Crane Kenney expresses worry about Marquee Sports Network's distribution future on Comcast cable

(670 The Score) Amid a trying time in the industry for regional sports networks, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney admitted the distribution of the Marquee Sports Network on Comcast cable is his biggest concern as he looks to the future.

Comcast recently blacked out 15 regional sports networks under the Bally Sports brand, putting up a barrier to many fans’ ability to watch their favorite teams. Diamond Sports Group, which distributes those Bally Sports networks, put the blame on Comcast, saying the media giant refused to “engage in substantive discussions,” according to the Associated Press. Comcast responded that Diamond Sports Group has declined multiple offers. Making the situation more difficult is that Diamond declared for bankruptcy in 2023.

“I wish the clock was turned back to 2011 in that regard,” Kenney said on the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Friday. “Because the market is in turmoil. You’ve got half the RSNs in bankruptcy, being rejected in their rights agreements. You got wonderful markets like Atlanta – like if you’re a Comcast subscriber in Atlanta, you can’t watch the Braves today. If you’re a Comcast subscriber in Milwaukee, you can’t watch the (Brewers) today. If you’re a Comcast subscriber in Detroit, another great baseball market, you can’t watch the Tigers today. They’ve been dropped. Jerry (Reinsdorf) is parting with Comcast here. They’re dropping those three teams (White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks). So Comcast has made it pretty clear that they are exiting the sports market. And half of our homes are Comcast homes. And our contract with Comcast ends in September. So trust me, the reason I spend – other than worrying about our batting average with runners in scoring position – the other thing that keeps me up all night is worrying about what’s going to happen with distribution.

“On the one side, it’s a true serious moment on the distribution side. On the other side, the programming side, Marquee, our friends there, they just won RSN of the Year nationally for a second straight year in a row. They’ve won (lots) of Emmys. They’re doing a great job on the programming side, but I think distribution is going to be a challenge. And I’m sure you’re going to be asking me … in September, you’re going to go, ‘Hey, what’s going on now?’ Because it’s going to be bumpy.”

The Cubs and Comcast have had tensions previously. In July 2020, the Cubs-owned Marquee Sports Network reached a carriage deal with Comcast just one day before Opening Day of the pandemic-shortened season, following months of concern that games could be blacked out on the cable provider.