Latest news with #ChrisSmith
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Sports Network finally coming to Comcast, but on higher-priced plan
Chicago sports fans, get your TV clickers – and your checkbooks – ready. Eight months after launching, the Chicago Sports Network will finally hit the airwaves Friday on Comcast, but it's going to cost subscribers more to watch the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks. Advertisement The nascent sports network is joining the Comcast lineup on the higher-priced Ultimate tier as part of an inaugural carriage agreement with the cable giant. CHSN will be live for Friday night's play between the Kansas City Royals and the White Sox at Rate Field, making the home team's 64th game of the season the first one available to one million Chicago-area Comcast subscribers. Terms of the carriage deal, announced Friday morning, were not disclosed. 'We are excited to bring the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks to fans across the region with the launch of CHSN for Xfinity TV and Comcast Business customers,' Chris Smith, senior vice president of Comcast's Chicago region, said in a news release. CHSN will be on Channel 200, where NBC Sports Chicago resided until pulling the plug last fall. For Comcast customers on the lower-priced basic plan, Channel 200 already bears a message that CHSN requires a subscription upgrade to watch. Advertisement The Ultimate tier costs an additional $20 per month, on top of the $20.25 regional sports network fee Comcast charges Chicago-area subscribers each month. Comcast has been issuing a monthly $8.85 credit to partially offset that fee during the ongoing negotiations with CHSN. For basic subscribers that don't choose to upgrade, the $8.85 credit will become a permanent adjustment, bringing the regional sports fee down to $11.40 per month. The Marquee Sports Network, the pay-TV home of the Cubs, remains on the lower-priced basic tier, at least for now. The CHSN carriage deal ends a protracted TV blackout for frustrated Chicago-area Comcast subscribers, who may have missed the entire Bulls and Blackhawks seasons, and a big chunk of the current White Sox campaign. 'On behalf of the entire CHSN team, we're proud to welcome Comcast's Xfinity TV customers to a network built exclusively for Chicago sports fans,' Jason Coyle, president of Chicago Sports Network, said in the news release. 'With more than 300 live Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox games each year, along with original programming that highlights Chicago's pro, college, and high school sports, CHSN delivers the most comprehensive and locally focused coverage available. This deal allows us to reach even more fans across the city and suburbs, deepen connections, and reinforce CHSN as the home for Chicago sports all day, every day.' Advertisement A joint venture between the Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks and Nashville, Tennessee-based Standard Media, CHSN went live Oct.1 on pay-TV platforms DirecTV and Astound, and over the air on WJYS-Ch. 62. It soon added streaming service FuboTV and its own direct-to-consumer streaming app, but until now, was unable to strike a deal with Comcast, the market's largest pay-TV provider. Comcast was a partner in the predecessor NBC Sports Chicago, the regional sports network which ended a 20-year run in September at the conclusion of a White Sox season that saw the team set an MLB record for losses. Sources familiar with the negotiations said Comcast has been looking to move both CHSN and Marquee Sports Network to its more expensive Ultimate tier, something it has done with other regional sports networks across the U.S. in recent months. While CHSN has been blacked out, Marquee, which launched in 2020, has remained on Comcast through a series of short-term extensions after its inaugural carriage agreement expired Sept. 30. A Marquee spokesperson did not return a request for comment. Advertisement The Cubs, who are leading their division with one of the best records in baseball, likely give Marquee more leverage in negotiations with Comcast, according to industry analysts. In New York, Comcast threatened to black out the Yankees' YES network before opening day as it looked to move the broadcasts to its Ultimate tier. The Federal Communications Commission weighed in and an agreement was reached to keep the YES network on Comcast's basic tier, at least for now. Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox and Bulls, made a visit to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in April to lobby for government help in getting CHSN on the air with Comcast in Chicago. But the carriage agreement appears to have played out on Comcast's terms, with CHSN moved to a higher-priced tier, requiring subscribers to pay a premium price to watch the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks. For years, those three teams and the Cubs were partnered with Comcast on NBC Sports Chicago, and offered to subscribers — for a monthly fee — as part of the basic package. The Cubs broke off to start Marquee in 2020, and the remaining teams went on to form CHSN. Advertisement In launching the new network, the Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks essentially traded Comcast for Standard Media, a small TV station owner that engineered the over-the-air strategy employed by CHSN, and is leading distribution negotiations with the pay-TV providers. Standard Media, which owns 15% of CHSN, is part of Standard General, the New York-based hedge fund that also controls Bally's, including its Chicago flagship, a $1.7 billion casino complex rising up at the site of the former Freedom Center printing plant in River West. Carriage fees make up the bulk of the revenue for regional sports networks. Most of that is funded by cable subscribers, whether they watch regional sports networks or not. But as cord-cutting accelerates, pay-TV providers have cut back on the fees they are willing to pay for regional sports networks, long the cash cows of the cable bundle. While the terms of the new CHSN-Comcast carriage agreement have not been disclosed, moving the sports network to the higher-priced tier is a way for the cable provider to make the deal work financially, while shifting the cost more directly to subscribers. Advertisement How many Comcast subscribers upgrade their plans to get CHSN, remains to be seen. During their inaugural seasons on CHSN, the Hawks and Bulls both missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, the White Sox, coming off the most losses in major league history last year, have the worst record in the American League through 63 games this season. But for die-hard fans ready to pay another $20 a month for the privilege, the remainder of the White Sox season, and the rest of CHSN's programming, is finally there on Comcast. rchannick@
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sports Network finally coming to Comcast, but on higher-priced plan
Chicago sports fans, get your TV clickers – and your checkbooks – ready. Eight months after launching, the Chicago Sports Network will finally hit the airwaves Friday on Comcast, but it's going to cost subscribers more to watch the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks. The nascent sports network is joining the Comcast lineup on the higher-priced Ultimate tier as part of an inaugural carriage agreement with the cable giant. CHSN will be live for Friday night's play between the Kansas City Royals and the White Sox at Rate Field, making the home team's 64th game of the season the first one available to one million Chicago-area Comcast subscribers. Terms of the carriage deal, announced Friday morning, were not disclosed. 'We are excited to bring the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks to fans across the region with the launch of CHSN for Xfinity TV and Comcast Business customers,' Chris Smith, senior vice president of Comcast's Chicago region, said in a news release. CHSN will be on Channel 200, where the NBC Sports Chicago resided until pulling the plug last fall. For Comcast customers on the lower-priced basic plan, Channel 200 already bears a message that CHSN requires a subscription upgrade to watch. The Ultimate tier costs an additional $20 per month, on top of the $20.25 regional sports network fee Comcast charges Chicago-area subscribers each month. Comcast has been issuing a monthly $8.85 credit to partially offset that fee during the ongoing negotiations with CHSN. For basic subscribers that don't choose to upgrade, the $8.85 credit will become a permanent adjustment, bringing the regional sports fee down to $11.40 per month. The Marquee Sports Network, the pay-TV home of the Cubs, remains on the lower-priced basic tier, at least for now. The CHSN carriage deal ends a protracted TV blackout for frustrated Chicago-area Comcast subscribers, who may have missed the entire Bulls and Blackhawks seasons, and a big chunk of the current White Sox campaign. 'On behalf of the entire CHSN team, we're proud to welcome Comcast's Xfinity TV customers to a network built exclusively for Chicago sports fans,' Jason Coyle, president of Chicago Sports Network, said in the news release. 