Chicago Cubs to air 25 games on local ABC station WLS-TV/Channel 7

The Chicago Cubs television situation has been a prime topic this off-season after the Cubs opted out of their deal with Tribune Media-owned WGN last season. With CSN holding rights to most, there were approximately 70 games unaccounted for. The deal with WLS-TV/Channel 7 for 25 games will leave an estimated 40 still to go. The 25-game deal is expected to run from the 2015 season through 2019.

The Cubs chose to opt out after seeing the landscape of what other teams made per-game, but with viewership dropping over the past few seasons, the Cubs hold less power, hence the negotiations dragging out over the last year. There have been several potential suitors for a long-term deal, but without having the “upper-hand” in negotiations, the team will break things off into smaller deals.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs could again look to Japan to address a major offseason need
• Cubs need to walk the walk this winter after talking the talk
• Cubs, 2 superstar free agents-to-be have ‘mutual interest’
• Where’s the love for Cubs prospect Matt Mervis?
• Alec Mills shocked Cubs fans, baseball world with 2020 no-hitter

"“WLS-TV has established itself as a trusted voice in Chicago, and we look forward to a new chapter of Cubs baseball airing on the flagship station of the ABC television network,” Crane Kenney, the Cubs’ president of business operations, said in a statement. h/t Danny Ecker, Crain’s Chicago Business"

The Cubs deal with CSN runs through 2019, so the deal with ABC, as well as any other smaller deals, will run in line with that timeframe. At that point the Cubs will look to cash in big, or possibly even break away with their own network.

ABC is confident that the previously down ratings will turnaround, and with the work at the Winter Meeting, it’s hard to believe that won’t be the case. With the hiring of Joe Maddon, and the signings of Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Miguel Montero, the World Series odd have vaulted to 12-1–deserving or not.

"“When the most-watched station in Chicago teams up with our city’s most storied franchise, it can’t help but generate excitement for our viewers while providing our ABC sales team the opportunity to offer extraordinary media opportunities to our clients in Chicago and across the country,” WLS-TV Vice President and General Sales Manager Vincent Sollecito said in the statement."

That alone should draw viewers in initially, and a solid team on the field will keep them there. After 66 years of Cubs’ baseball on WGN, it’s going to be strange not to tune in to watch them there.