Marquee and Comcast Deal Likely, Could Be As Early As Today

There has been growing suspicion of a Marquee Sports Network and Comcast deal for months. Many assumed the Comcast deal was just about finished in March and would have been active as soon as regular-season games began. But, COVID-19 had different ideas and the season was postponed.

But now, Ryan Glasspiegel, Chicago sports media expert, expects that a Comcast deal gets done this week. He was on AM-670 The Score to explain his beliefs today.

We have @sportsrapport joining @JoeO670 next discussing Comcast-Marquee Sports Network negotiations and the latest sports media buzz.

Will #Cubs games be available on Comcast come Friday?

Tune in: https://t.co/6pC174BHJJ pic.twitter.com/cxdbX3gXVs

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 22, 2020

Ryan’s thought was backed up by another industry expert, Patrick Crakes, who describes himself as such: Consultant, Media Executive & Solider…TV, Sports & Music…Crakes Media, InVivo Media Group, FOX Sports & U.S. Army.

Phil’s dead on here. Also, expect a Comcast-Marque deal here soon.

— Patrick Crakes (@Aquinas82nd) July 22, 2020

Now, with games starting Friday, his thought is that either a deal is already hammered out and awaiting the final signatures, or will be very soon.

Let’s roll back time a bit. There was way too much smoke to not believe a fire existed between a Comcast/Marquee agreement back in March. But when COVID-19 hit, Comcast didn’t want to either charge customers more or cut into their profits to service the channel to their customers.

Just think about it, if the Sports RSN package is $19.99 per month, and ESPN takes up $9/mo., and NBC Sports takes up $2.50/mo., and BigTen takes up $1.50/mo., then why would they cut their profits by adding Marquee for $4/mo. or ask customers to pay a little more – when there weren’t games on the network?

So the deal was put off until the start of the regular season – whenever that might have been. We are now sitting on the start of the season, with the first MLB game being played on Thursday, July 23rd and the first Cubs game to be aired on July, 24th. That would mean a deal is days away from happening.

Glasspiegel had a very important note, however, as he mentioned the addition of a new channel takes some time, they have to add the actual channel, they have to add the channel to their guides, and they have to be able to market it to their customers. This said a deal would have had to of been made by Wednesday, July 22nd, or is about to be finalized.

I don’t know if a deal has been struck yet, I do believe both sides have something that is agreeable and I believe that all Comcast customers will have the opportunity to add Marquee by August 1st. But to do that, I recognize that there isn’t much time. We are 53 hours away from Opening Day 2020. This means we have roughly 10 hours to negotiate a deal and leave enough time to get the channel added to Comcast’s programming – if they plan on having Marquee by that first game.

Please note, if Comcast lands a deal with Marquee – IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET THE CHANNEL.

Comcast will likely need to make sure you are on a TV package that will carry all Regional Sports Networks. Do not quote me on this as I do not work for Comcast, I have had conversations with the folks at Comcast about this and they cannot accurately tell me the answers just yet. This is just a somewhat educated guess as to what customers will need to do to get the channel. The Comcast package that makes the most sense is there Preferred 220+ package. Please do not take my word for it if/when the channel is added, this, again, is an educated guess.

Ultimately, I do believe we will have Marquee and Comcast news very, very soon. Keep on the lookout!