'With more than 300 live Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox games each year, along with original programming that highlights Chicago's pro, college, and high school sports, CHSN delivers the most comprehensive and locally focused coverage available. This deal allows us to reach even more fans across the city and suburbs, deepen connections, and reinforce CHSN as the home for Chicago sports all day, every day.' A joint venture between the Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks and Nashville, Tennessee-based Standard Media, CHSN went live Oct.1 on pay-TV platforms DirecTV and Astound, and over the air on WJYS-Ch. 62. It soon added streaming service FuboTV and its own direct-to-consumer streaming app, but until now, was unable to strike a deal with Comcast, the market's largest pay-TV provider. Comcast was a partner in the predecessor NBC Sports Chicago, the regional sports network which ended a 20-year run in September at the conclusion of a White Sox season that saw the team set an MLB record for losses. Sources familiar with the negotiations said Comcast has been looking to move both CHSN and Marquee Sports Network to its more expensive Ultimate tier, something it has done with other regional sports networks across the U.S. in recent months. While CHSN has been blacked out, Marquee, which launched in 2020, has remained on Comcast through a series of short-term extensions after its inaugural carriage agreement expired Sept. 30. A Marquee spokesperson did not return a request for comment. The Cubs, who are leading their division with one of the best records in baseball, likely give Marquee more leverage in negotiations with Comcast, according to industry analysts. In New York, Comcast threatened to black out the Yankees' YES network before opening day as it looked to move the broadcasts to its Ultimate tier. The Federal Communications Commission weighed in and an agreement was reached to keep the YES network on Comcast's basic tier, at least for now. Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox and Bulls, made a visit to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in April to lobby for government help in getting CHSN on the air with Comcast in Chicago. But the carriage agreement appears to have played out on Comcast's terms, with CHSN moved to a higher-priced tier, requiring subscribers to pay a premium price to watch the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks. For years, those three teams and the Cubs were partnered with Comcast on NBC Sports Chicago, and offered to subscribers — for a monthly fee — as part of the basic package. The Cubs broke off to start Marquee in 2020, and the remaining teams went on to form CHSN. In launching the new network, the Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks essentially traded Comcast for Standard Media, a small TV station owner that engineered the over-the-air strategy employed by CHSN, and is leading distribution negotiations with the pay-TV providers. Standard Media, which owns 15% of CHSN, is part of Standard General, the New York-based hedge fund that also controls Bally's, including its Chicago flagship, a $1.7 billion casino complex rising up at the site of the former Freedom Center printing plant in River West. Carriage fees make up the bulk of the revenue for regional sports networks. Most of that is funded by cable subscribers, whether they watch regional sports networks or not. But as cord-cutting accelerates, pay-TV providers have cut back on the fees they are willing to pay for regional sports networks, long the cash cows of the cable bundle. While the terms of the new CHSN-Comcast carriage agreement have not been disclosed, moving the sports network to the higher-priced tier is a way for the cable provider to make the deal work financially, while shifting the cost more directly to subscribers. How many Comcast subscribers upgrade their plans to get CHSN, remains to be seen. During their inaugural seasons on CHSN, the Hawks and Bulls both missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, the White Sox, coming off the most losses in major league history last year, have the worst record in the American League through 63 games this season. But for die-hard fans ready to pay another $20 a month for the privilege, the remainder of the White Sox season, and the rest of CHSN's programming, is finally there for the watching on Comcast. rchannick@
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls and Sharks could serve up another URC knockout classic
The Sharks have beaten the Bulls twice in the URC this season, but the Highveld side won a thrilling quarterfinal knockout between them in season one. It has all the makings of a United Rugby Championship (URC) classic, as the Bulls are set to host the Sharks in a massive semifinal match-up at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. A crowd of over 50,000 fans is expected at what should be a sold-out match, and will pit the country's two strongest unions against each other for a place in the URC final. The Bulls will be hunting a third final appearance in four seasons, while the Sharks will be hoping to reach the trophy game for the first time, having previously been dumped out at the quarterfinal stage on two occasions. One of them was in the inaugural URC season; an absolute classic of a match that saw the Bulls edge a thrilling 30-27 win thanks to a drop goal from Chris Smith after the fulltime hooter. That game was played while Covid restrictions were still in place, so a boisterous crowd of over 22,000 fans were kept on the edge of their seats throughout a terrific 