MLB team the Chicago Cubs’ new RSN, which will launch next year in partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, could net somewhere between $40m (€35m) and $50m in positive cash flow. Marquee Sports Network will feature all of the Cubs’ regular season games beginning in 2020 in addition to other programming.
Sinclair’s president and chief executive Christopher Ripley, speaking on an earnings call with analysts, discussed the projected positive cash flow as well as the potential to create similar partnerships with other major sports franchises.
“We are a perfect match for any team who wants to do this, and so we’ll certainly be looking for other opportunities and there will be some coming up in the years to come,” he said. “They tend to come up as the contracts expire with the existing distributors, so it’s something we’re definitely keeping track of and looking forward to.”
The Cubs’ launch of Marquee Sports Network, will make the team the second in Major League Baseball to have a dedicated RSN. The New York Yankees founded YES Network in 2002. The Yankees sold a majority stake in YES to Fox in 2014, but are contemplating buying back a majority share in the network currently.