Launched Tuesday
The Chicago Sports Network, or CHSN, launched officially at 5 p.m. Tuesday and announced two new distribution deals.
Astound Broadband announced an agreement to carry CHSN, filling a major Chicago distribution hole. Astound is the former RCN and WOW cable systems, serving nearly a million homes in the area. Astound took over the parent company of RCN and purchased WOW!, combining the area’s non-Comcast cable TV homes.
CHSN also announced a deal with Atlanta-based Gray Television for carriage on WSLN Rockford and WNDU South Bend. A sister station to CBS affiliate WIFR, WSLN will carry CHSN on channels 19.3 and 19.4 while continuing to carry CW programming on channel 19.1. In South Bend, CHSN is airing on Channel 16.2 (with an overflow channel on 16.4), pushing Antenna TV to Channel 16.3 while NBC programming remains on Channel 16.1. Notre Dame University once owned WNDU, hence the call letters.
“We know there are a lot of Chicago Sports Fans in Michiana,” said Ron Bartholomew, WNDU Vice President and General Manager. “We’re excited to provide Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox coverage for viewers in our area.” (Michiana is the common name for the South Bend-Elkhart market since it covers Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan.)
The deal adds to CHSN’s over-the-air footprint. In Chicago, the new network is carried by WJYS Channel 62.2 and 62.3 in 720p high-definition, converted from 480p standard definition Monday night. The digital subchannels in Rockford and South Bend will also transmit in 720p. With CHSN getting carriage on the Millennium Technologies-owned independent, there’s no doubt sales of digital TV antennas increased in the Chicago area. Earlier, CHSN struck a carriage deal with DirecTV.
Despite these deals, CHSN still doesn’t have Xifinty (Comcast) on board, the area’s largest cable provider which reaches one million homes, and the former partners of the three teams through the former Comcast SportsNet and the now-shuttered NBC Sports Chicago. Negotiations are ongoing.
CHSN also announced more talent moves with the additions of White Sox pre and post-game host Chuck Garfien, Chicago Tribune sportswriter David Haugh, and Ruthie Polinsky from NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) and three new early evening flagship shows: The Chicago Lead, a nightly show featuring breaking news, analysis, and conversation on Chicago’s sports scene including all pro and collegiate teams; The Big Pro Football Show, mainly on the Chicago Bears and their NFC North foes; and The Big College Football Show, covering the Midwest’s college football teams, anchored by Jake Butt and Joshua Perry. All three shows originate from new studios at the United Center, where the network is based.
More shows will be announced in the future.