The Blackhawks Problem with the Chicago Sports Network
The Chicago Blackhawks have a problem with the transition from NBC Sports Chicago, to the Chicago Sports Network.
Standard Media, the Wirtz Corporation, and Jerry Reinsdorf own the Chicago Sports Network.
The regional sports network is having some issues with its launch, as fans haven't been able to watch Blackhawks games on the CHSN which has been the source of outrage for some time.
Fans have been subject to blackouts as a result of this careless business practice, and the CHSN has yet to seal a deal with a distributor.
However, this has been anything but the case, as fans have had to access the games through not-so-legal measures, such as streaming sites, third-party VPNs, and whatever solution they can find while Danny Wirtz and the front office continue to make little headway in solving this issue.
The major issue keeping their fans from viewing their local RSN is carriage fees, which Comcase/Xfinity doesn't seem to want to negotiate.
According to digiday.com, «Carriage fees are the fees that pay-TV providers pay to TV network owners to carry the network owners' linear TV channels on the providers' cable, satellite or streaming pay-TV services. These fees are sometimes referred to as ''affiliate'' or ''distribution'' fees and annually bring in hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in revenue for TV network owners.»
The CHSN hasn't helped its image during all of this either as they have refused to cave to Comcast/Xfinity's fees, unlike the Marquee Sports Network which carried the Chicago Cubs in 2020.
They're instead outsourcing lobbying to the fans, instead of putting institutional pressure on both of these networks, so fans can watch their team(s).
Who is to blame
The fans have a right to be outraged about the situation, as ownership in all of the sports teams involved have had a chance to ink a deal before the season begins for the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox.
Instead, Danny Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf rested on their laurels and thought a deal would go through instead of examining how the deal with the Cubs went.
Also, since they have adopted a careless attitude, rather than sharing revenue with NBC Universal, and the NHL they will have no revenue for the team and this will place undue pressure on the fans, and players, as they're all on the hook for Escrow.
Reinsdorf and Wirtz have followed Ted Leonsis who has Monumental Sports Network, but have failed to put in the work to seal the deal with Comcast/Xfinity.
