Chicago Cubs: Marquee Network signs deal with Hulu

As we approach spring training, the Chicago Cubs Marquee Network completed a deal with Hulu for streaming purposes, giving fans another outlet to watch games

The Chicago Cubs and the Marquee Network has been nothing short of a mess as we head into the 2020 season. The network still does not have a deal in place with Comcast, which, if even not done before the season starts, would make things very difficult for many Chicagoans to watch their beloved Cubs. Putting that aside, fans who have cut the cord with cable and switched over to streaming services are in luck as the network inked a deal with Hulu, one of the most extensive streaming services out there.

It’s been a slow offseason, but I believe as players like Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and even David Ross have spoken out, fans and people around the team are starting to get excited. Ross is going to bring in a stricter mindset than Joe Maddon had at the end of his tenure, and it should light a fire under this group.

The Marquee Network has done nothing but adds to the slowness of the offseason, but there has to be some optimism there as we near spring training. Signing on with a vast streaming service like Hulu should be relieving and will ultimately give fans a cordless option to watch games, even on-the-go.

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With reports that a Comcast deal may not be ready for Opening Day, having a backup option like Hulu will be very important for many Cubs fans. Hulu also has significance due to their package with Disney Plus. Disney Plus has a bundle that includes Hulu and ESPN+. This is critical for games that are on a national telecast like Sunday Night Baseball and could give fans the chance to bundle these services for access to even more games.

Sure, the thought of no more WGN games is nothing short of devastating for long-term Cubs fans, and there isn’t a winning scenario here, but gaining more streaming options for the Marquee Network will be a good thing. Tom Ricketts has expressed his excitement about the network, and it seems like once things fall into place, it really will be an impressive network.

The network has a lot of similarities to the team itself. A lot of uncertainty surrounding it but at the same time, a lot of internal belief and positivity around the product. It may be tough to see it right now, but I believe that signing with Hulu is a huge step towards getting things ready to go for this season.

There is still a lot of work left to be done, but I will put my faith into Tom Ricketts here, the man, in case anyone forgot, that brought a championship back to Chicago, to right the ship and make sure things are ready to go for Opening Day.