CHSN, OTA, And The Fans Left Behind

Blackhawks fans were subjected to one of the most difficult-to-watch seasons in a long time. And I'm not talking about the on-ice product (although that statement still applies). I'm talking about how to watch the actual game.

In 2024, Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz joined Jerry Reinsdorf to provide Chicago with a new sports channel for the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox. CHSN was to replace NBCSN, and the roll-out was pretty bad. I don't want to retell the story of how CHSN shit their pants, you can read about that here. But what is important for the context of this article is that one of the somewhat "decent gestures" was that at least the channel was free over the air (OTA). Yes, that meant needing an antenna. Yes, that meant that because the channel wasn't accessible to most fans, it forced many diehard fans to buy a piece of equipment most thought extinct.

But at least it gave the option.

Sure, other markets provide their product for free through apps (Victory+ in Dallas). And I'm probably crazy for hoping that one day CHSN follows suit (their $29.99/month doesn't indicate that).

It's getting increasingly more difficult to watch sports, let alone hockey. I live in California, so I need to subscribe to ESPN+ to watch the Blackhawks. For any game that's nationally broadcasted or only on NHL Network, well, I'd better find out how to pay up or discover an "alternative" way.

For fans who simply don't have the money to shell out for multiple subscriptions and cable, their options are extremely limited. Buying an antenna to watch hockey probably means they are a die-hard fan. A fan who doesn't want to miss a single game.

These fans are the lifeblood of the organization. Not the rich family from Schaumburg with company tickets behind the bench.

It's the fan who's sacrificing time and effort to watch a team they love.

And the Wirtz family just took that away from them.

Yep. Because CHSN finally signed a deal with Comcast (a win), they shut down OTA to nearly every location in Chicagoland. It was most definitely part of the agreement on Comcast's end; from a business standpoint, it makes the most sense.

All these teams are businesses. If they can drive more people to pay for their product, these businesses will capitalize on any opportunity to do so.

Danny Wirtz is a very hands-off owner. That's fine and better than an owner who micro-manages (trust me, that blows). But there is such a thing as too hands-off.

Rocky Wirtz, the former owner, was a hands-off owner. It led to the worst Blackhawks scandal in history. But he was also hands-on to an extent. From a business standpoint, he knew how to breathe life into the fandom of a dying franchise. He reversed the damage done by Dollar Bill Wirtz and aired the games locally.

To Danny, it seems that the Blackhawks is just a business and nothing more. This CHSN debacle is evidence of that.

You don't have to be in this with Reinsdorf. There are other options. CHSN isn't the only way for the Blackhawks to be aired. Marquee Sports Network might have been an option.

Growing up in Chicagoland, I was more familiar with the Chicago Wolves than the Hawks because of the Dollar Bill era. We don't want to go back to that.

Care about the fans. But it's hard when the Blackhawks' social media team pushes it out as a win and leaves those whose only option is to watch a team they love via OTA in the dust.

Sure, making this free hurts from a business standpoint. But does it really? Isn't investing in the lifeline of your fans better for business?