Chicago Sports Network on Upswing Under Mike McCarthy's Leadership
A year into its operation, Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is making waves in the regional sports network landscape under the helm of Mike McCarthy. The seasoned executive, who previously ran Marquee Sports Network and served as president of MSG Network in New York, has brought a wealth of experience to the fledgling network.
Since its launch, CHSN has faced numerous challenges, including being blacked out on Comcast, the largest pay-TV provider in the market, which had a negative impact on viewership. However, under McCarthy's guidance, the network is seeing signs of growth, with household and direct-to-consumer viewership increasing by 182% and 121%, respectively, compared to the same period last season.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Bulls have been key drivers of this growth, with the teams' first seasons on CHSN experiencing significant increases in viewership. McCarthy credits a massive campaign during the teams' preseasons for the surge in direct-to-consumer subscriptions, which have risen by 300% since March.
While the road to recovery has been long and arduous, McCarthy remains bullish on the network's future prospects. He points to the networks' regularity as the most-watched cable network in Chicago during live game periods, citing the teams' success as a major factor in this growth.
However, CHSN is not resting on its laurels. The network is expanding its content offerings, including documentaries and games from the NBA G League's Windy City Bulls team. McCarthy acknowledges that lessons learned from previous challenges will be crucial to navigating the ever-changing sports media landscape.
"Chicago sports fans are very discerning," McCarthy notes. "They can spot things a mile away... They're willing to go through rebuilding processes, but they want to see a plan. And I think from a production standpoint, they know good from bad."
As CHSN looks to solidify its position in the Chicago market, McCarthy's experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the network towards long-term success. With his background in navigating complex sports media landscapes, there is reason to believe that CHSN is on the cusp of something special.
A year into its operation, Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is making waves in the regional sports network landscape under the helm of Mike McCarthy. The seasoned executive, who previously ran Marquee Sports Network and served as president of MSG Network in New York, has brought a wealth of experience to the fledgling network.
Since its launch, CHSN has faced numerous challenges, including being blacked out on Comcast, the largest pay-TV provider in the market, which had a negative impact on viewership. However, under McCarthy's guidance, the network is seeing signs of growth, with household and direct-to-consumer viewership increasing by 182% and 121%, respectively, compared to the same period last season.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Bulls have been key drivers of this growth, with the teams' first seasons on CHSN experiencing significant increases in viewership. McCarthy credits a massive campaign during the teams' preseasons for the surge in direct-to-consumer subscriptions, which have risen by 300% since March.
While the road to recovery has been long and arduous, McCarthy remains bullish on the network's future prospects. He points to the networks' regularity as the most-watched cable network in Chicago during live game periods, citing the teams' success as a major factor in this growth.
However, CHSN is not resting on its laurels. The network is expanding its content offerings, including documentaries and games from the NBA G League's Windy City Bulls team. McCarthy acknowledges that lessons learned from previous challenges will be crucial to navigating the ever-changing sports media landscape.
"Chicago sports fans are very discerning," McCarthy notes. "They can spot things a mile away... They're willing to go through rebuilding processes, but they want to see a plan. And I think from a production standpoint, they know good from bad."
As CHSN looks to solidify its position in the Chicago market, McCarthy's experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the network towards long-term success. With his background in navigating complex sports media landscapes, there is reason to believe that CHSN is on the cusp of something special.
it's crazy to think they were struggling not so long ago but now they're seeing those numbers go up and up 
182% household and 121% direct-to-consumer growth? that's insane! 
i'm all about supporting local sports networks, especially when they're working hard to improve. mcmahon seems like a total pro at his job too 
can't wait to see what the future holds for chsnet 
I'm so glad he took the reins and turned things around. And let's be real, who doesn't love watching Blackhawks and Bulls games on their TV? 
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The fact that they're expanding content offerings like documentaries and NBA G League games is a huge win too! 
McCarthy's got this, CHSN is gonna crush it in the future. Bring on the championships and more sports content! 
Mike McCarthy comin' in and bringin' all his expertise and whatnot, makes a huge difference! I mean, the numbers are insane - 182% household growth? That's wild! And 121% direct-to-consumer? Like, what's goin' on?! 
McCarthy's got this, and I'm excited to see where they go from here. Bring on the growth, CHSN! 
. I mean, come on, 182% and 121% growth? That's not even impressive when you consider how much the network was struggling at first 
. "Rebuilding processes"... "discerning fans"... give me a break! Can't these guys come up with something original for once?