Chicago Sports Network

What Chicago Sports Network does

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), operating through legal entity Chicago Sports Broadcasting LLC, is a regional sports network launched in 2024 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company holds exclusive regional broadcast rights for the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), and Chicago White Sox (MLB), and distributes live game coverage plus behind-the-scenes and special event content (such as the Ozzie Guillen jersey retirement ceremony) to Chicago sports fans across the Midwest and broader U.S. regional footprint.

CHSN's core product is a direct-to-consumer streaming platform accessible via web, mobile applications, and connected TV devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV). The technology stack supports live game streaming, on-demand video, alternative multi-camera feeds (including a 'Front Row Seat' viewing mode), team-specific content pages, and an interactive game schedule. The platform supports TV-provider credential authentication, allowing cable or satellite subscribers to access All Access content at no incremental cost. CHSN+ serves as a premium subscription tier offering additional live feeds. Underlying platform technology is delivered by ViewLift (based on asset CDN domain references such as chsn.asset.viewlift.com), indicating a managed OTT infrastructure rather than fully proprietary stack.

The business model combines three recurring revenue streams: DTC subscription revenue (All Access Plan and Single-Team plans on monthly billing), pay-TV carriage fees from distributors such as Comcast (where CHSN was moved to a higher-priced tier in June 2024), and over-the-air simulcast sponsorship/advertising integration through the Weigel Broadcasting/WCIU-Ch. 26 partnership covering 10 White Sox games annually. Go-to-market is self-serve PLG through the chsn.com platform, supplemented by team-partnership-driven earned media and special event programming. Customer segments are split between cord-cutting individual fans (DTC), pay-TV subscribers accessing via Comcast, and free over-the-air viewers in the Chicago broadcast area.

Name

Chicago Sports Network

Legal name

Chicago Sports Broadcasting LLC

Website

https://chsn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chicago Sports Network is a Chicago-based regional sports network streaming live Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox games directly to fans via web, mobile, pay-TV carriage, and over-the-air broadcast through partnerships with Comcast and Weigel Broadcasting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Sports Network

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Cable Networks (MPABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAF)

Keywords

• Regional sports network
• Sports streaming service
• Live sports broadcasting
• Direct-to-consumer streaming
• Chicago sports coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Subscription: CHSN generates subscription revenue through its All Access Plan (full network access) and Single-Team plans, targeting individual Chicago sports fans who want to cut the cord on traditional cable. This is the primary revenue stream for the network.
2. TV Provider Carriage Fees: CHSN earns carriage fees from pay-TV distributors such as Comcast, where the network was moved to a higher-priced tier following a carriage agreement, generating recurring distribution revenue from bundled subscribers.
3. Over-the-Air Simulcast Sponsorship: Through its partnership with Weigel Broadcasting, CHSN simulcasts games on over-the-air WCIU-Ch. 26, which may include behind-the-scenes content and sponsorship integration as part of the agreement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chicago Sports Network is a regional sports streaming network that delivers live and on-demand coverage of Chicago's three major professional sports franchises—the NHL Blackhawks, NBA Bulls, and MLB White Sox. The platform offers subscription-based access via an All Access Plan or Single-Team plans, complemented by TV provider authentication and an over-the-air simulcast on WCIU-Ch. 26 through a partnership with Weigel Broadcasting. The service includes alternative multi-camera feeds, behind-the-scenes content, and special event programming such as jersey retirement ceremonies.

Product overview

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is a sports streaming platform launched in 2024 as a regional sports network covering Chicago's three major professional sports teams: the Blackhawks (NHL), Bulls (NBA), and White Sox (MLB). The core offering consists of live game streaming via the CHSN platform, supplemented by a premium CHSN+ tier for additional live feeds. The platform provides team-specific content pages, an interactive game schedule, and innovative multi-camera viewing options such as the Front Row Seat feature. Users can access content through subscription plans or TV provider authentication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHSN+: Premium subscription service offering live feeds and additional content

Products and services

• Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) A regional sports streaming network providing live coverage of Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), and Chicago White Sox (MLB) games, accessible via subscription or TV provider authentication across web, mobile, and connected TV devices. Targeted at Chicago sports fans who want direct-to-consumer access without a traditional cable subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blackhawks viewership tripled on CHSN following the Comcast carriage agreement

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Weigel Broadcasting / WCIU-TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026CHSN partnered with Weigel Broadcasting to simulcast 10 White Sox games over-the-air on WCIU-Ch. 26, including crosstown matchups against the Cubs and games versus the Dodgers and Yankees. The simulcasts run from May through September and include behind-the-scenes content. This partnership addresses the need for free over-the-air broadcast options for diehard fans after CHSN moved to a higher-priced tier on pay-TV.
• ComcastcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2025CHSN reached a carriage agreement with Comcast, moving the network to a higher-priced tier on the cable platform. This agreement significantly expanded CHSN's reach to traditional pay-TV subscribers and is credited with tripling the Chicago Blackhawks' viewership on the network.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marquee Sports Network: Regional sports network covering the Chicago Cubs (MLB) and other Chicago sports content. Operates with a similar model — cable/satellite carriage plus a DTC streaming option (Marquee+) — and serves the same Chicago fan base with team-specific exclusive rights.
• YES Network: Regional sports network providing exclusive coverage of the New York Yankees (MLB), Brooklyn Nets (NBA), and New York City FC (MLS). Operates a regional RSN model with cable carriage and YES App streaming that closely mirrors CHSN's distribution structure.
• NESN (New England Sports Network): Regional sports network covering the Boston Red Sox (MLB) and Boston Bruins (NHL) — a two-team regional model analogous to CHSN's multi-team Chicago offering. Operates cable carriage alongside a NESN 360 DTC streaming product.
• MSG Network: Regional sports network covering the New York Knicks (NBA), New York Rangers (NHL), and other MSG properties. CHSN explicitly co-presented with MSG Networks at the 2024 SVG Summit, and both operate exclusive-rights regional sports broadcasting with streaming options.
• Altitude Sports: Regional sports network serving the Denver market with Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and other Denver-area team coverage. Faces the same RSN carriage and cord-cutting headwinds as CHSN while operating a similar regional-exclusive-rights model.

Broad incumbents

• NBC Sports Regional Networks: Former Comcast SportsNet regional sports networks covering multiple U.S. markets with linear sports rights and integrated streaming. A scaled incumbent RSN operator with overlapping capabilities to CHSN but a broader multi-market portfolio.
• ESPN+: Disney's flagship DTC sports streaming service carrying MLB, NHL, UFC, college, and international sports. Competes with CHSN for sports streaming subscribers and increasingly acquires rights that overlap with regional sports content.

Emerging players

• FanDuel TV: Sports-focused streaming service with live events, original programming, and sports betting integration. Represents a newer, DTC-first sports content model that competes for the same cord-cutting sports fans CHSN targets.

Regional players

• Sportsnet (Rogers): Canadian regional sports network holding rights to Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) and other Canadian sports properties. Comparable regional sports broadcasting business model and streaming platform structure, but operating in a different (Canadian) geography.

Others

• MLB.TV: MLB's official out-of-market streaming service carrying every team nationally. Serves as a partial substitute for in-market fans seeking Chicago White Sox games and represents an adjacent league-owned DTC competitor in the same content category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHSN__
• Facebookfacebook.com/chsn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-sports-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Sports Network