CHICAGO (CBS) — A powerful Chicago alderman urged the Chicago Cubs not to start their own cable network, arguing it would prevent many fans from being able to watch the games on TV.
Ald. Edward Burke (14th), who chairs the City Council Finance Committee, said he doesn’t want to see the Cubs create their own regional sports network and start charging fees for its broadcasts, or require a premium cable package to see games on TV.
Currently, Cubs games are aired either on local TV stations or basic cable network Chicago Sports Net.
“One would hope that everyone can have an opportunity to watch the Cubbies. Everyone can’t afford to go to the games, since they’ve also increased their ticket prices,” Burke said.
The alderman acknowledged the city can’t force the Cubs to renew their existing broadcast contracts, or prevent them from starting their own network that could only be seen with a premium cable package.
“We can urge, but they, I’m sure, are going to be coming back here in the future, and it’s something to be considered,” he said.
That veiled threat came wrapped in a reminder that the City Council approved lucrative video scoreboards for Wrigley Field and the ongoing renovation plans for Wrigley Field.
The Cubs current TV contract expires in 2020, and the team has xpressed interest in starting their own network similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees
from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2olhCI7
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