The Media Notepad: Report: New CHSN close to deal with DirecTV

Also: WGN-TV’s Jewell Hilary gets promoted; FCC head rejects Trump ABC license revocation request

Three months after its official announcement, the Sun-Times reported Thursday the new Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is close to a deal with DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and U-Verse. 

This comes as an email was sent to YouTubeTV subscribers (including me) Wednesday stating NBC Sports Chicago – the previous home of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox, will be pulled from the platform at 11:59 p.m. CT on September 30 as the network is shutting down. Some media outlets took this news as the “official announcement” although this was known for months – even acknowledged by NBC Sports Chicago executives when CHSN was made official in June. YouTube TV did not say if it was replacing NBC Sports Chicago with CHSN. 

This is the first announcement of any kind regarding distribution given there are seventeen days until launch. CHSN has not announced any other deals, as Chicago’s two biggest cable and broadband providers (Comcast/Xfinity and Astound -formerly RCN/WOW) are still unsigned. Comcast has been moving numerous RSNs to its higher-priced Ultimate TV tier. 

CHSN also planned to add an over-the-air outlet but so far, no announcements have been made. An article in a sports publication erroneously stated that CHSN was starting an over-the-air station from scratch, which would take years to accomplish given the process of acquiring an FCC license and securing a transmitter and broadcast tower – something that can’t be done in three weeks (if you want to know how the business of TV and radio actually works, you’ve come to the right place.) 

A direct-to-consumer app has yet to be announced, which is important to cord-cutters as viewers are dropping pay TV subscriptions in record numbers. 

The possible DirecTV deal comes as the satellite provider is still beefing with Disney, whose sixteen channels (including ABC-owned stations and ESPN’s family of networks) remain off the platform as the networks were pulled on September 1. Plans to bring back ABC and ESPN just for Monday Night Football and the debates were roundly rejected. Ironically, ads for DirecTV continue to air on ESPN networks. 

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Nexstar-owned CW affiliate WGN-TV announced this week the promotion of Jewell Hillery to co-anchor of the station’s weekend newscasts with Sean Lewis and meteorologist Tim Joyce starting Saturday, September 14. Hillery posted the news on her Facebook account Tuesday.

“It’s good to be home, fulfilling my childhood dream”, said Hillery, who announced the news on Facebook and Twitter/X. “I’m grateful for this new opportunity and I look forward to continue sharing Chicago’s stories as one of your very own!”

Hillery was born in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, going to von Steuben High and Newberry Academy. Hillery attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and an M.A. Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Joining WGN as a general assignment reporter in 2021, Hillery started at WTVO Rockford, then moved to Jackson, Miss. where she worked at NBC affiliate WLBT and ABC affiliate WAPT. She earned several AP awards for her work at WLBT. 

“Jewell is an exemplary journalist, storyteller, and team player”, said WGN news director Dominick Stasi. “As one of Chicago’s Very Own”, she brings the perfect local perspective to our viewers. Her presence and personality are a great fit for WGN Weekend Morning News”. 

Since 2020, WGN-TV has aired five hours of weekend morning news – Saturdays from 7-10 a.m. and Sundays from 7-9 a.m. thanks in part to the FCC reducing the mandated E/I programming from three hours a week to two. WGN rejoined The CW on August 31 after ten years away.

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FCC Chairperson Jessica Rosenwarcel has outright rejected a plea from former President Donald Trump to revoke ABC’s license after he claims of unfair treatment by the moderators of the Presidential Debate Tuesday night, David Muir and Linsey Davis. 

Trump made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday after complaining about being fact-checked after he made false statements about immigrants eating pets in Ohio (yes, really) and the Democratic Party endorsing after-birth abortions. Trump is currently suing ABC News for defamatory statements made during Sunday political show This Week regarding his rape trial. 

ABC does not hold broadcast licenses, but parent company Disney owns eight stations, including WLS-TV Chicago, WABC-TV New York, and KABC-TV Los Angeles. Trump made a similar threat a few years ago against NBC after Saturday Night Live skewed him. 

“The First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Rosenworcel said. “The FCC does not revoke licenses for broadcast stations, simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.” It’s a similar tack Rosenwarcel’s successor Ajit Pai said when it came to Sinclair’s right-wing commentary during its newscasts. 

Currently, the FCC is hearing a license challenge for Fox’s WTXF Philadelphia from a bipartisan collection after the broadcaster was found liable for nearly $800 million for misinformation surrounding the 2020 Presidential campaign, especially when it came to Dominic voting machines, who bought the suit to court. 

Further reading:

Barstool vs. Bernstein. Wait until you find out why this is a feud, and it’s just as absurd as you think. (Sun-Times)