CHSN Rides White Sox to Ratings Success

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

The Chicago Sports Network has more than doubled its viewership for White Sox games this season, driven by the team's improved performance and expanded distribution, including growth in both traditional broadcasts and digital streaming. This surge highlights the strong link between on-field success and media engagement, with CHSN now planning to expand coverage to other Chicago teams while maintaining focused programming for the playoffs.

The Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) has experienced a significant boost in viewership following the Chicago White Sox's improved performance and the network’s expanded distribution. Launched in October 2024 without a carriage agreement with Comcast, and with the White Sox coming off a record 121-loss season—the worst in Major League Baseball history—both the team and broadcaster have undergone notable turnarounds in just two years.

Mike McCarthy, president and CEO of CHSN, attributed the growth not only to the team’s winning record but also to compelling storylines, player personalities, close contests, and increased access provided by the White Sox organization. These combined factors have contributed to a strong audience following both on traditional broadcasts and digital streaming platforms.

This season, CHSN’s White Sox broadcasts averaged 60,400 viewers per game, more than doubling viewership from the previous year. During the critical playoff pursuit in August and September, average game viewership rose further to 80,600, according to Nielsen data. The network's direct-to-consumer streaming audience has grown even more dramatically, reaching five times last year’s numbers.

A highlight came during the City Series games, simulcast on WCIU-Ch. 26, which attracted an average of over 200,000 viewers per game—the largest audience for CHSN to date. Should the White Sox and Cubs face each other again in the future, such as in a World Series matchup, broadcast rights would shift to national networks like Fox, with CHSN deferring to the wider coverage for postseason games.

Looking ahead, CHSN plans to broaden its sports coverage to include the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks while maintaining pre- and post-game programming focused on the White Sox for the duration of the playoffs. McCarthy expressed optimism about the team’s prospects, stating that the ongoing success promises “an even more exciting” season next year.

The partnership between the White Sox and CHSN represents a case study in the synergy between sports performance and media strategy, delivering substantial ratings growth and expanding the team’s regional fan engagement within a relatively short timeframe.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.