While the Cubs are looking for a long-term payoff, they had hoped to bump up the TV portion of the contract during the interim as they look to make a splash with established, high-priced Major League players. But years of dismal play have produced low ratings and poor ad sales for WGN-TV, which sources say lost about $200,000 per game last season. In recent negotiations this fall, Tribune Media balked at paying its previous rate, much less an increase, according to sources.