NEWSLETTER
Over the weekend I shared a news story from Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers at The Athletic that detailed the formation of the new regional sports network (RSN) that would eventually be the home for Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox games after the contract the three organizations have with NBC expires. On Thursday evening, Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times provided some important updates and clarifications to that story.
Agrest previously reported on April 15 that Stadium, the streaming media outlet owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, would be the content provider for the new network home of the three teams. The report from The Athletic indicated the new network would not be affiliated with Stadium, however:
This new reporting from Agrest indicates the new network will be a partnership between the teams, Standard Media Group and Stadium wherein Stadium creates the content on the network. Standard Media Group “will invest in the network and help get it distributed.”
This new report again echoes reports that Stadium will try to maintain some continuity from NBC Sports Chicago, meaning many of the on-camera and behind-the-scenes folks who have produced broadcasts on NBC Sports Chicago will (hopefully) carry over to the new network.
Agrest also reports that Stadium is “expected to keep its name when it converts to an RSN this fall.” The previous report from The Athletic indicated the new network could launch as early as October — the start of the NHL and NBA seasons — which is consistent in this new reporting as well.
