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Why Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Comcast have not yet reached a carriage agreement

Why Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Comcast have not yet reached a carriage agreement

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Comcast have not yet reached an agreement to televise the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox, largely due to a disagreement over the cable package tier the operator would place the new network in.

CHSN launched Oct. 1 after NBC Sports Chicago suspended operations last month. The new company is partly owned by Blackhawks owner Wirtz Corporation and Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Bulls and White Sox.

The network is already broadcast locally over the air and carried by DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, U-verse TV and Astound TV. Still, the lack of a deal with Comcast sparked disappointment and anger among fans online Friday when the Blackhawks’ game against the Winnipeg Jets – the first game shown on CHSN – was not shown on cable television.

According to a source close to the negotiations, the issue of channel placement was a major hurdle in the talks. Cable providers have increasingly moved to offer regional sports networks in premium tiers or packages that cost consumers more. CHSN’s goal is to be available to as many fans as possible, the source said.

CHSN agreed to a reduction in Comcast’s rights fees but was unwilling to accept Comcast’s proposal to place CHSN at the highest tier of cable service, the source said. NBC Sports Chicago, the three teams’ previous broadcast, was on Comcast’s mid-tier.

An email to a Comcast spokesman was not immediately returned Saturday afternoon. A spokesman said Friday that Comcast was still in discussions with CHSN.

On Saturday, the source said CHSN still hopes to strike a carriage deal with Comcast, the main cable television provider in the Chicago market. CHSN is also currently negotiating with Fubo and Hulu, but does not expect distribution on YouTube TV, the source said.

CHSN is also working on a direct-to-consumer app that will be available soon, the source added, but it is not expected to be unveiled to the public until carriage arrangements are finalized.

CHSN is scheduled to broadcast 69 Blackhawks games this regular season, including Saturday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.

Required reading

• Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Comcast have yet to reach an agreement as the first regular season broadcast approaches

(Photo: Jon Greenberg / The athlete)