NBC Sports Chicago is available on four live TV streaming services.
You can stream NBC Sports Chicago on:
The regional sports network airs home games for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls.
NBC Sports Chicago was called Comcast SportsNet Chicago (or CSN Chicago) until late 2018 when it was rebranded. Just the name changed, not the programming.
Only sports fans living in Illinois, Northwest Indiana, Iowa, Southern Wisconsin, and Southwest Michigan can stream NBC Sports Chicago with a live TV streaming service.
Game coverage for certain teams or leagues largely depends on where you live.
If you are a casual NHL or MLB fan, you may want to consider ESPN+ instead as a cheap alternative for watching live sports.
A subscription costs only $9.99 per month. ESPN+ has NHL games every week, and daily MLB games that are part of the national broadcast during the regular season.
| STREAMING SERVICE | NBC Sports Chicago | # of channels |
|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | Yes | 105 |
| fuboTV | Yes | 152 |
| Hulu Live TV | Yes | 75 |
| Sling TV | No | 31-41 |
| YouTube TV | Yes | 128 |
How do I watch NBC Sports Chicago live?
There is a good chance that you already have what you need to start live streaming NBC Sports Chicago without a cable subscription.
You’ll need an internet connection. A Smart TV or a streaming device like a Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick supports most live TV streaming services discussed here.
Gamers can use an Xbox, Nintendo Switch or PlayStation game console to watch live TV. You can watch live TV on an iPhone or iPad (with current iOS software), or computer.
Cord-cutters use live TV streaming services to watch local channels such as ABC and CBS along with popular cable channels, including ESPN and CNN.
Live streaming your local regional sports network (RSN) gives you more flexibility than a cable company.
You can easily cancel a streaming service online, and jump to a competing service whenever you want.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM has NBC Sports Chicago and all the channels you need to watch Chicago area sports in 2023.
A subscription to the Choice package costs $99.99 per month for 105 channels. But DIRECTV STREAM regularly has discounts or promotions that can give you a better price.
ESPN, FS1, MLB Network, NBA TV, TNT, TBS and FOX are included in the channel lineup. You get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and 50,000 on-demand movies and TV shows.
Subscribers can get three months of HBO Max, Showtime, Cinemax and MGM+ for free before the monthly rates kick in. You can watch live TV on unlimited screens without your home.
You can sign up for a free 5-day trial.
Subscriptions run month to month so you can cancel whenever you want. DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets.
You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.
Hulu with Live TV
Hulu with Live TV has a well-rounded channel lineup that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, local networks such as NBC and CBS and entertainment networks.
There are more than 75 live TV channels. Bravo, Food Network and National Geographic are part of the channel lineup.
Subscribers have unlimited Cloud DVR to record live TV. You can watch live TV on two screens at once.
And if you’re using a Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV, you can use your Hulu subscription to activate apps for the channels in your subscription.
Subscribers get more than just live TV channels to watch. You’ll also have full access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s on-demand library. A subscription costs $69.99 per month.
Hulu works with all major streaming devices, including Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV devices. Check out Hulu’s Live TV channel lineup in your area before deciding which streaming service to try.
fubo
fubo (formerly fuboTV) has been carrying regional NBC Sports networks — including NBC Sports Chicago — among its roster of RSNs available across the U.S.
fubo carries Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, PAC-12 Networks, beIN Sports, CBS Networks, FS1 and FS2. Local NBC and FOX stations are available in many markets across the U.S., too.
The 152 channels on fubo’s Pro plan aren’t just for sports fans. AMC, A&E, BET, IFC, Nickelodeon and SyFy are part of the channel lineup. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR. You can watch live TV on 10 screens at once.
The fubo pro plan costs $74.99 per month. fubo adds a regional sports fee. It costs $10.99 per month for one regional network. It’s $13.99 per month if you have two RSNs in your area.
You can start off with a free 7-day trial to see if the service is a good fit. Just cancel online before the trial is up if you don’t like fubo.
fubo has apps for pretty much every device, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick and NVIDIA Shield TV.
Look over the channel lineup to see what locals and regional sports networks you would get before deciding whether to try out fubo.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV has 128 channels in its base plan, including ESPN, FOX News and local channels such as ABC and CBS.
