Posted by ABRockNJock on October 10, 2024, 2:12 pm
By now, you've probably seen or heard the commercials for the new Chicago Sports Network. It's the new TV home for the Bulls & Blackhawks now, and the White Sox will join the lineup next year. However, not everyone has access, regardless if it's WJYS 62.2 & 62.3 digitally or on cable...And that's part of the problem.
While I'm fortunate to have CHSN on BOTH regular TV & on DIRECTV 665, the same home as predecessor NBC Sports Chicago, distribution of the new CHSN is a different story entirely. The new network is available on DIRECTV, as well as DIRECTV Stream, AT&T U-Verse & Astound/RCN. It is still NOT available on Comcast/Xfinity, the city's largest cable system. It's also unclear if the channel will eventually find its way to Fubo TV, Hulu or The Roku Channel among the other streaming service providers.
As of this thread, it's unclear if the network & Xfinity will reach a carriage deal ahead of Friday's CHSN regular season debut between the Chicago Blackhawks & Winnipeg Jets.
The Sun-Times' Jeff Agrest has even more on what appears to be issues over cost & where Xfinity might place CHSN. These issues, if you can also get through the paywall, can be found here:
Some news has now surfaced regarding what's holding things up between CHSN & Comcast/Xfinity.
At issue now, per a Saturday report in The Athletic, CHSN is seeking "to be available in as many homes as possible" and supposedly want to be on Xfinity's highest tier. It's a far cry from where NBC Sports Chicago was on the cable system's tier.
There's now talk about CHSN negotiating with Fubo and Hulu, 2 of the largest streaming services in the country. So far, Bulls' fans have missed 2 NBA Preseason games vs Cleveland & Memphis while Blackhawks' fans have missed out on NHL early regular season games in Winnipeg & Edmonton.
I know this isn't the point of this thread but... until CHSN and the cable companies/Streamers get together a simple indoor antenna available at most big box stores should tide most people over so they don't have to miss any games. I'm 40 miles from Chicago using a $35.00 antenna from a Big Box hardware store bolted to an old Satellite dish bracket and I'm getting CHSN crystal clear.
Re: So What's Holding Things Up With CHSN & Xfinity?
Ron Gleason, who was the first voiceover at 670 AM The SCORE when WSCR was a "sunrise to sunset"station at 820 AM dating all the way back to 1992 when the station first launched once said, "Your audience is always changing."
The old fashioned antenna, or "rabbit ears" as it's been referred, costs as low as $10 at many hardware stores. I'm glad you are able to tune into the new CHSN crystal clear.
I'm actually one of the lucky ones that has what's called a "smart TV" by way of my TV manufacturer TCL. I have one of those TVs in which I can watch CHSN on either 62.2 or 62.3 over the air or watch on DIRECTV 665 where NBC Sports Chicago used to be. The best of both worlds? Perhaps.
I think for most fans, it's an inconvenience more than anything. I also wonder if we are creatures of habit and reluctant to adjust to the changing TV landscape. Those are the impressions I'm getting.
At the same time, I maintain that CHSN is behind the 8 ball in part because they not only took their own sweet time in announcing the new network, but I think they are also behind schedule regarding distribution, promotion, programming & on air talent. Not everyone from NBCSC followed the Bulls, Blackhawks & White Sox to their new TV home. Worse, all 3 of those teams being bad doesn't exactly help either.
Re: So What's Holding Things Up With CHSN & Xfinity?
Blackhawks' Chairman Danny Wirtz understands fans' angst towards CHSN just 2 weeks into the channel's existence.
He told Sun-Times' Hawks writer Ben Pope how frustrating it's been regarding the lack of a carriage deal with Comcast/Xfinity and other cable systems in the Chicago area prior to last night's Hawks/Flames' game in Calgary. It's very unlikely that a deal between CHSN & Xfinity will be made in time for tomorrow night's home opener vs San Jose at United Center.
Wirtz shares his frustration, if you can also get through the paywall, in this link. Check it out:
on October 10, 2024, 2:12 pm