WGN No More?

[MrSheps]

Sounds like the team will be back on WGN TV (locally at least) next season through 2019 but may broadcast fewer games with some moving to CSN. It could be a revenue sharing deal, which lowers Tribune Media's commitment but increases the team's upside. Bottom line is anyone still claiming the team was dumb to opt out of a below market deal isn't paying attention.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...story.html

It's hard to remember, but didn't they have to opt out no matter what so they could negotiate a shorter deal to have all the games free by 2020 when the CSN deal was up?  When was the WGN's portion set to expire had they not opted out? 

 

As long as they get more than 250 per game, which seems very low, they're in better shape in the immediate in terms of money, obviously.  If it matches CSN at 500 per as the article suggests, good. But it sounds from this like they Cubs are, by current standards, getting a crappy contract with performance bonuses because they have few options.  I was hoping for a lot more, like a mega deal with FOX or Comcast, backloaded for sure, but still.  Not being able to cash in until closer to 2020 is worrisome only because in the current TV landscape that's feels like an eternity from now.