caulfield12 Posted Tuesday at 08:00 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 08:00 AM (edited) Going live on Comcast Friday may have already given CHSN a boost in ratings. Sources said Friday’s primetime audience for the Sox-Royals game was up 66% over the previous week’s Sox-Orioles broadcast (of course they're not giving the "base" number), which was prior to Comcast joining the pay-TV lineup. Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports marketing consultant, said it was nonetheless unlikely that many subscribers will upgrade to the Ultimate plan amid another losing White Sox campaign, with the team sporting the worst record in the American League through 66 games. He said subscription upgrades will likely pick up when the teams do better. “It will be one of those rare examples when the customers will speak very loudly with their purchases deciding when and whether they choose to pay up or not for the sports package upgrade,” Ganis said. “Sad though that Comcast forced them to take OTA service away from people … and especially away from people who will find $500 per year to be a substantial or overwhelming burden on their family budgets,” Williams said in an email. “I’m disappointed to learn CHSN is ending its OTA broadcasts,” Blasko said in an email. “The Sox and other MLB teams should be expanding — not shrinking — opportunities for fans to watch games at all price levels.” https://sports.yahoo.com/article/loss-over-air-tv-leaves-012200986.html Edited Tuesday at 09:26 AM by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted Tuesday at 08:12 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 08:12 AM From 3 people to 5. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted Tuesday at 09:29 AM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 09:29 AM So we can imagine a 0.3 to 0.5 ratings share if we're being quite charitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tray Posted Tuesday at 09:49 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:49 AM I have XFinity high speed internet and Hulu live. That's over $200/month. I'm not inclined to add the CSHN app for another $30 per month for content I was getting OTA for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted Tuesday at 09:56 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:56 AM Obviously made-up by the Sox to justify the deal. Although it is sad that dumbasses couldn't figure out how to work an antenna forcing everyone to pay $500 a year for this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Jimmy0 Posted Tuesday at 10:54 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:54 AM Where is the $500 per year number coming from? The app is $30 monthly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted Tuesday at 11:28 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 11:28 AM 1 hour ago, Buehrle>Wood said: Obviously made-up by the Sox to justify the deal. Although it is sad that dumbasses couldn't figure out how to work an antenna forcing everyone to pay $500 a year for this. Their s%*# signal couldn’t reach my home while pretty much every other over the air channel could. Sounds like a White Sox problem to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted Tuesday at 12:39 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 12:39 PM 1 hour ago, Y2Jimmy0 said: Where is the $500 per year number coming from? The app is $30 monthly. “but on the higher-priced Ultimate tier, which costs an additional $20 per month, on top of the $20.25 regional sports network fee charged to Chicago-area subscribers each month.” plus taxes/fees, so around $45 x 12 puts you in the $540 ballpark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeKreevich Posted Tuesday at 01:28 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 01:28 PM I will try to figure how I can continue to watch Sox games today. Fubo or Direct TV stream are my choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Jimmy0 Posted Tuesday at 02:20 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:20 PM 1 hour ago, caulfield12 said: “but on the higher-priced Ultimate tier, which costs an additional $20 per month, on top of the $20.25 regional sports network fee charged to Chicago-area subscribers each month.” plus taxes/fees, so around $45 x 12 puts you in the $540 ballpark Oh gotcha. There's no reason for anyone to pay for Comcast cable anymore so I didn't realize that. Don't know why anyone would willingly do that in 2025. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted Tuesday at 02:25 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:25 PM 11 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said: Oh gotcha. There's no reason for anyone to pay for Comcast cable anymore so I didn't realize that. Don't know why anyone would willingly do that in 2025. There is plenty of reason, I have a solid deal and get cable internet on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Jimmy0 Posted Tuesday at 02:34 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:34 PM 15 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said: There is plenty of reason, I have a solid deal and get cable internet on top. I still pay for internet but there was no world for me where Comcast Cable was cheaper than Youtube TV while also paying for Netflix, HBO, Prime and Disney as well etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted Tuesday at 02:44 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:44 PM 16 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said: I still pay for internet but there was no world for me where Comcast Cable was cheaper than Youtube TV while also paying for Netflix, HBO, Prime and Disney as well etc. sorry to hear that. Well, thankfully it’s not like that across the board for everyone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted Tuesday at 04:28 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:28 PM https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/09/chsn-comcast-deal-ends-free-tv/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted Tuesday at 04:47 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:47 PM 2 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said: I still pay for internet but there was no world for me where Comcast Cable was cheaper than Youtube TV while also paying for Netflix, HBO, Prime and Disney as well etc. And even better if you can share those accounts (I used to share YTTV 3 ways with my bro and friend) or get say Netflix and AppleTV with T-Mobile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted Tuesday at 06:22 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 06:22 PM 4 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said: Oh gotcha. There's no reason for anyone to pay for Comcast cable anymore so I didn't realize that. Don't know why anyone would willingly do that in 2025. A ton of people don't have multiple