Seth Jones and Other Blackhawks Issue Statements on Chicago Sports Network's Horrible Start

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Joshua Deeds
October 27, 2024 (5:45 PM)

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TheChicago Sports Network has finally felt a bit of the dam break, as they were able to secure a deal with FuboTV this weekend.

In the meantime, they're still dealing with the bad actors of Comcast/Xfinity who refuse to budge on carriage fees for the newly minted network owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, Standard Media, and Blackhawk's owner Danny Wirtz.

«Look, it doesn't hurt my personal feelings,» said Hawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz, who's a partner in CHSN along with White Sox and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Standard Media. «I realize that in this position that I'm accountable for delivering for the fans.

«And I care about the fans. I mean, they're our customers, and the minute you stop caring about your customers is the minute your product is doomed. And so I care deeply, and I want to see something get resolved, but it is a complicated set of circumstances that we have to resolve.»

When it comes to negotiations, «I'm not at the table,» Wirtz said, adding that CHSN's negotiating team has been empowered by all the parties involved to work out a deal with Comcast.

Players were asked about the situation recently by the Chicago Sun-Tribune and empathized with fans, who were struggling to catch regular season games on their tv, and streaming services.

Joey Anderson: «I understand where they're coming from, because if you're a fan, you want to watch a game, and it's unfortunate that it's a situation we're in right now.»

Fans have come up to him, saying, «It's not too easy to watch the games right now,» Jones told the Tribune.

Jones and several other Hawks players say that while they're focused on hockey, they're not oblivious to the frustration much of the fan base is feeling.

«You'd think we'd want to make it as easy as possible for our fans to watch their games and watch us perform,» Jones said. «I think as the team gets better here, you want there to be as many eyes as possible.»

You have to think of the terrible Public Relations involved with this whole debacle, as two industries that thrive off of one another, refuse to collaborate.

It's not so easy anymore just to pop on WGN and watch a Chicago Cubs game, or catch a Bulls game on NBC like it was in the 90s.

Now there's a smaller, concentrated set of hands in the pot of streaming services, and the fight has arrived in Chicago.

This is a fluid situation with Comcast/Xfinity and it has yet to be resolved, between the CHSN and the stubborn carriers.

At least the players have an idea of what's going on and understand what the fans are going through.

You'd think maybe, through the NHLPA they could find a way to twist the lever in the fan's favor and their own, as this does eat into league and team revenue.

Or maybe, Bettman will just throw another advertisement on the NHL uniform to make up for this shortfall, thanks to the Blackhawks, and Comcast/Xfinity.