Deb McDermott-Led Standard Media To Launch Chicago RSN

It proved to be a financial boondoggle for Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc. NBC Sports has also opted to get out of the Regional Sports Network (RSN) business.

Now, in an intriguing plot twist, the owner of broadcast TV stations that unsuccessfully planned to merge with TEGNA has announced the rollout of a RSN that will become the new home of three Chicago pro sports franchises.

Introducing the Chicago Sports Network, or “CHSN.” It is a partnership between the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, NBA Chicago Bulls and MLB’s Chicago White Sox and Standard Media, led by Deb McDermott.

CHSN will launch in October “across multiple platforms” with plans to deliver the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox games “to the widest audience possible.” The Athletic was first to report the venture, one month ago, citing an internal document it obtained.

Specifically, CHSN aims to deliver more than 300 live Blackhawks, Bulls and Sox games annually, along with pre-and-post game coverage and 24/7 multisport programming.

CHSN will broadcast from production studios located in both Chicago’s United Center and Guaranteed Rate Field, it was announced on Monday (6/3).

The network will launch in October with Blackhawks and Bulls preseason games. The first CHSN-based White Sox game will be broadcast in 2025, as all remaining 2024 White Sox games will continue to be broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago.

A joint venture between Standard Media and the three teams, CHSN seeks to reach most of Illinois and parts of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin, pending league approvals.

The network will launch with agreements in place with traditional cable providers, streaming services and be available via free, over-the-air broadcast, the Blackhawks confirmed on Monday.

Jason Coyle, most recently President of Stadium, has been named President of CHSN. He said, “As we set out to design the network, we began and ended every discussion with the simple question: What is best for our fans? What is the best approach to distribution? How can we push the limits of both in-game and studio production? We plan to serve our fans on as many platforms and in as many markets as our rights allow.”

The network is in the midst of building out its staff and has begun hiring. It will have continued announcements through the summer as distribution and other agreements are finalized.

Standard Media’s television stations are comprised of WLNE-6 in Providence; KLKN-8 in Lincoln, Neb.; and WDKA-49 and KBSI-23 in Paducah, Ky.-Cape Girardeau, Mo.