How to Watch Marquee Sports Network Without Cable in 2026

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If you want to watch Marquee Sports Network without cable, three streaming services carry it: FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV. The catch — and it matters — is that all three only offer Marquee to subscribers inside the Chicago DMA. YouTube TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network. Sling TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network. If you're outside the Chicago market, live streaming isn't an option, and you'll need a different path entirely.

This guide lays out every option clearly: which services work in-market, what out-of-market Cubs fans can do, and how to pick the right service for your situation.

What Is Marquee Sports Network?

Marquee Sports Network is the exclusive regional sports network (RSN) for the Chicago Cubs. Launched in February 2020 as a joint venture between the Ricketts family (Cubs ownership) and Sinclair Broadcast Group, it replaced NBC Sports Chicago as the home for Cubs game broadcasts. It airs the vast majority of Cubs regular season games along with Cubs-specific studio programming, spring training coverage, and historical content.

Like all regional sports networks, Marquee operates under local broadcast rights agreements. That means it's legally restricted to a defined geographic territory — the Chicago Designated Market Area (DMA). Providers outside that region are either contractually blocked from carrying it or choose not to because the rights don't apply. This is the root cause of the in-market/out-of-market problem every Cubs fan eventually runs into.

Which Services Carry Marquee Sports Network

Here's the full picture at a glance. Three live TV streaming services carry Marquee inside the Chicago market. Two major services that Cubs fans often ask about — YouTube TV and Sling TV — do not carry it on any plan.

FuboTV

FuboTV is the strongest all-around choice for Cubs fans who want Marquee Sports Network. It was built as a sports-first streaming service and carries Marquee in the Chicago DMA alongside a deep lineup of regional and national sports channels. At $79.99 per month, it's the most affordable of the three options that carry Marquee. You also get unlimited cloud DVR storage, so you can record every game without worrying about space. The 7-day free trial is the longest available among the services that carry Marquee, giving you a full week to test it during the season.

FuboTV supports a wide range of devices including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and most smart TVs. You can stream on up to 10 screens simultaneously on the base plan.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream carries Marquee Sports Network on its Choice plan and above. At $99.99 per month, it's the most expensive option on this list, but it comes with a broader channel lineup that includes regional sports networks across multiple markets — useful if you follow multiple teams. DirecTV Stream offers a 5-day free trial, which is enough to test it through a series. DVR is included but capped at 20 hours of storage, which is the most limited of the three services here. If you record a lot of games, you'll need to manage your storage actively.

DirecTV Stream works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and select smart TVs. Streaming is available on up to three screens at once on the Choice plan.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV sits between FuboTV and DirecTV Stream on price at $82.99 per month, and it carries Marquee in the Chicago DMA. The big differentiator is what else comes with it: the plan bundles Hulu's on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+ at no additional cost. If your household watches a lot of streaming content beyond sports, that bundle makes the price easier to justify. DVR is included at 50 hours of storage — more than DirecTV Stream, less flexible than FuboTV's unlimited.

Note that Hulu + Live TV does not currently offer a free trial. You'll be charged at the end of your first billing period without a trial window. Hulu supports Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and most smart TVs. Simultaneous streams are limited to two on the base plan, with an unlimited screens add-on available.

Services That Don't Carry Marquee Sports Network

Two services come up constantly in cord-cutting conversations, and both disappoint Cubs fans.

YouTube TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network. This has been the case since Marquee launched in 2020, and as of 2026 there is no carriage deal in place. YouTube TV is otherwise an excellent service with unlimited DVR and a strong channel lineup, but it is not a viable option for watching live Cubs games. If you're already a YouTube TV subscriber hoping Marquee is included — it isn't, and there's no add-on available.

Sling TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network either. Sling has historically had inconsistent RSN coverage, and Marquee has never been part of its lineup. Neither Sling Orange nor Sling Blue nor any sports add-on includes Marquee. Don't rely on Sling for Cubs games.

Out-of-Market Cubs Fans — Your Options

If you live outside the Chicago DMA, none of the live TV services above will include Marquee in your subscription. The channel is simply not available to you through any live streaming provider. Your realistic option is MLB.TV.

MLB.TV is Major League Baseball's official out-of-market streaming service. A full-season subscription costs approximately $149.99 per season and gives you live streaming access to out-of-market games for every MLB team, including the Cubs — but only if you're outside the Chicago market. This is not a loophole: MLB enforces geographic blackouts using your IP address and, in some cases, your billing ZIP code. If you try to watch Cubs games on MLB.TV while in the Chicago DMA, those games will be blacked out. The blackout restriction exists because Marquee holds the local broadcast rights, and MLB.TV's licensing specifically excludes in-market games.

For Cubs fans who have relocated outside Chicago — say, you're in Denver, Atlanta, or Seattle — MLB.TV is your best path to following the team. You get every out-of-market game, plus the MLB.TV app is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and smart TVs. Audio-only streaming and the ability to watch condensed game replays and classic games are also included.

One important nuance: if you travel back to Chicago during the season, those games will black out while you're in the market. Plan around it.

Best Option by Fan Type

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sling TV carry Marquee Sports Network?

No. Sling TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network on any plan or add-on. This applies to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and the combined Sling Orange + Blue plan. Marquee has never been available on Sling.

Does YouTube TV have Marquee Sports Network?

No. YouTube TV does not carry Marquee Sports Network and there is no add-on available to get it. As of 2026, no carriage deal exists between YouTube TV and Marquee. Cubs fans who want to watch live games on YouTube TV are out of luck — you'll need to switch to FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu + Live TV.

Can I watch Marquee Sports Network if I live outside Chicago?

Not through any live TV streaming service. Marquee is a regional sports network with broadcast rights restricted to the Chicago DMA. Outside that market, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream will not include Marquee in your subscription even if you pay for their Chicago-market plans. Your option is MLB.TV, which streams out-of-market Cubs games for fans living outside the Chicago market.

Is there a free trial to watch Marquee Sports Network?

Yes, if you go with FuboTV (7-day free trial) or DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial). Hulu + Live TV does not currently offer a free trial. FuboTV's 7-day trial is the most generous — long enough to watch a full series during the baseball season before committing to a subscription.

What devices can I watch Marquee Sports Network on without cable?

All three services that carry Marquee — FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV — support streaming on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS (iPhone and iPad), Android phones and tablets, and most major smart TV platforms including Samsung and LG. You can also watch through a web browser on desktop and laptop computers. Each service has some variation in simultaneous stream limits and device compatibility, so check their current device pages if you have a less common setup.

Does MLB.TV black out Cubs games in Chicago?

Yes. MLB.TV enforces geographic blackouts for in-market games. If your IP address places you in the Chicago DMA, Cubs games will be blacked out on MLB.TV — those rights belong to Marquee Sports Network. MLB.TV is only a viable option for Cubs fans who are located outside the Chicago market. If you're inside the market, use FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu + Live TV instead.

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