The state of Illinois is home to one of the proudest fan bases in all of the United States. With Chicago as the epicenter of this great sporting region, fans loyally cheer on storied franchises such as the NFL’s Chicago Bears, the MLB’s Cubs and White Sox, and the NHL’s Blackhawks. With soccer fans also taken care of with the Chicago Fire, there is no shortage of high-level sporting action to enjoy.

But with so many different streaming and cable packages to choose from, and channels to be aware of, figuring out how to keep on top of your team’s games can be hard. The good news for you is that our team here at Livesportsontv.com have been putting in the hours and doing all the heavy lifting for you. Our findings are all compiled in this guide, designed to give you all the information you need to keep on top of professional sports in Illinois. Whether you are trying to stream Chicago Bears games in Illinois or find the right cable package to watch Chicago White Sox games live today, you’re in the right place. 

Regional TV channels and streaming services in Illinois

Illinois’s Regional Sports Networks:

Chicago Sports Network (CHSN)

A new entry to the television viewing experience for locals, Chicago Sports Network (and Chicago Sports Network Plus) entered the scene in October 2024, replacing NBC Sports Chicago. This is a free-to-air RSN that is the home of the Chicago Bulls (NBA), Blackhawks (NHL), and White Sox (MLB). It can be found on 62.2 and 62.3 with an antenna, and can be found as part of the DIRECTV cable and streaming packages, which we will discuss in more detail later.

There is also an option to subscribe directly to CHSN and stream its content via its app, with subscriptions starting at $19.99 per month for one team and $29.99 for all three. This means there are plenty of options to consider if you are a fan of the Bulls, Blackhawks, or White Sox, which is always what we like to hear as sports fans.

Marquee Sports Network

This is a slightly more recognizable name for fans in Illinois, with Marquee Sports Network having been in operation since 2020. It is the exclusive channel for Chicago Cubs content, broadcasting almost all games and additional content surrounding the team. The bottom line is, if you’re a Cubs fan, you simply must have access to Marquee Sports Network.

The good news is that Marquee is carried by a wide array of cable and streaming providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Fubo, and, our favorite, DIRECTV. However, if you would like to save money or aren’t that invested in what the rest of Chicago sports has to offer, you can subscribe directly via the Marquee Sports Network app or website for $19.99 per month.

 

National Networks & Streaming Providers:

The state of Illinois boasts teams from every major league in the United States, which means home fans will often see their team in prime-time clashes. In these instances, the regional sports networks (RSNs) won’t be carrying the game, instead handing them over to America’s biggest networks. CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN/ABC will all play their part throughout the sporting calendar, with standalone streaming services such as Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass) and Amazon Prime (Thursday Night Football) also getting more involved.

With so many players in the market, keeping an eye on our Livesportsontv.com website has never been more important. Here, you will find up-to-date schedules and broadcast information for every game you might be interested in watching.

The other good news is that all of those major broadcasting networks will feature together with the vast majority of cable and streaming providers. So, you have plenty of options to choose from, regardless of your chosen route.

 

Other Local Sports Channels:

When it comes to college action, there are even more channels to consider. For local fans based in Illinois, the Big Ten Network (BTN) is the most important, considering it features games from the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and Northwestern Wildcats. This is where you will find Big Ten basketball and football clashes, along with plenty of other content. If that sounds good to you, then you’ll be pleased to hear that BTN features in many cable TV and streaming provider packages, alongside plenty of the other channels mentioned in this guide. However, if you want to keep things simple and just hone in on Big Ten action, you can subscribe directly to Big Ten Plus for $12.99 per month.

 

How to Watch Every Illinois Sports Team on TV and Streaming

Each major sports league has a slightly different setup in Illinois, whether you are a user of cable TV or streaming services. Here is a breakdown for each team, with a link to their full TV guide for more details.

NFL: Illinois-based NFL fans don’t need to worry about tapping into the local channels and Regional Sports Networks, as all NFL games are shown on national TV. Sunday afternoon games are taken care of by FOX or CBS, with NBC hosting Sunday Night Football, ESPN/ABC hosting Monday Night Football, and Amazon Prime holding down the fort on Thursday Nights. For Bears fans, FOX 32 and CBS 2 are the channels you need for most Bears games.

