NBC 5 to air Bulls, Blackhawks games in primetime
Experiment consists of four contests in all
In a very rare move, NBC-owned WMAQ-TV announced Wednesday it will air two Bulls games and two Blackhawks games in primetime in November and December.
All four games are being produced by NBC Sports Chicago, who’ll also simulcast each contest and is being streamed (with authentication credentials) on the NBC Sports app to local viewers. The first game airs Friday with the Bulls at home against the Brooklyn Nets, which happens to be the first game in the NBA’s new play-in tournament (so you’ll see the new red floor at the United Center they’re talking about.) The second comes on November 17, when the Bulls take on the Orlando Magic, also at home. WMAQ and NBC Sports Chicago share a corporate parent in NBCUniversal and is run under the NBCUniversal Local Chicago banner, with Telemundo’s WSNS.
Next month, the Blackhawks will have games on NBC 5 December 22 when they play a home game against the Montreal Canadiens and a December 29 road game at the Dallas Stars. Both are on Friday nights.
All four games will have pre and post game shows on NBC 5 and NBC Sports Chicago (with the exception of December 22nd’s post game show, which will only air on NBC Sports Chicago.) This marks the first time since 2019 the Bulls and Blackhawks had a regular season, non-network game on over-the-air television since WGN-TV had the rights.
“We’re very pleased to showcase NBC Sports Chicago’s acclaimed Bulls and Blackhawks game night coverage to new audiences on NBC 5 Chicago,” said Kevin Cross, who is President and General Manager of NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “This unique opportunity also enables us to kick off our NBC 5 primetime viewing weekend with live content featuring two of the nation’s most beloved sports franchises.”
Excluding preseason NFL and WGN during their days with The WB and The CW, primetime pre-emptions in big O&O markets for sporting events are rare; from 2015 to 2019, ABC-owned WLS-TV aired Cubs games with a few in primetime; New York’s WCBS-TV aired Yankees games from 2002 to 2004. In San Francisco, KNTV airs a few San Francisco Giants games in primetime every year, produced by sister channel NBC Sports Bay Area. In San Antonio, CBS affiliate KENS has rights to several Spurs games.
In December 1990, WNBC New York aired an one-off game in primetime featuring the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, produced by MSG Network.
This marks the first time both teams returned to NBC 5 since their parent network lost the rights to both the NBA and NHL – the NBA was on NBC from 1990 to 2002 where the Bulls clinched all six of their titles; and the NHL from 2006 to 2021, where the Blackhawks won three of their Stanley Cups.
This comes as more and more viewers are cord-cutting due to high cable and satellite bills, leaving them without access to games. This also comes as the previous writer’s strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA walkout have left the networks without fresh scripted programming so far this season, relying mostly on reruns and unscripted shows.
Outside of these four games, there are no other plans to simulcast other Bulls and Blackhawks on NBC 5 this season.