Chicago Cubs: 2 good things about the season being delayed

1. More time to fix the mess that was the Marquee Sports Network launch

Disastrous. Tragic. Catastrophic.

Those are just three words that come to mind when thinking of a quick way to describe the launch of the Cubs’ new broadcast endeavor, Marquee Sports Network.

If the roar of boos when the network was announced at Cubs Convention didn’t tell you how fans feel, a quick glance at the replies to any of Marquee Sports Network’s Twitter account will. Fans are angry and rightfully so.

Thousands upon thousands of fans who used to be able to watch every Cubs game without a second thought wouldn’t be able to see any of the team’s games if the season began today. Currently, Marquee Sports Network doesn’t have a deal with Xfinity/Comcast to carry the network, and they’re the largest cable provider in much of the Cubs viewing area.

Pair that with the fact that the team has only worked out a deal to broadcast the network with minimal streaming services – Hulu being the most notable – and many fans are left without an option to watch their favorite team.

Here’s the good news – the Cubs and Marquee Sports Network now have extra time to work out deals with cable and streaming services to ensure that their fans will be able to tune in whenever Opening Day rolls around. Prior to the season’s delay, the team and potential broadcast partners were working with a fast-approaching deadline that may not have been met.

There’s still no guarantee that things will be ironed out by the time that the regular season is rescheduled to begin, but the additional negotiation period gained by the season’s delay surely can’t be a bad thing.