Cubs, WLS-TV/ABC 7 Reach Deal To Televise 25 Games In 2015, Beyond

(CBS) The Cubs have found a home for 25 of their approximately 70 games that didn't have a television deal for the 2015 season.

The team has reached a five-year deal to televise 25 games per season on WLS-TV/ABC 7, it was announced Friday morning. The games will begin when the Cubs open the season in April and be comprised of daytime, primetime and weekend contests.

ABC 7 is the first network-owned TV station in Chicago to pick up game broadcast rights in the 68-year of Cubs broadcast history.

Forty-five more games are expected to be picked up by local WGN-TV, 670 The Score's Matt Spiegel reported Thursday. The approximately 70 games were available when the Cubs opted out of a deal with WGN after the 2014 season. CSN SportsNet Chicago will televise 90-plus games this season.

However, those 70 games aren't in line to be seen outside of the Chicago market because they're only being shown no local television (WGN America will no longer carry Cubs games).

"We are excited to have WLS-TV as our new television broadcast partner," Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said. "WLS-TV has established itself as a trusted voice in Chicago, and we look forward to a new chapter of Cubs baseball airing on the flagship station of the ABC television network."

Kenney also said the Cubs will soon announce the home for the team's remaining games not currently under contract to ABC 7 or Comcast SportsNet. All Cubs games will be on the air in Chicago in 2015.

"We will complete our broadcast realignment shortly, allowing every Cubs fan in Chicago the opportunity to watch every game of what we believe will be an exciting and competitive season," Kenney said.