WCIU bets on WNBA boom with Chicago Sky TV deal
WCIU-TV has struck a deal to be the exclusive television broadcast partner of the Chicago Sky.
The big picture: The deal will make over 30 games available on WCIU, which has carriage deals with Comcast, DirecTV and can be accessed for free with a digital antenna.
The news comes as WCIU recently ended its partnership with the CW network and has gone completely independent.
Why it matters: This deal gives the Sky a permanent broadcast home, an improvement from the past years of jumping from network to network or just not broadcasting games.
By the numbers: Last year, WCIU-TV aired select games, but this year it will air 30+ games across all of its platforms. Other select games will air on national networks like WNBA-TV and ESPN.
Between the lines: WCIU management is counting on the popularity of the WNBA to continue after viewers flocked to the sport last season to see phenom rookie Caitlin Clark (Indiana) and the Sky's Angel Reese.
What they're saying: "The Sky games are competitive with other professional sports events on broadcast TV in Chicago," WCIU's Steve Farber tells Axios, noting this excludes Bears games.
"We expect interest to be higher than ever this season based on the huge surge in interest in the WNBA."
The intrigue: The deal comes when Chicago sports fans are frustrated with the new CHSN network which carries Bulls, Blackhawks and eventually White Sox games. It's not available on Comcast, shutting out over a million viewers.
CHSN has countered with deals on Direct-TV and its own streaming service, plus it's available for free with a digital antenna.
Yes, but: A recent Sun-Times poll showed that over 80% of fans haven't watched a Bulls or Blackhawks game this season.
What's next: WCIU has yet to release its full broadcast schedule. Ironically, the first game of the season (against Clark and the Fever) will be televised on ESPN.
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