Comcast confirms Marquee’s move to ultimate tier

Move is effective Oct. 1

After months of speculation, Comcast confirmed it was moving the Cubs’ regional sports network to its ultimate tier effective October 1, giving fans the opportunity to continue ue watching the team on its basic tier for the rest of the current baseball season.  

As of this writing, the Cubs are tied with division rival Milwaukee on top of the NL Central and for the best record in the National League. 

The move will cost an extra $20 a month, on top of another $20 Comcast charges as a “regional sports fee”. Marquee joins CHSN in the ultimate tier as Comcast has moved numerous regional sports networks, including those owned by its parent company. Marquee managed to stay on a basic tier through short-term extensions. 

“We’re beginning to notify customers that effective Oct. 1, and after MLB regular season, Marquee Sports Network will transition to the Ultimate TV level of service,” said a spokesperson from Comcast. “We will have promotional offers for those who want to continue receiving it after that time.”

Customers who subscribe to the basic tier will also see a drop in the RSN fee, as the Big Ten Network would be the only sports network outside of ESPN, ESPN 2, and FS1 left on the basic tier. 

Even though cord-cutting has taken hold across the country, Comcast still has a reported million subscribers in the Chicago area. CHSN finally struck a deal with Comcast for carriage over a month ago, immediately boosting their reach. 

Marquee was launched in 2020 after Cubs owner Tom Ricketts desired his own RSN to showcase Cubs games, thus ending long-term relationships with WGN Sports (after 72 years) and NBC Sports Chicago. With cord-cutting, Marquee and CHSN are relying more on their respective streaming apps. Last week, CHSN agreed to simulcast seven Chicago White Sox games this season on Weigel’s The U, and could lead to a handful of Bulls and Blackhawks games on the station next season.