Hawks, Bulls, & Sox next TV deal is... in the works

[No Fun Shogun]

Oh boy...

White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks near deal to make Stadium their new TV home

The teams’ contract with rights holder NBC Sports Chicago expires in October, though there’s a possibility that the sides could agree to a six-month extension, in which case Stadium would take over when the Sox begin play next year.

chicago.suntimes.com

As of yet a streaming-only service, as they don't have any agreements with cable providers yet.

This seems like a ball and chain to the Sox and Bulls already, but hopefully the Hawks don't voluntarily join in, too.

Click to read more...

 

[ChiHawks10]

Oh boy...

White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks near deal to make Stadium their new TV home

The teams’ contract with rights holder NBC Sports Chicago expires in October, though there’s a possibility that the sides could agree to a six-month extension, in which case Stadium would take over when the Sox begin play next year.

chicago.suntimes.com

As of yet would a streaming-only service, as they don't have any agreements with cable providers yet.

This seems like a ball and chain to the Sox and Bulls already, but hopefully the Hawks don't voluntarily join in, too.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I am not paying $ to watch Hawks/White Sox on a streaming platform

f*** em

Sick of this streaming BS

If it's not part of my cable, then I am going back to 90's/most of 00's self and listening to many games on radio

 

[No Fun Shogun]

All I know is that as a downstate fan, I’m prepared to get screwed.

 

[Pez68]

I wonder what Reinsdorf is tagging onto this deal for the Blackhawks to have interest? Because without the Blackhawks attached, this will be a colossal failure. How's Marquee network doing?

 

[Drumman44]

We should call it Hawkvision

 

[ChiHawks10]

We should call it Hawkvision

We should call it Reinsdorfcanf***offvision.

 

[hawksrule]

I already have to pay to watch the Blackhawks, so I don’t think this will affect me. That said, I prefer the Blackhawks have no affiliation with Reinsdorf. It’s just bad karma.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I'd imagine it would just take the place of NBCSC.

 

[Drumman44]

I already have to pay to watch the Blackhawks, so I don’t think this will affect me. That said, I prefer the Blackhawks have no affiliation with Reinsdorf. It’s just bad karma.

I mean they already cohabitate a professional sporting arena…

 

[hawksrule]

I mean they already cohabitate a professional sporting arena…

Ha, kind of forgot about that.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Oh boy...

White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks near deal to make Stadium their new TV home

The teams’ contract with rights holder NBC Sports Chicago expires in October, though there’s a possibility that the sides could agree to a six-month extension, in which case Stadium would take over when the Sox begin play next year.

chicago.suntimes.com

As of yet a streaming-only service, as they don't have any agreements with cable providers yet.

This seems like a ball and chain to the Sox and Bulls already, but hopefully the Hawks don't voluntarily join in, too.

Wont miss anything at all not being able to watch the Sox and Bulls for 5+ years not like those dumpsters have any direction anyway

 

[IU Hawks fan]

I mean they already cohabitate a professional sporting arena…

Co-own and co-profit from is more like it. The UC Joint Venture is a very strong bond between the ownership groups. The Wirtz family still owns a very small percentage of the Bulls from when they sold it to Reinsdorf as well.

Safe to say, the Hawks weren't leaving them behind, they're in a happy marriage.

I am not paying $ to watch Hawks/White Sox on a streaming platform

f*** em

Sick of this streaming BS

If it's not part of my cable, then I am going back to 90's/most of 00's self and listening to many games on radio

It might be on free TV.

Stadium, likely next TV home for White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, figures to keep some continuity

Behind-the-scenes folks at NBC Sports Chicago, such as producers, directors and production technicians, would help ease the transition. The teams already have informed some current staffers that they would be making the move.

chicago.suntimes.com

To guarantee wide distribution, Stadium also is seeking over-the-air partners. The NBA’s Jazz and Suns and the NHL’s Golden Knights are off cable and on OTA channels in their markets, an ironic trend in sports television that’s bringing it full circle after its migration to cable.

 

[Pez68]

Co-own and co-profit from is more like it. The UC Joint Venture is a very strong bond between the ownership groups. The Wirtz family still owns a very small percentage of the Bulls from when they sold it to Reinsdorf as well.

Safe to say, the Hawks weren't leaving them behind, they're in a happy marriage.


It might be on free TV.

Stadium, likely next TV home for White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, figures to keep some continuity

Behind-the-scenes folks at NBC Sports Chicago, such as producers, directors and production technicians, would help ease the transition. The teams already have informed some current staffers that they would be making the move.

chicago.suntimes.com

an ironic trend in sports television that’s bringing it full circle after its migration to cable.

^^ This is what I find hilarious about all of this. You mean making it difficult to watch your team is counterproductive??! Billionaires really are pretty f***ing stupid.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

^^ This is what I find hilarious about all of this. You mean making it difficult to watch your team is counterproductive??! Billionaires really are pretty f***ing stupid.

Well, cable is what created much the growth the leagues have seen since the 80s. They've been profiting off the backs of the 80%+ of people who don't watch.

So no, they're not stupid. But now they have to figure out how to keep the money train rolling, now that cable is dying a slow death.

 

[Pez68]

Well, cable is what created much the growth the leagues have seen since the 80s. They've been profiting off the backs of the 80%+ of people who don't watch.

So no, they're not stupid. But now they have to figure out how to keep the money train rolling, now that cable is dying a slow death.

Yes, they certainly ARE stupid at times. The Cubs reached the popularity they did largely because they were on free TV, and nationwide. Cubs viewership is down DRASTICALLY since moving to Marquee network.

Making it difficult to watch your team by requiring premium subscriptions might be profitable in the short term, but long term, you destroy your reach and reduce your fanbase. See: Blackhawks.

Cable isn't dying a slow death, because streaming services are just going to get more and more expensive...

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Anyone got access?

 

[Wally1112pac]

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[bwanajamba]

Standard Media Group in partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox will be the new television broadcast home for all three teams beginning in October, according to an internal document obtained by The Athletic.

The media group is expected to make the network, which is unnamed, available across “multiple platforms,” including over-the-air and carriage agreements with cable and streaming providers.

The new network will not be associated with Stadium, a multi-platform network, which Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf purchased majority control of in 2023.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Well, it'll be a new channel, so I'm assuming a cable bill increase or limited availability due to not being able to negotiate a deal with all carriers, or both.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Well I expect to end up getting screwed here

I can just see many cable providers offering terms akin to what CSN Chicago has gotten and then balking at pay increase and demands

Going to suck when large # of fans end up being left out from watching Bedard

 

[IU Hawks fan]

It was just announced a couple of days ago that The CW would be returning to WGN-9 in September, leaving WCIU-26 after a short time.

Nexstar Will Move The CW Affiliation to WGN Chicago

Network programming will shift from Weigel-owned WCIU effective Sept. 1

www.nexttv.com

“It’s good for us (Weigel/WCIU) and good for the network,“ Weigel vice chairman Neal Sabin said. “We wish them well.”

 

[ray c]

nice deal in canada i get WGN on bell sattelite

 

[x Tame Impala]

So will there be a sort of Chicago Sports streaming app I can download to my smart tv and watch all these games? That would be sick.