Chicago Sports Network Game Broadcasts Average 200,000 Viewers

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) outperformed Marquee Sports Network in average viewership during the most recent Crosstown Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. While the White Sox secured a two-game victory on the field, the network broadcasting their games saw a significant lead in audience numbers during the three-game series held from May 15 to May 17, 2026.

According to Nielsen data reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, CHSN broadcasts of the three games averaged 200,000 viewers. In comparison, the Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network averaged 112,600 viewers over the same period.

The viewership surge for CHSN was driven largely by a simulcast agreement with the broadcast station WCIU. During the games on May 15, May 16, and May 17, 2026, WCIU was the most-watched station in the Chicago market.

Analysis of the viewership indicates that the availability of the games on broadcast television remains a critical factor in attracting audiences. Although WCIU is an over-the-air station, a vast majority of the viewers who tuned in did so through pay-TV services where the channel is included in a basic programming package.

The success of the WCIU simulcast aligns with CHSN’s original strategic objective to maintain a presence across all available platforms, including broadcast, cable, satellite, and streaming services. However, achieving this broad reach has faced significant hurdles with major providers.

Comcast, the largest pay-TV provider in the Chicago market, did not add CHSN to its offerings until June 2025, after the network had dropped its local over-the-air access. Comcast placed CHSN on its highest programming tier, which is now designated as TV Premium. Marquee Sports Network followed a similar trajectory, also residing on a higher programming tier.

Because many fans are reluctant to move to higher-cost programming tiers to follow their teams, the move to utilize WCIU has provided CHSN with a way to bypass these payment barriers. The Chicago Sun-Times noted that many Cubs fans who did not transition to the higher tier for Marquee likely tuned into the White Sox broadcasts via WCIU.

CHSN has established a specific deal with WCIU to carry 10 Chicago White Sox games during the current season. Four of those games are scheduled against the Chicago Cubs, including the series that took place in mid-May. One remaining game under this agreement is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field.

The current struggle for viewership and distribution highlights a shift in the sports media landscape. In the streaming era, audiences have become increasingly fragmented, yet the data from the recent Crosstown Series suggests that broadcast television still holds a powerful draw for local sports fans.

This current distribution model contrasts sharply with the historical broadcasting of Chicago baseball. When Marquee launched in 2020, it moved away from the model previously utilized by WGN, which had carried Cubs games since 1948. WGN’s status as a superstation, which began in 1978, was instrumental in building the Cubs’ national following before the shift toward regional sports networks and tiered cable packages.