Chicago Sky heads to WCIU on a full-time basis
WNBA games to be made available for local over-the-air viewers
Weigel Broadcasting independent WCIU and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky announced Thursday a partnership to broadcast all non-network televised games, totaling 30-plus games.
WCIU has been carrying Chicago Sky games for years; for the last three seasons, WCIU shared rights with Marquee Sports Network, a regional sports network run by Sinclair in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs. The new deal with WCIU cuts Marquee out entirely, following a trend of sports teams moving games back to over-the-air and/or streaming platforms, something Dallas’ three sports teams have recently done after the collapse of Bally Sports Southwest as its parent filed for bankruptcy. The New York Liberty struck a similar deal last year with Fox’s local duopoly of WNYW and WWOR, putting all non-network games on over-the-air TV.
“We are thrilled to partner with Weigel to broaden Chicago Sky’s local and regional broadcast coverage and make it easier for fans to find and view games over the air and across WCIU, The U platforms,” said Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox. “We thank Weigel for their incredible support of the Chicago Sky and look forward to partnering with them to bring outstanding Sky content to fans.”
Weigel plans to work with additional broadcast companies to expand the over-the-air presence in the Chicago Sky’s broadcast footprint, including most of Illinois. Sky games could also air on Weigel’s local stations in Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind. though nothing is set now. Last year, WCIU sister station The U Too (WMEU/WCUU) carried South Bend Cubs minor-league games produced by WMYS, a My Network TV affiliate Weigel owns in the market.
“We are delighted to build our relationship with the Chicago Sky,” said Steve Farber, Weigel senior vice president. “Basketball fans in Chicago and throughout the Midwest will be able to watch the WNBA’s best on broadcast television and across viewing platforms.”
Unlike CHSN, which has struggled with getting carriage on Comcast and airing the RSN on a digital subchannel of an ultra-low-rated religious independent station, WCIU (branded as The U) is widely distributed in the Chicago area, on channel 26.1 and carried by all area cable and satellite providers, plus YouTube TV. WCIU (and The U Too) also adds thirty high-school basketball games starting Saturday, including the IHSA Tournament.
WCIU is still adjusting to the loss of CW programming, which returned to WGN-TV last August after a decade away. WCIU shook up its weeknight schedule on January 24, shifting Chicago PD to 8 p.m. and Modern Family to 9 p.m. while downgrading new off-network entries The Conners (to 11 p.m.) and Bob Hearts Abishola (1 a.m., 3:30 a.m.), signaling the Warner Bros.-syndicated Chuck Lorre sitcom is putting up disappointing ratings in off-network syndication. The addition of Sky games should help draw viewers to the station as the team’s popularity continues to rise with new star Angel Reese.
I think the reason that The Conners and Bob hearts Abishola is doing poorly is that, these reruns also is airing on the CW network (WGN-TV) in the Primetime hours as well and its stupid for the CW network airing these shows that it never aired on this network when they were new.
How about WCIU picking up about 80-100 White Sox games,they televised Sox games before.
Over 1 million Chicago residents have Comcast that
A number of them apartments or condos where the only option in Comcast.
I don’t think they should go on the higher tier,more expensive tier of Xfinity for $20 or $30 more s month either.
The one problem…CHSN is already on an over-the-air outlet, albeit one many viewers can’t get. There was speculation CHSN would put some games on WCIU, but went out the window when they put their games on WJYS 62/2/62.3.