Chicago Sports Network#Direct-to-consumer streaming service

In 2004, Jerry Reinsdorf, Bill Wirtz, and the Tribune Company—the owners of the Bulls and White Sox, Blackhawks, and Cubs respectively—formed a new regional sports network with Comcast known as Comcast SportsNet Chicago (later named NBC Sports Chicago). The network was jointly owned by the four teams, while Comcast held a 30% stake and handle operations.{{cite news |date=December 2, 2003 |title=Comcast To Launch New Sports Net Along With Chicago Teams |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2003/12/Issue-55/Sports-Media/Comcast-To-Launch-New-Sports-Net-Along-With-Chicago-Teams.aspx?hl=Comcast%20SportsNet%20Fox%20Sports%20Chicago&sc=0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417085816/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2003/12/Issue-55/Sports-Media/Comcast-To-Launch-New-Sports-Net-Along-With-Chicago-Teams.aspx?hl=Comcast%20SportsNet%20Fox%20Sports%20Chicago&sc=0 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |website=Sports Business Journal}}{{cite news |date=December 3, 2003 |title=CSN Chicago Is Born; New Net To Launch In 1.5 Million HHs |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2003/12/Issue-56/Sports-Media/CSN-Chicago-Is-Born-New-Net-To-Launch-In-15-Million-Hhs.aspx?hl=Comcast%20SportsNet%20Fox%20Sports%20Chicago&sc=0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417092904/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2003/12/Issue-56/Sports-Media/CSN-Chicago-Is-Born-New-Net-To-Launch-In-15-Million-Hhs.aspx?hl=Comcast%20SportsNet%20Fox%20Sports%20Chicago&sc=0 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |website=Sports Business Journal}} The Cubs departed the network after 2019, forming Marquee with Sinclair Broadcast Group as the exclusive broadcaster of all regional Cubs games;{{cite news |author=Jesse Rogers |date=February 13, 2019 |title=Cubs launching a network of their own, Marquee Sports Network |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25987146/chicago-cubs-launching-marquee-sports-network-partnering-sinclair-broadcasting-group |access-date=March 20, 2019 |website=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Inc.}}{{cite news |author=Phil Rosenthal |date=February 13, 2019 |title=The Cubs are starting a new TV channel in 2020. Here's what that means for fans. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-marquee-tv-channel-debut-sinclair-what-to-know-20190213-story.html |access-date=March 20, 2019 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Publishing}} that same year, NBC Sports Chicago signed a five-year extension with the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox, making it the exclusive home of all three teams through the end of the 2023–24 season.{{cite news |date=January 2, 2019 |title=NBC Sports Chicago Announces New Pact With White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/nbc-sports-chicago-announces-new-deal-with-white-sox-bulls-and-blackhawks-503802931.html |access-date=January 4, 2019 |website=WMAQ-TV |publisher=NBC Owned Television Stations}}{{cite news |author=Teddy Greenstein |date=January 2, 2019 |title=NBC Sports Chicago announces multiyear deal with the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-spt-nbc-sports-chicago-bulls-blackhawks-white-sox-20190102-story.html |access-date=March 20, 2019 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Publishing}}{{cite news |date=December 19, 2018 |title=While Cubs prepare to launch Marquee, Hawks, Bulls & Sox return to NBCSCH |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/while-cubs-prepare-to-launch-marquis-hawks-bulls-sox-return-to-nbcsch/ |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Sun-Times Media Group}}

In April 2024, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the three teams were in negotiations with Stadium to assume their regional rights after the conclusion of their contract with NBC Sports Chicago.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2024 |title=White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks near deal to make Stadium their new TV home |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/04/15/white-sox-bulls-blackhawks-nbc-sports-chicago-stadium-rsn-jerry-reinsdorf |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}} Stadium is owned by the White Sox's investment arm Silver Chalice and had previously been a joint venture with Sinclair until they sold their stake in 2023.{{cite news |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Sinclair Sells Control of Stadium to Jerry Reinsdorf's Silver Chalice |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-sells-control-of-stadium-to-jerry-reinsdorfs-silver-chalice |access-date=November 3, 2023 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}} In May 2024, The Athletic subsequently reported an agreement with Standard Media that would involve a newly launched multi-platform regional sports network;{{Cite news |last=Lazerus |first=Scott Powers and Mark |title=Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox find new partner, broadcast home |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5471933/2024/05/04/blackhawks-bulls-white-sox-partnering-with-media-group-for-new-broadcast-home/ |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} the Sun-Times later reported that Standard Media would primarily serve as a funding and distribution partner and that Stadium was to serve as the teams' new home.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Stadium, Standard Media Group working to launch network for White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/05/09/stadium-standard-media-group-white-sox-bulls-blackhawks-nbc-sports-chicago-jerry-reinsdorf |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}

