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Marquee Sports Network: Stream the Official Home of the Chicago Cubs Without Cable

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Marquee Sports Network is the official home of the Chicago Cubs, providing unmatched access to live baseball games and other premium sports content. And, you don’t need cable to enjoy all the action.

In a hurry? If you just want to enjoy the Cubs season, these two streaming services provide everything you need:

  • Fubo: Get over 150 channels including a great selection of RSNs starting at $91.98/mo. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
  • DIRECTV STREAM: Sets you up with every regional channel in your area and 100+ others for $108.99/mo. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.

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In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

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Streaming Services with Marquee Sports Network

Marquee Sports Network is available from many providers. In the cable and satellite industries, the biggest are Comcast/Xfinity and DirecTV. But in terms of streaming, there are only two options. Thankfully, they are both excellent.

Note that depending on where you live, you may get other channels beside the Chicago-based ones. If you live in Indiana, for example, you will also get Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Midwest, which provides coverage of Reds (MLB), Pacers (NBA), and Blues (NHL). Both services provide these.

How to Stream Marquee Sports Network With Fubo

fubotv logo
Chicago RSNsMarquee Sports Network
NBC Sports Chicago
Local Chicago ChannelsABC, CBS, Fox, NBC
Total Channels150+
Cloud DVR1,000 hours
Simultaneous Screens10
Free Trial
Fubo Price$94.98/mo

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) includes Marquee Sports Network in its base package as well as NBC Sports Chicago for $94.98/mo. It also includes all the local channels so you won’t miss out on what’s going on.

In addition to this, Fubo is arguably the best overall sports streaming service. Of the over 150 channels in its base plan, over 35 are sports-focused. These include CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and many more. And Fubo streams over 130 events each year in 4K! (Elite plan and higher.)

Note that Fubo provides Marquee Sports Network nationwide. But only those in the Cubs’ broadcast area get the live Cubs games. For everyone else, they are blacked out.

Cubs fans really can’t do as well with any other service. If you want more information, check out these articles:

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Can You Get Marquee Sports Network With DIRECTV STREAM?

DIRECTV STREAM
Chicago RSNs Marquee Sports Network
NBC Sports Chicago
Local Chicago Channels ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC
Total Channels100+
Cloud DVRUnlimited (online sign-up)
Simultaneous ScreensUnlimited
Free Trial
DIRECTV STREAM Price$108.99/mo

You can catch up on the Chicago Cubs games this MLB season through Marquee Sports Network on DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV). It also includes NBC Sports Chicago so you will get great coverage of all the local teams. And, of course, you get the local network affiliates.

In order to get the RSNs, you must purchase DIRECTV STREAM’s Choice plan for $108.99/mo.

You will also get other sports channels ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, and more. If you want to know more about DIRECTV STREAM, see our review.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Other Ways to Get Marquee Sports Network

Apart from live TV streaming services, you have two options.

Marquee Sports Network App

You can also watch Marquee Sports Network on the official app, which is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, and tvOS.

It still requires that you subscribe to a service that includes Marquee Sports Network — Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM.

And, of course, in order to stream Cubs games with Marquee Sports Network, you must be in its television territory. This is the area defined by MLB as part of a club’s home market. So this app doesn’t really provide anything you aren’t already getting from the streaming services.

MLB.tv

MLB.tv will not provide you access to the Marquee Sports Network. But it is a great option for a certain kind of Cubs fan — the kind that doesn’t live in or around the Chicago area.

MLB.tv provides access to most live MLB games for $24.99 per month or $149.99 for the whole season. The catch? There is a blackout delay for all in-market games. So if you live near the Cubs, you will have to wait an hour and a half after each game to watch it.

But for Cubs fans who live far away, this is a great deal! And you can get MLB.tv through Fubo now!

Marquee Sports Network Website
Marquee Sports Network Website.

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TVs and Mobile Devices for Marquee Sports Network

There are a lot of details about just what TVs and devices different live TV streaming services provide.