80-minute contest, that saw the sides level at 13-all at halftime, and 27-all as the clock ticked into the red. A similar contest could be on the cards this weekend, and the in-form Bulls will be favourites, but if any team was to topple them it would be their arch rivals from Durban. The Bulls have only lost four times in 19 URC games this season, but two of those defeats have come against the Sharks, who clinched a tight 20-17 win on the coast, before stunning their rivals with a 29-19 win on the Highveld. Plenty of confidence That will give the visitors plenty of confidence heading into the semis, and after picking up a historic penalty shootout win in their quarterfinal against Munster over the past weekend, which saw 100 minutes of rugby after going to extra time and ending 24-all, they will need everything they can get. Sharks coach John Plumtree admitted that they might amend their training a bit this week due to the extra playing time, but said that was something they would only discuss at training on Monday, after being asked about it in the post-match press conference. 'I haven't even thought about that (the Bulls semifinal). Give me a moment to catch my breath. I am not thinking about that yet. We will get the group together on Monday, see how everyone is and then we might have to adjust our programme a little bit,' said Plumtree. Bulls coach Jake White is himself pleased with his side's efforts in overturning a 21-8 deficit in the first half, to emerge 42-33 victors over Edinburgh in their quarterfinal at Loftus. He was particularly pleased that they were able to fight back, after they suffered a similar slow start to the same team in their Challenge Cup quarterfinal a few months ago, but went on to lose that game. 'We were down but got a (winning) result. Whereas the last time we played them, we didn't,' said a happy White.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: Police remind visitors to keep left on roads
Police have reminded visitors to the Isle of Man TT to keep to the left hand side of the road when travelling during the festival fortnight. Signs in English, French and German have been installed on key routes around the island in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure (DOI).It comes after the Isle of Man Constabulary recorded an increase in international visitors riding on the wrong side of the road, which led to two incidents in Chamberlain from the DOI said the aim of the initiative was to provide "clear and visible reminders" to those visitors who "may be unfamiliar with driving on the left". He said the "safety of all road users" was the department's road safety manager Chris Smith said the signs had been placed on "all our major routes" to remind European visitors" of the in a number of languages have also been produced to be on motorcycles as a "constant reminder" to fans to keep left during their visit, he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sandi Toksvig and Gina Miller on Cambridge chancellor shortlist
Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig are among the final list of candidates hoping to become Cambridge University's new women are on a shortlist that includes eight men, ranging from Labour peer and former minister Chris Smith to economist Dr Mohamed El-Erian."Electing the first woman to the role - while not essential - would be powerful and symbolic, affirming Cambridge's commitment to modernity and equality," said Mrs Miller. This will be the first time voting for the position of chancellor can take place online and in person. The chancellor is the university's formal and ceremonial role has no executive responsibilities, but is part of the university's public-facing activities and fundraising. The election comes after Lord Sainsbury of Turville announced last year he intended to step down after more than a decade in the Toksvig, who hosted The Great British Bake Off and QI and co-founded the Women's Equality Party, said: "The first known chancellor of Cambridge was Richard of Wetheringsett who served sometime between 1215 and 1232."After that we have had a plethora of other Richards, many Johns and an awful lot of Stephens - after over 800 years I wonder if it isn't time for a change?"Lord Smith has been the master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, since 2015, while Dr El-Erian is president of Queens' College, candidates on the shortlist include Cambridge astrophysicist Prof Wyn Evans, former BP chief executive Lord Browne, education professor Tony Booth, as well as Ayham Ammora, Ali Azeem and Mark Mann. More than 34,500 alumni and current senior academic and professional staff have registered to vote online, which will take place between 9 and 18 university expects several thousand more people to vote in person at its Senate House in Cambridge on 12 or 16 July. The winning candidate will be announced in the week beginning 21 July. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