On June 3, 2024, the three teams and Standard Media officially announced Chicago Sports Network, led by former Stadium CEO Jason Coyle.{{cite web |title=Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) to Launch as New Home to the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox |url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/chicago-sports-network-chsn-to-launch-as-new-home-to-the-chicago-blackhawks-bulls-and-white-sox |access-date=June 3, 2024 |date=June 3, 2024 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Libit |first1=Daniel |date=June 3, 2024 |title=Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks to Launch Chicago Sports Network |url=https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/chicago-sports-network-white-sox-bulls-blackhawks-1234782618/ |access-date=June 3, 2024 |website=Sportico.com}} Unlike most regional sports networks, Chicago Sports Network is available over-the-air and through pay-TV and streaming services.{{cite web |date=June 3, 2024 |title=Chicago Sports Network set to air Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox games |url=https://apnews.com/article/chicago-sports-network-blackhawks-bulls-white-sox-b4fe3e1284eea7db35e6a23b3c3ce396 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=The AP}} Social media accounts used by NBC Sports Chicago transitioned to being operated by Chicago Sports Network at the end of September 2024.{{cite web|url=https://x.com/NBCSChicago/status/1838263548176441610|title=After Sept. 30, NBC Sports Chicago followers will receive content from the new Chicago Sports Network.|date=September 23, 2024|work=Twitter|publisher=@nbcschicago Twitter account|access-date=September 30, 2024}}

Chicago Sports Network holds the regional television rights to the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the NBA G League's Windy City Bulls. The network produces its pre-game and post-game shows in studios in the United Center and Rate Field.{{cite web|url=https://windycity.gleague.nba.com/news/2024-25-windy-city-bulls-home-games-to-be-broadcast-on-chicago-sports-network|date=November 15, 2024|work=Windy City Bulls|access-date=December 5, 2024 |title=2024-25 Windy City Bulls Home Games to be Broadcast on Chicago Sports Network }}{{Cite web |title=chsn shows|url=https://chsn.com/shows/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=chsn.com |language=en}}

Chicago Sports Network's flagship program is The Chicago Lead, a daily sports program covering all Chicago sports teams including local college and high school sports. In addition, the network also airs The Big College Football Show and The Big Pro Football Show, focusing on college football and the National Football League, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://x.com/jon_greenberg/status/1840754822212964364|title=CHSN announces its studio shows|date=September 30, 2024|work=Twitter|publisher=@jon_greenberg Twitter account|access-date=September 30, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=chsn shows|url=https://chsn.com/shows/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=chsn.com |language=en}}

The network's common motif is using the six-pointed star and colors of Chicago's municipal flag within its graphical elements. The network attempted to switch to placing the Chicago team's score first within its debut game graphics (traditionally reserved for the visiting team in order to place 'Chicago's teams first', as was described on-air), but was switched back to the traditional visitor/home presentation after viewer feedback (and derision, especially when the Chicago team was behind and losing); the scoreboard, presented vertically in the top-left corner and obstructing the left basket, was also switched to a traditional bottom-right bug.{{cite news|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/bulls-chicago-sports-network-changes-scorebug-complaints.html|title=Bulls broadcaster changes scorebug after one game following complaints|last=Weinstein|first=Arthur|date=October 13, 2024|work=Awful Announcing|access-date=20 April 2025}}

On September 12, 2024, it was reported that the network was nearing its first carriage agreement with DirecTV that would have it taking over the channel positions formerly occupied by NBC Sports Chicago.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/09/12/chicago-sports-network-first-distribution-deal-directv-comcast-xfinity-nbc-sports-chicago|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913013050/https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/09/12/chicago-sports-network-first-distribution-deal-directv-comcast-xfinity-nbc-sports-chicago |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |title=Chicago Sports Network close to its first distribution deal, with DirecTV |date=September 12, 2024 }} On September 18, the agreement with DirecTV was confirmed.{{cite web|title=Chicago Sports Network, DirecTV announce carriage agreement|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/09/18/chicago-sports-network-directv-announce-carriage-agreement|date=September 18, 2024}} On September 30, the network reached an agreement with Astound RCN,{{cite web|title=Chicago Sports Network expected to appear on Astound RCN at launch Tuesday|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/09/30/chicago-sports-network-will-appear-on-astound-rcn-at-launch-tuesday|date=September 30, 2024|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} and streaming service Fubo was added on October 25.{{cite web|url=https://ir.fubo.tv/news/news-details/2024/Chicago-Sports-Network-CHSN-Reached-Multi-Year-Carriage-Agreement-with-Fubo-2024-nW1F876Wom/default.aspx|title=Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) Reached Multi-Year Carriage Agreement with Fubo|date=October 25, 2024}} The network was also added to NITCO in Northwest Indiana and MTCO, a small regional internet and streaming-TV provider in Central Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://www.nitco.com/residential-tv/|title=NITCO Channel Packages|date=28 November 2022 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.mtco.com/support/tv/channel_guide.php?MGHW |title=MTCO digiMAX Channel Guide | Metamora, IL; Germantown Hills, IL; Washington, IL }}

