Chicago Sports Network
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Chicago Sports Network

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is an American regional sports network owned by Standard Media, the Wirtz Corporation, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox franchises. It launched after the teams' contracts with NBC Sports Chicago expired on October 1, 2024.

The network is distributed via multiple platforms, including via subchannels of broadcast television stations within its teams' broadcast regions, agreements with pay television providers, and a direct-to-consumer app.

In 2004, Jerry Reinsdorf, Bill Wirtz, and the Tribune Company—the owners of the Bulls and White Sox, Blackhawks, and Cubs respectively—formed a new regional sports network with Comcast known as Comcast SportsNet Chicago (later named NBC Sports Chicago). The network was jointly owned by the four teams, while Comcast held a 30% stake and handle operations. The Cubs departed the network after 2019, forming Marquee with Sinclair Broadcast Group as the exclusive broadcaster of all regional Cubs games; that same year, NBC Sports Chicago signed a five-year extension with the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox, making it the exclusive home of all three teams through the end of the 2023–24 season.

In April 2024, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the three teams were in negotiations with Stadium to assume their regional rights after the conclusion of their contract with NBC Sports Chicago. Stadium is owned by the White Sox's investment arm Silver Chalice and had previously been a joint venture with Sinclair until they sold their stake in 2023. In May 2024, The Athletic subsequently reported an agreement with Standard Media that would involve a newly launched multi-platform regional sports network; the Sun-Times later reported that Standard Media would primarily serve as a funding and distribution partner and that Stadium was to serve as the teams' new home.

On June 3, 2024, the three teams and Standard Media officially announced Chicago Sports Network, led by former Stadium CEO Jason Coyle. Unlike most regional sports networks, Chicago Sports Network is available over-the-air and through pay-TV and streaming services. Social media accounts used by NBC Sports Chicago transitioned to being operated by Chicago Sports Network at the end of September 2024.

Chicago Sports Network holds the regional television rights to the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the NBA G League's Windy City Bulls. The network produces its pre-game and post-game shows in studios in the United Center and Rate Field.

Chicago Sports Network's flagship program is The Chicago Lead, a daily sports program covering all Chicago sports teams including local college and high school sports. In addition, the network also airs The Big College Football Show and The Big Pro Football Show, focusing on college football and the National Football League, respectively.

The network's common motif is using the six-pointed star and colors of Chicago's municipal flag within its graphical elements. The network attempted to switch to placing the Chicago team's score first within its debut game graphics (traditionally reserved for the visiting team in order to place 'Chicago's teams first', as was described on-air), but was switched back to the traditional visitor/home presentation after viewer feedback (and derision, especially when the Chicago team was behind and losing); the scoreboard, presented vertically in the top-left corner and obstructing the left basket, was also switched to a traditional bottom-right bug.

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