Three Chicago sports teams are reportedly on the verge of inking a new broadcast rights deal with Stadium. If things go as planned, this fall could see the commencement of this exciting venture.
The Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Blackhawks are presently tied with NBC Sports Chicago, a partnership that lasts until October.
However, there’s now talk of a seismic shift in Chicago sports broadcasting. Stadium, which is mainly an online sports streaming and content platform, will likely transition into a regional sports network (RSN).
Although this change will necessitate the acquisition of over-the-air broadcast partners, it fits the general trend of sports content consumption moving online.
The traditional RSN business model has been struggling, with the Diamond Sports Group, which runs 19 regional Bally Sports networks, filing for bankruptcy last year.
Several NBC Sports regional networks also lost significant broadcast rights deals. The Sun-Times reported that this general trend might have motivated Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, to bring Stadium to the forefront of the RSN game.
NEWS: White Sox, Bulls & Blackhawks near deal to make Stadium their new home after NBC Sports Chicago deal expires. https://t.co/dmjjQZkSf8
— Jeff Agrest #🟦 (@JeffAgrest) April 16, 2024
In light of the problems that NBC Sports Chicago seems to be facing, many are speculating that Stadium could plug the gaps.
The outlook for the current NBC Sports Chicago contract appears clouded, although there’s a possibility of an extension up to six months.
If the odds are in favor, the Stadium deal could come into effect at the beginning of the 2025 MLB season.
While the final details remain under wraps, it’s clear that a new era of sports broadcasting is on the horizon for Chicago’s most beloved teams.