  • Chicago Bears: Games primarily air on FOX, as the Bears are an NFC team, with some games taking place on CBS. The team opens up the season on MNF on ESPN/ABC, which they will feature on one more time in Week 6, along with a TNF game on Amazon Prime in Week 13, and a SNF game against the 49ers in Week 17. See our full Chicago Bears TV Guide here.

 

NBA: It is crucial for NBA fans to have access to regional sports networks, and for fans in Illinois, the channel they need is Chicago Sports Network (CHSN). This channel covers almost all regular-season Bulls games, except those higher-profile clashes that are broadcast via national outlets such as TNT, ESPN, and ABC.

 

MLB: Baseball is very well represented in Chicago, with the Cubs and White Sox calling the city home. In addition to having two MLB teams, Illinois has two regional sports networks, and their allegiances are split between the two teams. Almost all games will be broadcast on the RSNs for each team, aside from those high-profile clashes that will be on FOX, ESPN, or TBS.

  • Chicago Cubs: Marquee Sports Network has exclusive rights to Chicago Cubs content, available via cable or streaming providers, or directly via the app/website. See the full Chicago Cubs TV Guide here.
  • Chicago White Sox: For the White Sox, fans need access to Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), which is available free over-the-air in the area. Alternatively, a cable or streaming package from a provider like DIRECTV Stream will do the job. View the full Chicago White Sox TV Guide here. 

 

MLS: Major League Soccer is a bit different from the other sports featured in this guide. Fans of the Chicago Fire will need Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which carries every single MLS game nationwide. Select games will feature on FOX or FS1, but these won’t be blacked out on MLS Season Pass, which will be a relief to fans. 

 

NHL: As one of the original six, the Chicago Blackhawks have been entertaining fans in the region for many decades now. Their in-market games are carried on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), alongside the Bulls and White Sox. National games will be shown on ESPN, ABC, and TNT, whilst many out-of-market NHL games are covered on ESPN+.

 

College Sports: For fans loyal to their local University, or for fans wanting to get an early look at the next cohort of sporting stars, you’ll likely be interested to hear about the local channels broadcasting these games. Here’s your breakdown by university.

  • Illinois Fighting Illini (University of Illinois): Big Ten Network
  • Northwestern Wildcats: Big Ten Network
  • NIU Huskies (Northern Illinois University): ESPN and ESPN+
  • Illinois State: Marquee Sports Network
  • DePaul Blue Demons: Marquee Sports Network

 

Best Cable TV and Streaming Provider for Illinois Sports Fans

When it comes to a one-stop shop package that covers the broadest array of channels that we have spoken about in this guide, we believe DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM are the best ways to watch sports in Illinois. Chicago Sports Network, Marquee Sports Network, Big Ten Network, and all the national broadcasters that you need are featured on their cable and streaming packages. You’ll need the Choice Package, costing $89.99 per month, and if you want Thursday Night Football or MLS Season Pass, these will require additional subscriptions on top.

*Prices shown are accurate at the time of writing. Always verify with the provider for the latest offers.

 

FAQ: Watching Illinois Sports on TV and Online

What is the best streaming service to watch Illinois sports teams on?

DIRECTV Stream is currently the best option for Illinois sports fans because it includes both major regional sports networks: Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Marquee Sports Network, as well as national sports channels and Big Ten Network.

 

How many major sports teams are there in Illinois?

Illinois has seven major professional sports teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS:

  • NFL: Chicago Bears
  • NBA: Chicago Bulls
  • MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
  • NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
  • MLS: Chicago Fire FC

 

Why can’t I find NBC Sports Chicago?

NBC Sports Chicago was discontinued in October 2024 and replaced by the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), which now broadcasts Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox games.

 

How can I watch Chicago Bears games in Illinois without cable?

You can watch Bears games on local CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC affiliates using an over-the-air antenna or through recommended streaming services such as DIRECTV Stream, YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV.

 

What is the best Cable TV provider for watching Chicago Bulls or Chicago Blackhawks games?

DirecTV provides reliable access to the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), carrying most Bulls and Blackhawks games, making it the best cable option for Illinois fans.