The promised land of spring training baseball, a time for fans to thaw out with glimpses of their team's future, has become a landscape of missed signals for many Chicago Cubs supporters. This year, a stark reduction in televised games means a significant portion of the team's exhibition schedule remains out of sight, frustrating a fanbase accustomed to more access. The club's own Marquee Sports Network, designed to be the primary conduit for Cubs content, is broadcasting fewer spring contests than in previous years.
This scarcity extends beyond Marquee. Reports indicate that across Major League Baseball, a broader trend of cutting back on spring training broadcasts has taken hold. The Cubs, rather than being an outlier, appear to be part of a wider recalibration, one that seems to disregard the established expectation among fans for ample TV coverage. While other clubs, like the Dodgers, are televising a high volume of their spring games, the Cubs' offerings are notably limited.
Read More: Paul Gallen makes fun of Smith after Broncos lose round 1
Broadcast Blues Deepen
The numbers paint a dim picture for dedicated viewers. Of the total spring training games, a mere 11 are slated to air on Marquee Sports Network. An additional 10 games will be available via radio broadcast on 104.3 The Score. Even those figures include some special events, such as the Spring Breakout games, which are designated for televised slots.
For context, while the Cubs have cut back, the Chicago White Sox are reportedly broadcasting more spring games this year than their usual handful.
The limited visibility clashes with the core purpose of dedicated team networks, which are often established to generate revenue by airing such content.
Network Shuffle and Fan Disconnect
This reduction in spring visibility appears to be tied to changes at the Marquee Sports Network itself. Despite the Cubs' aggressive offseason moves on the field, the network seems to be grappling with its own setbacks. Team president Crane Kenney acknowledged a planned decrease in spring training broadcasts on Marquee this season, a statement that has seemingly been overshadowed by the team's player acquisitions.
Marquee Sports Network has seen "significant changes" in recent times.
Fans, often drawn to the allure of warmer weather and the promise of new seasons on their screens, are finding their anticipation met with a muted broadcast schedule.
The move by teams to create their own networks, ostensibly to profit from game broadcasts, seems to be falling short in terms of fan accessibility during the spring period.
A Wider Spring Training Phenomenon
The issue of diminished spring training broadcasts is not confined solely to the Cubs. MLB and its affiliated teams appear to have collectively miscalculated the demand for this pre-season content. The perception among some observers is that the league and its clubs have underestimated the fan expectation of being able to follow their team's every move, even in exhibition games. This widespread pullback creates a void for fans seeking to connect with their teams as the regular season looms.
Read More: Miami Marlins 2026 Season: New Pitchers and Hitters Added to Roster