But, the bottom line is always the same: they provide support for the vast majority of units. Unless you have an old or unusual device, you are almost certainly covered.

Fubo Supported Devices

  • TVs: Hisense, LG, Samsung, Vizio and those with Android TV
  • Streaming Media Players: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast
  • Browsers: All major
  • Mobile: Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
  • Game Consoles: Xbox One. 

DIRECTV STREAM Supported Devices

  • TVs: Samsung and those with Android TV
  • Streaming Media Players: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast
  • Browsers: All major
  • Mobile: Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Marquee Sports Network Overview

Formed in February 2020, Marquee Sports Network is dedicated to the Chicago Cubs. In that way, it’s much like the Yankees’ YES Network, but even more focused.

It broadcasts virtually every home game at Wrigley Field as well as every away game from Opening Day onward. You will also get some Spring Training games but not playoff games, which appear on national stations.

In other words, Marquee is a must-have channel for Chicago Cubs fans.

It also airs well over half of WNBA Chicago Sky games.

Streaming services are the only way to watch Marquee Sports Network without cable. They have become popular for their convenience and affordability. But most of them do not provide wide support for regional sports networks (RSNs) like Marquee.

Besides Marquee, which is focused on the Cubs, the Chicago area has one other important RSN: NBC Sports Chicago. It provides coverage for the White Sox (MLB), Bulls (NBA), and Blackhawks (NHL).

Marquee Sports Network Shows

In addition to live Cubs and Sky games, Marquee Sports Network provides a lot of other content. This includes local and national sports programming, documentaries (especially related to the Cubs), behind-the-scenes Cubs coverage, and the podcasts Cubs Weekly and Off the Mound With Ryan Dempster.

It also features these original shows:

  • Cubs Live: The pregame show for all Cubs games.
  • Cubs Postgame Live: The postgame show for all Cubs games.
  • Let’s Play Two!: Sunday morning show with Cubs highlights from the previous week.
  • Road to Wrigley Live: Roughly a dozen shows per season highlighting all the Cubs’ Minor League teams including the Iowa Cubs, their Triple-A team out of Des Moines.

The MLB Network has produced 5 documentaries for Marquee Sports Network:

  • The Remarkable Life of Ron Santo
  • More than Mr Cub: The Life of Ernie Banks
  • Glory and Grief: The Ferguson Jenkins Story
  • Billy Williams: The Sweet Swinger
  • Mayor of Rush Street.

And it features related non-Marquee original content like the sports betting shows Follow the Money, VSiN PrimeTime, and Live on the Line.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Where Marquee Sports Is Available

Marquee Sports Network, like most RSNs, is only available to customers in its coverage area. In this case, that means parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. This may seem like a great restriction, but it really isn’t. Cubs fans outside the coverage area can get MLB.tv, which we discuss below.

There are many advantages to using a streaming service to deliver Marquee Sports Network. The biggest is probably price. Even the relatively expensive streaming services are notably cheaper than cable.

Streaming services also allow you to watch TV on multiple TVs and devices. So if you have a large household that can’t agree on what to watch, there’s no problem. And the streaming services work on just about every device imaginable — from the biggest smart TV to the smallest iPhone.

Marquee Sports Network Commentators

Jon “Boog” Sciambi has been the play-by-play announcer for local Chicago Cubs broadcasts since the 2021 season. He also provides his talents to ESPN Radio’s national airings of MLB games. Veteran ESPN broadcaster Beth Mowins fills in on some Cubs broadcasts.

Color commentator Jim Deshaies joined the booth at the same time as Sciambi. Cole Wright is the studio host for pregame and postgame shows. Elise Menaker fills in for Wright and also acts as sideline reporter. Taylor McGregor is also sideline reporter.

Other assorted on-air talent include analysts Joe Girardi, Doug Glanville, Ryan Dempster, Rick Sutcliffe, Cliff Floyd, Dexter Fowler, Mark Grace, Sean Marshall, Cameron Maybin, Chris Myers, Carlos Peña, Ryan Sweeney, and Lance Brozdowski.

