The Cord Cutting Report

How to watch NBC Sports Chicago live without cable

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How to Stream NBC Sports Chicago live

DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu with Live TV and fuboTV are among the live TV streaming services that carry NBC regional sports networks. Those services carry NBC Sports Chicago for less than a traditional cable TV or satellite provider.

Live stream NBC Sports Chicago on Apple TV, Fire TV or an iPhone

NBC Sports Chicago is available on a number of live TV streaming services.  

So you don’t need cable TV or a satellite provider to watch Chicago Blackhawks, White Sox games or even the Bulls. 

What’s the cheapest option?

Right now, it’s between Hulu with Live TV and fuboTV.

If you’re a casual NHL or MLB fan, then you might want to consider ESPN+ as a cheap alternative for watching live games. A subscription costs only $6.99 per month. ESPN+ has 14 NHL games per week, and MLB games daily during the regular season.  

Comcast SportsNet Chicago is NBC Sports Chicago

NBC Sports Chicago was called Comcast SportsNet Chicago (or CSN Chicago) until late 2018 when it was re-branded.

Only the name changed, not the programming.

This guide is aimed at Chicago-area sports fans living in Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. Game coverage for certain teams or leagues largely depends on where you live.

What do I need to stream NBC Sports Chicago live?

There’s a good chance that you already have what you need to watch NBC Sports Chicago live.

You’ll need an Internet connection. I can show you how to negotiate for an inexpensive one with my guide on getting Internet without cable.

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. You watch live TV on an iPhone, tablet or computer, too.

Using a TV antenna to watch free MLB games

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.

Are Chicago Blackhawks on ESPN+?

You should check out ESPN+ if you are a Chicago Blackhawks fan. For $6.99 per month, ESPN+ gets you about 50 NHL games a month.

Last season, many of the same games broadcasted on NBC Sports Chicago were also live streamed on ESPN+. Game schedules aren’t as solid this year because of COVID-19, but ESPN+ still plans on having 14 NHL games per week. And each NHL teams is playing 56 games.

Watching ESPN+ on your TV is pretty simple. 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. 

So before you plunk down your hard earned cash on a live TV streaming service, check out the cheap option first.

Hulu with Live TV: Watch Chicago White Sox Without Cable

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.

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. 

fuboTV: Live Stream NBC Sports Chicago Without Cable

fuboTV has been carrying regional NBC Sports networks — including NBC Sports Chicago — among its roster of RSNs available across the U.S.

The 122 channels on fuboTV aren’t just for sports fans. AMC, A&E, IFC, and Sundance TV are part of the channel lineup. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR. You can watch live TV on three screens at once.

fuboTV also carries ESPN, ESPN2, 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 fubo pro plan costs $69.99 per month. 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 fuboTV.

fuboTV 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’d get before deciding whether to try out fuboTV. 

DIRECTV STREAM: Watch NBC Sports Chicago Live Stream Online

DIRECTV STREAM has NBC Sports Chicago in the Choice plan.

A subscription costs $89.99 per month for 90+ channels.

ESPN, Nickelodeon and HGTV are included in the channel lineup. You get 20 hours of Cloud DVR and 50,000 on-demand movies and shows.

Subscribers get three months of HBO Max, Showtime, Cinemax and EPIX for free before the monthly rates kick in. You can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once.

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.

YouTube TV: Live Stream White Sox Games Online

YouTube TV has a long roster of regional sports networks. A subscription will cost $64.99 per month for 85+ channels.

ESPN, FOX, FX and IFC are part of the channel lineup. Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Xbox One are among the supported devices. You can try out YouTube TV free for 7 days.

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. 

ESPN+ airs a large number of Chicago Blackhawks games throughout the regular season. Check out a subscription to ESPN+ for $6.99 per month. 

fuboTV has NBC Sports Chicago as part of a 122 channel lineup. It’s the largest channel lineup out there in the streaming world. You’ll have entertainment channels such as AMC and HGTV, local channels and ESPN for sports. You can try out fuboTV free for a week. No contracts or obligations necessary. 

So how are you going to watch NBC Sports Chicago without cable or satellite TV? Tell fellow readers in the comments below.

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.

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Comments

  1. Joel Rutz says

    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

    Reply

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