I know YouTube TV customers are worried about not getting CHSN, and honestly this isn't going to help those worries. I'd get an antenna asap and here's why:
There are 9 teams by my count (not including the Stars of the NHL because they're going to a free streaming service not broadcast on TV) who have or are moving to an OTA channel. Of those 9, only one channel that l've been able to confirm will show all of the locally broadcast games for this season: that channel being FOX
11 Plus/KCOP 13 for the Anaheim Ducks
I put a X for channels YouTube TV doesn't have, and a for those they do.
You see the Mavericks, Kraken and Golden Knights have one of their channels that is currently on YouTube TV. The issue is those channels will NOT be showing all the locally televised games, only simulcasting a select few per season (the number is usually 15 or so), so just having those channels isn't enough. Since those channels are the main ABC and NBC affiliates in their respective region, most of the time they'll only be good for pre and post game shows—if that.
I bring this up because it relates to Chicagoans who have YouTube TV, which I had but just cancelled in favor of an antenna.
The way CHSN is being done is not like what most other channels are doing, where the team is broadcasting their games on a local sub channel that also shows news and other shows throughout the day-no. CHSN is technically a regional sports network that just happens to be on free OTA TV that's permanently taking over subchannels currently broadcasting jewelry.
I bring all this up to say while it's not out of the realm of possibility that this ends up on YouTube TV, especially since this is technically a regional sports network, it doesn't seem likely with their track record of removing channels that become sports channels (WSFL 39 for the Panthers for example was just removed from YTTV recently), or never adding newer channels like Vegas 34 and Utah 16. You might be better off getting an antenna right now
before October 1st.
Sorry for all the posts about this, I'm just very knowledgeable about this sort of stuff and I want to clear up any confusion, especially since I was planning on keeping YouTube TV as well until it was confirmed we can get the channel for free.
14 comments
I can’t see how YTTV is not going to pick this channel up since we are already paying for NBCS Chicago and their carriage fees. Unless the carriage fees for the new station is > than NBCS Chicago is should be a simple swap and no change to the bill.
I’m totally going to get screwed being a youtube tv customer in Eastern Iowa, aren’t I?
Not getting a friggin antenna. Screw these guys. I’m not going to renew my partial season ticket plan next year if games aren’t available in a similar way to NBC Sports Chicago.
I’m on YouTubeTV and definitely not feeling optimistic about getting the channel.
Was arguing with people about this yesterday because a lot of folks don’t seem to grasp how these situations play out. There has been a huge lack of information about this channel so far with the only PR being about how it’s “Free over the air” which is just their way of getting some positive press about the channel while also setting themselves up with a nice bargaining chip for when they go to streaming services and attempt to sell their channel rights.
They’re going to go to services such as YTTV/Hulu/Comcast and say “Hey, we want X amount of money for the rights to our channel – and if we can’t work something out, then you’re risking customers dropping your service in favor of getting the broadcast OTA for free”.
Once that happens, a service such as Comcast folds and agrees to pay for hosting rights to said-channel. They then pay Chicago Sports Network whatever their fee is, and then turn and add extra fees on to their customer’s bills in the form of a “Regional Sports fee” that they aren’t able to opt-out of. So even though the customer COULD buy a $20 antenna to get the free stream, they’re now technically paying for the channel via their provider(Comcast in this scenario) adding fees to their bill to help offset what Comcast paid for the streaming rights.
The above scenario is literally what happened with Marquee Network once Comcast finally caved and agreed to purchasing the rights to stream it as part of their cable package.
There are a lot of people that are genuinely going to benefit from the games being free OTA and I couldn’t be more happy for those folks. I just hope the rest of us are educated and aware enough to know that while the games being free OTA for everybody is a positive, we’re all likely to a pay a price to watch these games whether we agree to it or not(unless folks totally ditch paying for cable/streaming altogether, that is).
Remember – the Chicago Sports Network was created to maximize profits for the teams/owners involved.
Edit: Something I want to make clear because I don’t think it comes across in my above comments – free OTA broadcasts are a good thing and give more accessibility to people trying to access Blackhawks/Bulls/Sox games. My point is please be aware that somebody is ALWAYS paying for this sort of thing and it’s ALWAYS going to be the customers.
I moved into my house 8 years ago and had to do some rewiring. At that time I repurposed/reran the cable coax so it would be ready to hook up an antenna. For whatever reason I haven’t actually needed/wanted an antenna since that point.
I just ordered the antenna and inline amplifier.
This whole thing sucks but I completely expected it.
If this was a Blackhawks only station, I would be worried. But they also have the Bulls and Sox, and we’re in the 3rd largest media market. It may not be live on YTTV for Game1 of the season, but I would be surprised if it is not eventually added.
I’m out of the loop, and can’t get a straight answer.
I’m out of market in Missouri. How will I be able to watch all the ALL the Hawks game this year without having to sail the high seas
I’m very confused by all of this. I have Hulu Live which has NBC Sports Chicago. I am understanding that Hawks games won’t be on that channel anymore. But will Hulu Live have whatever channel they’re going to?
Alright, can someone please ELI5. I’m not in the regional area and paid for ESPN+ to watch last year. I was able to watch nearly every game that wasn’t nationally broadcasted. Will my current ESPN+ subscription still allow me to watch the games on CHSN using ESPN+?
As a consumer who ditched providers at the start of covid and just never went back, I am pleased that they’re swinging back to OTA. I’ve been missing far too much MNF and College football championship games, too. Their loss has surely been my local tavern’s gain, and it was nice to get back to hockey on the radio. I haven’t had to listen there since the home blackouts ended. I have to wonder how long they’ll stay on Free TV, though.
So far I’ve bought and tried two antennas and neither worked. Looks like I’ll be illegally streaming and my dad will just not watch games anymore. So fucking stupid
Will the OTA broadcast reach as far as where I am in Indianapolis? Never used an antenna before lol
hmm maybe its time to get antenna?