Now at the time of writing this I can’t find any mention of a streaming app on CHSNs website or recent articles, but I know for a fact I saw it announced somewhere that it would come at launch—I just can’t remember what site.
We are 13 days away from the launch of this new network, this will be the final post clearing up some concerns about CHSN.
Firstly, the broadcast territory will NOT change. I actually found this last picture from a new video on CHSNs YouTube channel where they quietly showed the territory they’ll be broadcasting in, and it’s literally the same as NBC Sports Chicago. If you could watch before from where you are, you still can now.
It actually looks like our territory has expanded, as NBC Sports only had Northwest Indiana according to wiki, and this map seems to indicate that all of Indiana will have access to it. Huge if true!
Now for the app, which I can’t find in recent articles but I know I did see it mentioned somewhere. I know there are concerns for those who live in a OTA deadzone, or just don’t want to get an antenna.
This is just me assuming since this is an over the air channel, but Victory+, the new streaming service for the Ducks and Stars, are showing their games completely for free over the app if you live in the Ducks home region or Stars home region, which I showed in the first two pics.
Assuming CHSN has an app, and I’d be shocked if they don’t, it should work the same way and you can watch without an antenna and no need for YouTube TV, whether you’re from Ottawa, IL or Ames, IA.
Overall, I want people to understand that this is a GOOD thing. Being able to watch your teams for free is a GOOD thing. I hope people understand this all at least a little better now after all these posts, I wish CHSN was a little more transparent, but that’s why I’m here.
Note: I do NOT work for CHSN or have any insider knowledge. I’m just a huge nerd when it comes to things like this and I know how they work, so I want to help my fellow Chicago sports fans before the season starts.
(Also sorry for all the posts about this, completely understand if it gets taken down)
by alexsolren
2 Comments
I’d say fans are in way better shape than even five or ten years ago. There’s no cable television partner incentivized to keep subscription requirements going. There are negotiations with different streamers, but you can change those. It’s all good.
There’s a very important difference between the Blackhawks’ set-up and the Stars (and halfway between are the Ducks):
* The Dallas Stars signed a deal with A Parent Media Co., Inc. to create a streaming network. This is not a TV channel and currently there’s no plan to air Stars games on TV, OTA or otherwise.
* The Ducks, on the other hand, signed a deal with the same company to stream their games, while at the same time signing a deal with KCOP-TV (a Fox affiliate) to air their games OTA. (So both are technically free options, in which the Ducks don’t have an ownership stake in either.)
* The Blackhawks are part of the ownership group of a new OTA channel named CHSN. CHSN is currently working on carriage deals with TV providers. Because of this, I am not expecting there to be a free streaming option like the Stars/Ducks. There will, however, probably be a paid streaming option like Marquee has.
In terms of coverage, until we see more OTA affiliates announced, that coverage map seems like their dream scenario, rather than confirmed. Keep in mind that out of market fans could already subscribe to ESPN+ to watch the Blackhawks, so this could end up worse for them, because it could end up being they’re in-market (if only they could get an antenna with a 300 mile range) with no option to watch.