options, especially for the high speed internet service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliSoxFanViaSWside Posted Tuesday at 07:38 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 07:38 PM (edited) A little ingenuity with a smart TV and a free browser app and anyone one can watch any sports team they want to for free as long they can handle lost signals every so often during a game and being a minute or so behind what everyone else is watching . Actually don't even need a TV , you could watch on a computer monitor. That's how I started. Then had the epiphany, hey my smart TV has browser apps available that I previously had no use for, let's see if I can find a browser and watch on my big screen TV in HD or higher the same thing I was watching on Firefox on my much smaller computer monitor in SD. Had some ups and downs but I got it down to a science now. No paying for cable or a streaming service. Edited Tuesday at 07:40 PM by CaliSoxFanViaSWside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSox2023 Posted yesterday at 12:51 AM Share Posted yesterday at 12:51 AM (edited) 15 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said: Obviously made-up by the Sox to justify the deal. Although it is sad that dumbasses couldn't figure out how to work an antenna forcing everyone to pay $500 a year for this. Dude, do you really think people don’t know how to buy an antenna and screw it into a TV? You are obviously just upset that you lost your free access to White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks games. Yeah, it sucks, but this isn’t the fault of Chicago sports fans. CHSN has been working on a deal with Xfinity since we first heard about the new CHSN network. Xfinity isn’t going to agree to a contract to broadcast White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks games if CHSN is also giving it away free to people in the Chicagoland area. Why would Xfinity agree to that deal and then lose a large share of their target market? Edited yesterday at 01:02 AM by WhiteSox2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted yesterday at 01:46 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:46 AM 1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said: Dude, do you really think people don’t know how to buy an antenna and screw it into a TV? Uh yeah 100%. Just read the threads here or on reddit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSox2023 Posted yesterday at 01:51 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:51 AM 10 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said: Uh yeah 100%. Just read the threads here or on reddit And you really think it’s their fault that CHSN removed their OTA broadcast? Not that Xfinity demanded it? Or do you think that if enough people in Chicagoland figured out how to connect an antenna to their TV, that Xfinity wouldn’t have made the deal with CHSN to broadcast the network because they wouldn’t be able to steal away all the antenna users? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted yesterday at 05:22 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:22 AM 3 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said: And you really think it’s their fault that CHSN removed their OTA broadcast? Not that Xfinity demanded it? Or do you think that if enough people in Chicagoland figured out how to connect an antenna to their TV, that Xfinity wouldn’t have made the deal with CHSN to broadcast the network because they wouldn’t be able to steal away all the antenna users? I guess I'm confused why you think any of these are contradicting statements. People being stupid and not knowing how to work an antenna (which you dont even need) or complaining about paying for something so you should get it on your service (nonsensical when again it is free ota) is why Comcast was strong enough to demand it be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSox2023 Posted yesterday at 05:46 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:46 AM 26 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said: I guess I'm confused why you think any of these are contradicting statements. People being stupid and not knowing how to work an antenna (which you dont even need) or complaining about paying for something so you should get it on your service (nonsensical when again it is free ota) is why Comcast was strong enough to demand it be removed. It was only ever free OTA because CHSN didn’t have a deal with Comcast at the time of the network’s launch, even though the two sides were negotiating. Now, 8 months later, CHSN and Comcast have finally reached an agreement, which led to the end of the OTA broadcast. Once again, why would Comcast agree to a deal with CHSN to broadcast the channel and games, but still allow CHSN to broadcast the channel OTA for free? How would that be a good business model for Comcast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted yesterday at 06:16 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 06:16 AM (edited) "Are you a Phoenix Suns fan? Do you live in the local Phoenix market? Are you not able to access Phoenix Suns basketball due to the sheer fact that you cannot receive the live local broadcast that will be on KTVK this season? Do you need an antenna in an effort to watch your beloved Suns? Then have I got a deal for you! Mat Ishbia, new Suns owner, has dedicated his time, money, and effort on the fan experience. The newest addition to that fan experience is, if you’re facing any of the problems on the above, he will ship you a complementary TV antenna simply so you can watch the games for free." https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2023/9/16/23876440/phoniex-suns-mat-ishbia-makes-suns-more-accessible-providing-free-tv-antennas-for-fans https://x.com/DevinBookerMuse/status/1702426005431099686/photo/1 Edited yesterday at 06:21 AM by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightly Folded Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM Share Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM From my standpoint the ota antenna was better than the app. I took the $19.99 per month White Sox only selection this past Sunday. I have a Samsung tv which is compatible to the chsn app. I just had to go to search on my Samsung tv and the app came up. You finish up on the chsn app. I live approximately 7 miles from Chicago. I get a good picture on the tv but the app is buffering every few minutes especially when cutting to or from commercials. The only way around it is to go back and forth between the full screen and the small screen. Sometimes when it buffers it freezes and I have to exit the app and then return to the app. The chsn help line is useless. Sometimes when I tried to get help their phone line doesn’t even ring. Exasperating!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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