fee will be subsidized not just by Cubs fans, but by all TV subscribers with any cable package that exceeds basic cable, who will pay this regional sports fee regardless of whether or not the cubs are playing games.
This regional sports fee is a fee being charged to all in-network TV subscribers against their will. The Marquee Sports Network should be removed from standard sports lineup and only be offered as a premium channel to those willing to pay extra.
Chicago Tribune - "Diehards and nonfans alike to foot the bill for the new Cubs pay TV network"
Bleed Cubbie Blue - "Marquee Sports Network will cost Comcast/Xfinity customers $6.20 a month more"
800-THE-CUBS (800-843-2827)
fanservices@cubs.com
Wrigley Field
1060 West Addison
Chicago, IL 60613
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Petition created on October 21, 2020