Up to this point, nearly everything regarding the sale of 21 FOX Sports RSNs by Disney has been exploratory in nature. But with the Mouse’s $71.3 billion purchase of Fox Entertainment officially closing earlier this week, the clock is ticking on a 90-day period to sell those sports networks.
Several bidders have come and gone as partnerships have formed and dissolved, though a new development in the process could have serious impact on the Cubs. Sinclair Broadcasting, the Cubs’ partner on Marquee Network, had been one of the initial bidders on the RSNs. And according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, Sinclair may be gaining a powerful ally.