Chicago Sports Network Goes Direct with Fans

The Chicago Sports Network is rolling out a direct-to-consumer streaming service this week. This comes as negotiations with Comcast stall, leaving many fans unable to watch their favorite teams, like the Bulls and Blackhawks. For $19. 99 a month, fans can watch games and sports shows on their computers, phones, and soon, TVs. This new service is great news for season ticket holders who will get free access for the rest of the season. Other teams have also started these services, like the Cubs' Marquee Sports Network. The Chicago Sports Network was supposed to launch this later, but the delay with Comcast sped things up. This is a big deal for over a million Comcast subscribers in Chicago who have been without sports since last month. The new network, called CHSN, is a joint venture between the Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Standard Media. They quickly got deals with some pay-TV providers and free broadcasts on local TV stations. They even added the streaming service FuboTV. But Comcast, the biggest pay-TV provider in Chicago, is still holding out. They want the new sports network to move to a pricier package but aren't offering much money. Traditional pay TV is losing viewers to digital streaming services like FuboTV and direct-to-consumer apps. This trend will keep growing as more people cut their cable cords. For example, Diamond Sports Group just announced that FanDuel Sports Network will be available on Amazon's Prime Video. The new streaming service from CHSN won't replace the lost Comcast viewers entirely, but it's an important part of how sports are now being watched. Even with the Bears struggling, Chicago sports fans might be interested in watching the Bulls and Blackhawks on this new service. One Chicago fan, David Perlman, was frustrated because he couldn't get the new network with his antenna or FuboTV. But he might change his mind if he can get the new streaming service for just $20 a month.