New sports television network begins Tuesday in Chicago
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"The Chicago Lead" will broadcast daily on the new Chicago Sports Network. Logo: Courtesy of Chicago Sports Network
The new Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) debuts Tuesday, but most Chicagoans won't have access to it.
Why it matters: The network, which will be available on DirecTV and two digital channels accessible by antenna, will broadcast Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox games and provide analysis programming.
- CHSN has yet to strike a deal with Xfinity, leaving it off of the largest cable provider in the area.
Between the lines: The Wirtz and Reinsdorf families, which own the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox, will own and operate the network, which goes on the air at 5pm Tuesday.
- It replaces NBC Sports Chicago, which ended its broadcasts Monday after 20 years (it started as Comcast SportsNet Chicago in 2004). The teams and NBC couldn't agree on a new contract.
Flashback: The The Wirtz and Reinsdorf families have always had a stake in local sports television. Before NBC Sports Chicago, the channel was originally known as SportsChannel, the first regional sports network in Chicago when it launched in 1981. It was also co-owned by the two families.
The intrigue: The network believes it will secure more cable partnerships before live sports returns this month when both the Bulls and Blackhawks seasons begin. It currently does not have an app for streaming.
Zoom in: The network will launch with a network preview show hosted by Bulls play-by-play announcer Adam Amin, followed by a Blackhawks preseason game. The network also announced three shows to start this week:
- "The Chicago Lead" will be the network's nightly "cornerstone" studio show, airing weeknights at 6pm. The show, starring Brooke Fletcher, Camron Smith and David Haugh, will provide highlights and analysis of all Chicago sports.
- "The Big College Football Show" will air weeknights at 5pm and be hosted by former Michigan Wolverines star Jake Butt and former Ohio State Buckeyes standout Joshua Perry.
- "The Big Pro Football Show" will air at 5:30pm, hosted by Haugh, Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor.
- The network says it will announce more programming as the week unfolds. The plan is to be a 24/7 sports network.
What they're saying: "When we developed these shows, it was most important to us to create a vehicle to serve and connect with Chicago sports fans in a new and compelling way," CHSN president Jason Coyle said in a statement.
- "We're also building out a multi-platform approach and interactive fan platform that will be introduced in the months ahead."
State of play: The pre- and postgame shows for the 'Hawks and Bulls will be hosted by familiar faces such Amin, Stacey King, Jason Goff, Kendall Gill and Pat Boyle, who hosted broadcasts on NBC Sports Chicago but were employed by the teams.
Yes, but: Not every NBC Sports Chicago employee moved to the new network. The popular unofficial Bears postgame show hosted by Laurence Holmes ceased earlier last month.
- The Cubs started their own network in 2020, and the Bears have a deal to do official pre- and postgame shows with Fox Chicago.
The big picture: The move comes at a time when regional sports networks are struggling around the country. Diamond Sports Group, which broadcasts 14 MLB teams, filed for bankruptcy last year and is reportedly still hemorrhaging money.
- CHSN will utilize existing studio spaces at the United Center and Guaranteed Rate Field.
What's next: The 'Hawks first regular season game is Oct. 8.