Carriage on Dish Network, which has shifted to refusing RSN carriage due to high distribution fees, is not expected to be pursued.{{cite web|title=Get out your old antenna, sports fans. Chicago Sports Network to launch Oct. 1 on DirecTV and free TV.|website=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/09/16/chicago-sports-network-directv/|date=September 16, 2024}} Carriage on YouTube TV is also not expected to be pursued due to their lack of interest in adding RSNs.

In April 2025, it was reported that WGN-TV was interested in carrying a subset of CHSN's games.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2025/04/18/wgn-tv-chicago-sports-network-white-sox-bulls-blackhawks-comcast-michael-reinsdorf-ric-harris-cubs-marquee-sports-network |title=WGN interested in airing Chicago Sports Network broadcasts, confident a deal can work |date=April 18, 2025 }}

On October 10, 2024, it was reported that negotiations were ongoing between CHSN and Comcast, the Chicago area's primary cable TV provider.{{cite web|title=Chicago Sports Network, Comcast still talking as channel's first regular-season game nears|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/10/10/chicago-sports-network-comcast-still-talking-as-channels-first-regular-season-game-nears|website=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 10, 2024}} Both parties were unable to reach an agreement prior to the network's launch due to a dispute over tier placement.{{cite news|title=CHSN's Comcast negotiations present urgent dilemma as fans' wrath grows|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5846740/2024/10/16/chsn-comcast-deal-blackhawks-bulls-white-sox/|work=The Athletic|date=October 16, 2024|url-access=subscription}} CHSN stated that it had reduced its fee to below what NBC Sports Chicago was receiving from Comcast but still had yet to receive an offer. As a result of the ongoing negotiations, CHSN had withheld its standalone streaming app, as CHSN believed its release would further hinder a deal with Comcast.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/10/19/chicago-sports-network-comcast-tv-negotiations-fubo-jason-coyle|title=Chicago Sports Network president says he's ready to make a deal with Comcast, but it is refusing|date=October 20, 2024 }} By the end of October, CHSN had sent three offers to Comcast but received no offer in return, with its third offer including a move to Comcast's Ultimate tier and a much lower fee than NBC Sports Chicago's.{{cite web|url=https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=d507ec2d-6d0f-4344-be69-1d78d9c0ef1d | title=Will 'wait until next year' apply to TV, too? }} In March 2025, a report in the Chicago Tribune suggested that Comcast was insisting on the discontinuation of CHSN's over-the-air broadcasts to finalize a deal.{{Cite web |last=Channick |first=Robert |date=2025-03-27 |title=Chicago White Sox remain blacked out on Comcast for opening day |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/27/white-sox-comcast-opening-day/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US |quote=Sources familiar with negotiations say CHSN’s over-the-air broadcasts remain a stumbling block. In order to strike a pay-TV deal with Comcast, CHSN may have to pull the plug on its free TV broadcasts, sources said.}} On June 4, 2025, it was announced that Comcast and CHSN agreed to a tentative deal to put CHSN on Comcast’s ultimate tier. The network launched on June 6 on the cable provider on channel 200, NBC Sports Chicago's former channel number.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-sports-network-comcast-reach-agreement-to-air-blackhawks-bulls-white-sox-games-on-xfinity/3762138/ |title=Chicago Sports Network, Comcast reach agreement to air Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox games on Xfinity }}