A subscription costs $72.99 per month.
The YouTube TV base plan carries other key sports channels such as TNT, TBS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, FS1, and FS2.
You’ll be able to watch CNN, Golf Channel and FX. Unlimited Cloud DVR is included with a subscription. And you can create up to 6 profiles for a household per account.
The service works with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. You can get a free 7-day trial.
Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Xbox One are among the supported devices.
How to Watch Chicago area MLB games for free
Chicago White Sox fans can also catch some nationally televised games on FOX using a TV antenna.
But for most of the season, you’ll want NBC Sports Chicago for home games, and ESPN and FS1 to watch games currently listed on MLB’s National Broadcast Schedule.
Here are some other resources I have assembled over the years on how to get a local FOX station for free using a TV antenna.
- How to Choose the Best TV Antenna
- How to Connect Multiple TVs to One Antenna
- Review: The Best Indoor TV Antennas
- Review: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas
How to Stream NBC Sports Chicago Without Cable FAQs
These are questions readers ask when searching for ways to watch NBC Sports Chicago without a pay TV provider.
Can I stream NBC Sports Chicago?
Yes. DIRECTV STREAM, fubo, Hulu with Live TV, and YouTube TV are the live TV streaming services that carry NBC Sports Chicago in their channel lineups. The network carries local NBA, NHL and MLB games.
Does Sling TV have NBC Sports Chicago?
No. Sling does not carry NBC Sports Chicago, but it does carry other sports networks that air MLB, NBA and NHL games.. Sling Orange has sports networks such as ESPN. Sling Blue has FS1, Fox (in select areas) and NFL Network.
Is NBC Sports Chicago on Peacock?
NBCUniversal plans on eventually bringing regional NBC Sports networks, including NBC Sports Chicago, to Peacock TV, according to a December 2022 story from Bloomberg. But it hasn’t happened yet. Bloomberg reported that NBC Universal has been negotiating streaming rights with teams and leagues.
If a deal is struck, it would mean that sports fans could watch their local baseball, basketball and hockey teams without cable. NBC Sports carries games for Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Celtics, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Washington Wizards, the Chicago Bulls and others.
Are the Chicago Blackhawks on ESPN+?
You should check out ESPN+ if you want an affordable way to watch some Chicago Blackhawks games. For $9.99 per month, ESPN+ you can watch NHL games that are not on NBC Sports Chicago.
ESPN+ has a wide variety of professional and college sports that you won’t find on its sibling cable networks.
Once you subscribe to ESPN+, head over to the ESPN app on your Roku, Fire Stick or Samsung Smart TV. Click on the ESPN+ tab on the top menu in the ESPN app and sign in to your account.
What’s the best way to get NBC Sports Chicago live without cable?
There are a number of options out there to watch NBC Sports Chicago, so let’s review some highlights and narrow down your choices.
fubo has 152 channels, including NBC Sports Chicago as part of the Pro plan. You’ll have entertainment channels such as AMC and HGTV, local channels and ESPN for sports. A subscription costs $74.99 per month plus a regional sports fee. You can try out fubo free for a week. No contracts or obligations necessary.
DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial of the Choice package. Subscribers get 105 channels covering sports, entertainment, news and local networks. A subscription costs $99.99 per month. You can start watching on a number of Smart TVs from Samsung, Roku, and models running on Android TV and Google TV.
For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.
NOTE: This article was published on January 19, 2021, and has been updated.
Jim Kimble is a seasoned industry expert with over two decades of journalism experience. He has been at the forefront of the cord-cutting movement since 2016, testing and writing about TV-related products and services. He founded The Cord Cutting Report in 2016.
Major publications, including MarketWatch, Forbes, and South Florida Sun Sentinel, have interviewed Kimble for his years of expertise. He gives advice on the complexities consumers are navigating with streaming options, and over-the-air TV. Kimble has been a staff writer or correspondent for several award-winning, daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe. You can follow Jim on LinkedIn, YouTube and at X at @james_kimble
you can no longer watch cbs sports chicago on sling..the contract was terminated.. I had sling just for that purpose, and they took it away.. now I’m looking for another spot, but it still says Sling on here, so I’m sure most streaming companies don’t carry it anymore