Chicago Sports Network President Says He’s Ready to Make a Deal with Comcast, But it is Refusing
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Main Takeaways
* Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) president Jason Coyle has made two offers to Comcast/Xfinity, but has received no offers in return.
* Coyle claims that CHSN has made significant concessions to Comcast, including a “significant” free reduction in what Comcast previously paid NBC Sports Chicago.
* CHSN is willing to make further concessions to ensure that more people can watch its content, but Comcast has not made any counter-offers.
Background
Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is the new TV home of the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox. The network is currently available to viewers in Illinois and surrounding states through various cable and streaming services, as well as through an over-the-air antenna in certain cities.
Latest Developments
CHSN’s latest offer to Comcast/Xfinity proposed a “significant” free reduction in what Comcast previously paid NBC Sports Chicago. Despite this, Comcast has not made any counter-offers, leading CHSN president Jason Coyle to question the cable provider’s commitment to carrying the network.
“We are willing, in order to ensure more people can watch, to take less money,” Coyle said. “They’ve given us zero offers to say ‘yes’ to.”
CHSN’s Plan B
CHSN has built a direct-to-consumer app similar to Marquee Sports Network’s app, which would allow customers to pay a monthly fee to watch the channel independently of any TV carrier or streaming service. However, the network is choosing not to release the app for now, as it believes doing so would reduce the likelihood of a deal with Comcast.
“This is a significant potential partnership and one that our fans and their customers do want,” Coyle said. “We did not want to miss any of the games, and we don’t want to miss any further games, but we’re trying to look at this longer-term as we reset and expand this reach.”
Impact on Fans and the Hawks
The lack of a deal between CHSN and Comcast is already affecting the Chicago Blackhawks, who have missed their fifth consecutive game, and the Chicago Bulls, who will begin missing regular-season games starting with their opener against the Pelicans. Coyle hopes the start of the NBA season will increase pressure on Comcast to begin carrying CHSN, but the network has not set a hard deadline for negotiations.
“I don’t know that we’re ready to draw a line in the sand,” Coyle said. “I’d love to just see where they are. We are ready to move fast. We are already out there at a significant discount. We are not being greedy. We just want to give the fans the games that they want, and we don’t want them to have to pay more than they used to, and we don’t want them to have less access than they used to.”
Conclusion
As the standoff between CHSN and Comcast continues, fans of the Blackhawks and Bulls are left wondering when they will be able to watch their teams play again. With the network willing to make concessions and the Hawks suffering negative effects from the lack of a deal, it remains to be seen what the future holds for this partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: What is the current status of the negotiations between CHSN and Comcast?
A: CHSN president Jason Coyle has made two offers to Comcast, but has received no offers in return.
* Q: What are the consequences of not having a deal between CHSN and Comcast?
A: The lack of a deal is already affecting the Chicago Blackhawks, who have missed their fifth consecutive game, and the Chicago Bulls, who will begin missing regular-season games starting with their opener against the Pelicans.
* Q: Will CHSN release its direct-to-consumer app?
A: CHSN has built the app, but is choosing not to release it for now, believing it would reduce the likelihood of a deal with Comcast.
* Q: Is there a deadline for the negotiations?
A: CHSN has not set a hard deadline for negotiations with Comcast, but hopes the start of the NBA season will increase pressure to begin carrying the network.
