NBC Sports Chicago

NBC Sports Chicago
CountryUnited States
Broadcast area
NetworkNBC Sports Regional Networks
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
Owner
Sister channels
History
LaunchedOctober 1, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-10-01)
ReplacedFox Sports Net Chicago
ClosedSeptember 30, 2024; 56 days ago (2024-09-30)
Replaced byChicago Sports Network
Former namesComcast SportsNet Chicago (2004–2017)
Links
Websitewww.nbcsports.com/chicago
Availability
Streaming media
DirecTV StreamInternet Protocol television
YouTubeTVInternet Protocol television
Hulu LiveInternet Protocol television
FuboTVInternet Protocol television

NBC Sports Chicago (formerly Comcast SportsNet Chicago) was an American regional sports network that broadcast regional coverage of professional sports teams in the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as college sports events and original sports-related news, discussion and entertainment programming. It was branded as part of the NBC Sports Regional Networks. The channel ceased operations on September 30, 2024.

NBC Sports Chicago was owned by a consortium of Comcast (which owns 25% through the NBC Sports Group unit of NBCUniversal), Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf (who owns a 50% majority interest), and the Wirtz Corporation, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks (which owns 25%). The Chicago Cubs, through the Tribune Company and later the family of J. Joseph Ricketts, formerly owned a 20% stake in the network from its launch until the Cubs ended their broadcasts on the network after the end of the 2019 season, with that percentage distributed to the remaining partners after that point.

In May 2024, the Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox decided to move to a new network, named Chicago Sports Network, run by Standard Media Group, effective October 1, 2024 start of the fall sports season. After NBC Sports Chicago ended broadcasting operations, most of its channel positions, social media presences and existing followers, transferred to CHSN. Several NBCSN on-air personalities were hired by CHSN as well. [1][2]

The network's main studios and offices were located at 350 North Orleans Street, inside the River North Point Center in the Near North Side area. The channel was available on cable and fiber optic television providers in most of Illinois, and throughout northwest Indiana, Iowa, Kenosha County, Wisconsin and southwest Michigan and nationwide on satellite provider DirecTV.

  1. ^ Bouma, Luke (11 Sep 2024). "End of an Era: NBC Sports Chicago is Shutting Down, Chicago Sports Network to Debut on Streaming Platforms". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 23 Sep 2024.
  2. ^ "After Sept. 30, NBC Sports Chicago followers will receive content from the new Chicago Sports Network". Twitter. @nbcschicago Twitter account. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.