Chicago Media Chat Message Forum

Forum Agreement, Terms Of Service Disclaimer

CHSN ratings

Posted by idrawupay <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=idrawupay' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 4, 2025, 9:05 am

Good Morning.
Are there any current ratings for CHSN?
Curious to see if their subscriptions both on Cable and Streaming App ticked up since they took it off OTA.

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 4, 2025, 12:59 pm, in reply to "CHSN ratings"

That’s a great question…But I don’t have the answer you’re likely seeking.

This much I remember. A.C. Nielsen Company was the measuring stick & the service that TV networks used to measure ratings. I don’t think every channel subscribes to Nielsen anymore when it comes to TV ratings.

I don’t even know if CHSN even uses a ratings service themselves, especially when considering not every home has access. I’m not sure if CHSN is even available on certain cable systems, even as their carriage dispute with Xfinity/Comcast is now in the rearview mirror.

I hope that answers your question…Or maybe not.

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by detectivetom <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=detectivetom' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 4, 2025, 3:25 pm, in reply to "Re: CHSN ratings"

Appears the Bulls are off to a hot start, which will help them.

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by idrawupay <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=idrawupay' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 4, 2025, 4:56 pm, in reply to "Re: CHSN ratings"

ABRockNJock.
Thanks, You did answer my question. And I guess the answer is in this current state of things there's really no way to know. I guess the only one's who will get that info are the advertisers.

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 4, 2025, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Re: CHSN ratings"

I guess the only one's who will get that info are the advertisers.

ABRockNJock is correct. They are not under any obligation to release any figures. especially since they are not OTA and competing with others. They offer a niched product and feed advertisers internal data, whatever it is.

Z

Re: CHSN ratings

Truth be told, I wasn't sure how to answer Idrawupay's question. In my initial comment, I wasn't sure myself regarding TV ratings, let alone if a channel even subscribes to a service such as A.C. Nielsen Company like I remember back in the day.

I thought I remember reading that not every channel or network even subscribes to Nielsen, let alone Arbitron for radio ratings anymore. Times have changed and so have viewing & even listening habits for that matter.

I do appreciate the kind words from Idrawupay regarding TV ratings.

Re: CHSN ratings

ABRockNJock, the special "pay for networks" are less or not reliant on ratings to charge for ads. The bad thing is, we have no idea really how successful they are, listeners, how long, age demos, what economic bracket they are in, etc.

Even commercial radio stations are not required to subscribe to Arbitron/Nielsen etc.... Fact, Good Karma Brands aka WMVP-AM, does not use the subscription model ratings to sell ads anymore. They use "internal" data to indicate listenership and demo breakdowns. To them it does not justify paying the subscription fees and can sell their advertisers on their own data. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Z

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by Bilbo <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Bilbo' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 5, 2025, 10:08 am, in reply to "CHSN ratings"

Jeff Agrest from the Sun-Times had an article about the ratings bump CHSN got from finally getting on Comcast, but it's from June:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2025/06/12/chicago-sports-network-comcast-xfinity-white-sox-blackhawks-bulls-mike-mccarthy-jason-coyle-nbc-sports-chicago-marquee-sports-network

The Chicago Tribune's Robert Channick had a more recent update on Oct. 6 with info on CHSN ratings (no info about how many subscribers they have), but it's behind the Trib paywall: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/chicago-sports-network-second-year/

From the article:

"CHSN is already seeing increased viewership with its full pay-TV distribution. From the All-Star Game on July 18 through the end of the season, White Sox ratings were down just 5% from the team's final season on its previous TV home, NBC Sports Chicago, the network said.

That still leaves plenty of upside, however. Last year, when the White Sox lost a record 121 games, the TV audience on NBC Sports Chicago averasged a paltry 0.7 rating, according to Nielsen data."

Re: CHSN ratings

That’s very interesting. Even if the 2 stories are now dated, for lack of a better word, regarding CHSN’s ratings.

One would hope that the Bulls’ surprisingly good start in this very young NBA regular season will ultimately lead to a ratings bump for CHSN in its second season airing the bulk of Bulls & Blackhawks’ games.

At the end of the day, it’s all about getting as many eyeballs as possible.

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by WBUS999 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WBUS999' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 6, 2025, 10:11 am, in reply to "CHSN ratings"

I can tell you the CHSN ratings for recent Bulls games is between a 1 and 2 rating. Blackhawks on Monday were just under a 1 rating.

Re: CHSN ratings

Hi WBUS999. Source? Seriously, want to learn. Thanks.

Z

Re: CHSN ratings

I'm in the industry and that's as much as I'll say.

Re: CHSN ratings

LOL. You don't come on here and state something as fact and your source is "I'm in the industry and that's as much as I'll say.". I was not asking you to lose your job listing actual numbers, if you actually are in the industry. But, explaining to the plebes what/how metrics are being used to source numbers and educating people is not unexpected nor unreasonable.

Z

Re: CHSN ratings

What I posted were the Nielsen overall (all ages) Chicago market numbers (without posting the exact numbers).

Sorry I can't provide you a source. It's up to you if you choose to believe them.

Have a great day!

Re: CHSN ratings

Posted by WKDI <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WKDI' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 7, 2025, 4:28 pm, in reply to "Re: CHSN ratings"

It's okay to post opinions on this board
However. I believe the community rules stipulates that statements presented as fact that isn't necessarily common knowledge must be sourced either with a link or credit given to the source where it came from. That gives others a chance to verify and keeps this community credible. People have been deactivated for not following the protocol. Thee are others in the industry on this forum that follow protocol.

Re: CHSN ratings

WBUS999 all good! I did not believe they were subscribed to the Nielsen numbers. I honestly appreciate your reply and clarifying it. 🙇🏻‍♂️

Z

« Back to index

185

[ Chicago Media Chat Message Forum ]