The debacle that is the CHSN network launch continued tonight with an announcement. The rumored CHSN app will be released Friday to customers in Chicagoland. The CHSN app will now be the fourth legal way for local Hawks fans to watch their team. The other options are antenna, FUBO-TV and DirecTV.
Chicago Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz released statement in an email to full season-ticket holders saying that they will be receiving a complementary a subscription to the CSHN app.
In addition to the email sent to season ticket holders, Jeff Agrest of the Chicago SunTimes has learned more information on the CHSN app. Agrest has stated that Chicago Bulls full season-ticket holders will also be receiving a complimentary CHSN app subscription for the remainder of this season. While this is a nice gesture to their guaranteed revenue stream of season tickets, many Blackhawks season-ticket holders can only watch Blackhawks game with their complimentary subscription. So while this is a nice gesture and Blackhawks season-ticket holders like Adam Hoge of CHGO appreciate the gesture, the majority of Blackhawks fan are still very frustrated with the CHSN situation.
They should pay YOU to watch these three crap-ass teams. https://t.co/3n4IhWxnH2
— Brad Robinson (@bradrobinson8) November 12, 2024
This is the perfect storm of bad for the launch of CHSN. With the Hawks rebuilding, the Bulls being middling and White Sox coming off a historically bad season, the app launch better go smoothly.
Attendance issues
In addition to voicing their frustration on social media, the Blackhawks are not selling out games with regularity anymore. The Hawks’ first sell out of the season was Nov. 6 against Detroit Red Wings, Patrick Kane’s return to the United Center this season. Aside from the Blackhawks-Red Wings game and Military Appreciation Night, attendance has been trending downward.
Blackhawks attendance: 19,657
Just a hair shy of a sellout on Military Appreciation Night. Really good showing on a Bears gameday. pic.twitter.com/lfDAbA1pnv
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 11, 2024
So, in addition to the majority of fans not being able to watch games, fans are not showing up to the United Center as much as they were in previous years.
If the Blackhawks experience issues with the CHSN app similar to the streaming of the Hawks preseason games, expect the angst to continue to grow. This once-beloved franchise has continued to commit unforced errors off the ice this season.
As I have stated before, all of this could have been avoided had the owners not been so arrogant and greedy.
Stay tuned to The Rink for all of your Blackhawks news.