On September 15, 2024, Chicago Sports Network announced its over-the-air coverage in the Chicago market through a two-channel lease for the main channel and an overflow channel (both in 1080i high definition) on the digital subcarriers of WJYS (channel 62), a station licensed to Hammond, Indiana, with full-market coverage from the Willis Tower.{{Cite web |title=CHSN |url=https://www.chsn.com/faq |access-date=November 16, 2024 |website=chsn.com |language=en}} The subchannels for CHSN via WJYS originally required an ATSC tuner that supports the more compact MPEG-4 video codec,{{cite news |title=CHSN FAQ page |url=https://chsn.com/info/ |access-date=October 6, 2024 |publisher=CHSN}} but as a result of complaints WJYS switched to the more widely-available MPEG-2 in January 2025.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Coverage on Gray Television stations in Rockford and South Bend were announced on October 1.{{cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/10/01/2956379/0/en/Gray-Media-and-the-Chicago-Sports-Network-to-Bring-Bulls-Blackhawks-and-White-Sox-Games-Free-Over-The-Air-to-Viewers-in-Rockford-IL-and-South-Bend-IN.html|title=Gray Media and the Chicago Sports Network to Bring Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox Games Free Over-The-Air to Viewers in Rockford, IL and South Bend, IN|date=October 1, 2024|access-date=October 1, 2024}} Coverage on Family Broadcasting Corporation station WHMB in Indianapolis was announced on October 17.{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/family-broadcasting-corporation-launches-chicago-sports-network-on-whmb-tv-40-302279398.html|title=Family Broadcasting Corporation Launches Chicago Sports Network on WHMB TV-40|publisher=PRNewswire|date=October 17, 2024|access-date=October 17, 2024}}

Because the network's coverage area over-the-air outside the Chicago market conflicts with the rights to other teams, alternate blackout programming or a blank "Current programming not available" message is transmitted to those stations when games air. No game coverage airs in Milwaukee due to conflicts with the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks, along with the Minnesota Wild. For the same reason, only Chicago Bulls game coverage airs in West Michigan due to the presence of Detroit's own teams, including the Tigers and Red Wings. It is unknown why Bulls games air in West Michigan.

Mark Lazerus, the Blackhawks beat writer for The Athletic, claimed that CHSN's over-the-air signal in Chicago sometimes left much to be desired. Lazerus wrote that watching CHSN via channel 62 over-the-air required an antenna mounted in a high position aimed at Willis Tower. Even then, he said, the picture quality was "glitchier than scrambled late-night cable was in the 1980s." Lazerus added that the over-the-air signal was all but unviewable in rainy or windy conditions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5923353/2024/11/15/chicago-blackhawks-chsn-app-subscription/|title=Blackhawks players know CHSN fiasco risks sending team back into 'oblivion'|author1=Mark Lazerus|publisher=The Athletic|date=November 15, 2024}}

Due to conflicts with both a Bulls and a White Sox game, a CHSN-produced Blackhawks game in April 2025 aired instead on WCIU-TV.{{cite news|url=https://www.wciu.com/articles/watch-the-blackhawks-vs-penguins|title=Watch the Blackhawks vs. the Penguins Tuesday Night on The U|publisher=WCIU|date=April 3, 2025|access-date=April 3, 2025}}

As a result of Comcast's agreement to carry the network, CHSN dropped all of its OTA affiliates within Illinois and some in the neighboring states at midnight on June 9, 2025.{{cite web |author=Channick |first=Robert |date=June 6, 2025 |title=Loss of over-the-air TV leaves some Chicago sports fans frustrated with new CHSN-Comcast deal |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/09/chsn-comcast-deal-ends-free-tv/ |website=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chsn.com/ota-faq-june-6-25|title=CHSN OTA FAQ|publisher=Chicago Sports Network|date=June 6, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} Some of its stations replaced it with Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=Stadium | title=RabbitEars.Info }}

{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=650|frame-align=left|frame-height=400|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Chicago Sports Network}}|text=Grade A signal contours for stations affiliated with Chicago Sports Network.}}{{clear}}

On November 14, 2024, CHSN unveiled its DTC streaming app with pricing set at $19.99 per month for one team or $29.99 per month for full access to the network, including non-team programming. The app also allows eligible pay-TV subscribers to use their pay-TV credentials.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-chicago-sports-network-streaming-service-to-launch-tomorrow |title=RELEASE: Chicago Sports Network Streaming Service to Launch Tomorrow | Chicago Blackhawks |date=November 14, 2024 }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://chsn.com/}}
• [https://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=CHSN RabbitEars OTA List]

{{Major League Baseball on television}}

{{U.S. regional sports networks}}

{{Chicago Blackhawks}}

{{Chicago Bulls}}

{{Chicago White Sox}}

Category:Television stations in Chicago

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2024

Category:Chicago White Sox

Category:Chicago Bulls

Category:Chicago Blackhawks

Category:Sports television networks in the United States

Category:2024 establishments in Illinois