And the lineup is fleshed out with contributors Gary “Sarge” Matthews, Lou Piniella, Dan Plesac, Bruce Levine, Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins.

Pat Hughes is the Cub radio play-by-play announcer but you will also see him on TV broadcasts from time to time.

Chicago Sky On-Air Talent

Lisa Byington is the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Sky. She also does play-by-play for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Meghan McKeown provides analysis for the Sky games. And the team is filled out by Stephen Bardo and Jason Ross Jr.

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Wrapping Up

Since it is relatively new, you have only two options to get Marquee without cable: DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo. Both these services offer excellent and convenient packages even without Marquee. 

If you’re in or near the Chicago area and passionate about baseball, then get Marquee Sports Network! Fubo is our top choice. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

Can I watch Marquee Sports Network on Hulu + Live TV?

Unfortunately, Hulu + Live TV dropped Marquee Sports Network from its channel line-up in October 2020. Hulu + Live TV could not reach an agreement with the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which along with the Chicago Cubs, owns the network. Hulu has not shown much interest in adding new RSNs to its lineup.

Does YouTube TV offer Marquee Sports Network?

YouTube TV ended its relationship with Sinclair at roughly the same time as Hulu + Live TV. At this time, they only offer the same NBC Sports RSNs and SNY as Hulu provides. Similarly, they have not shown any interest in adding RSNs unlike FuboTV, which has added Marquee and many other RSNs over the last year.

Can I live stream Marquee Sports Network?

Yes, you can easily live stream Marquee Sports Network on most devices you own. Both Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM offer their own apps on all supported devices that will allow you to watch every Cubs game live. You can also use the Marquee Sports Network app with your DIRECTV STREAM or FuboTV credentials.

What channel number is Marquee Sports Network on my cable provider?

One of the good things about streaming live TV is that you don’t need to remember channel numbers. But if you are still using a cable, satellite, or similar provider, you will find Marquee on these channels:

  • Astound: 217/79,84 (SD) and 271 (HD)
  • AT&T U-Verse: 740 (SD) and 1740 (HD)
  • DirecTV: 664
  • Keystone Communication: 214
  • Mediacom: 51 (SD) and 768 (HD)
  • New Paris Telephone: 33.1
  • Rochester Telephone: 40
  • Skitter Cable TV: 643 (SD) 1643 (HD)
  • Xfinity/Comcast: 84 (SD) and 1254/202 (HD).

How can I watch the Cubs’ divisional rivals?

See the following links for information on streaming other teams in the National League Central:

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Page Updates

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0 replies on “Marquee Sports Network: Stream the Official Home of the Chicago Cubs Without Cable”

I agree, I cannot afford to pay that much for Marquee Sports and I’m a lifelong Cubs fan! Being on Social Security and not being able to work makes life hard, and how I would love to watch my Cubbies on TV again!

If you live inside the Cubs’ broadcast area (which admittedly is large), you are left with FuboTV for $69.99/mo. However, that also includes well over 100 channels. You really don’t need anything else. If you happen to be outside the area, you can get MLB.TV, which is much cheaper. It’s only $24.99/mo. But right now, it’s offering the service for $24.99/mo for the rest of the season.

I don’t understand why Marquee doesn’t offer a direct pay plan. I have FireTV and I can download the Marquee App. I have regular Hulu, HBO, and Showtime thru Apps with my Amazon Prime membership. Those services are all in the $7 to $10 a month range. I have no interest in Hulu Live. I cut the cord from Satellite and Cable because I didn’t want to pay exorbitant prices for things I wasn’t going to use. This is the trend of the market and not just me. People don’t want to pay $65 a month for just the one thing they care about (in this case Cubs games). I’d happily pay $10 a month to be able to use the Marquee App to watch Cubs games, but as huge a lifetime Cubs fan as I am I will never pay $65 a month to watch the games I use to watch for free.

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