The leaves are changing colors and there’s a chill in the air, which means hockey is back. The 2024-25 NHL season officially kicks off on Friday, October 4, and will wrap up in June 2025—at least that’s when the Chicago Blackhawks hope their season will wrap up.
The Blackhawks have missed out on postseason hockey for the past four consecutive seasons, finishing 6th, 7th, 8th and 8th in the Central Division out of eight teams respectively. But it’s a new year, and with the right attitude, maybe the Blackhawks will be the cream that rises to the top this season.
Here’s how to watch Chicago Blackhawks games live in 2024 with top-rated live TV streaming platforms.
Hawks fans will be able to catch nationally aired games this season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT, but most games will be broadcast on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), a brand-new regional sports network (RSN).
Below is a breakdown of which popular streaming services are set to stream the most Blackhawks games this season. Note that CHSN is still a new channel, so availability will likely expand to include more cable and streaming platforms.
DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔* |
✔ |
ESPN |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
ESPN2 |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
TNT |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
TruTV |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
NHL Network |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
||
CHSN |
✔ |
||||
*Local channels only available in select locations |
DIRECTV STREAM continues to lead the streaming industry in terms of number of RSNs offered. DIRECTV STREAM is the first streaming service to offer CHSN in its channel lineup. Blackhawks fans will like that news, as DIRECTV STREAM will offer the most chances to catch the Blackhawks on TV this season.
There are four different DIRECTV STREAM plans to choose from: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate and Premier, all of which include ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. To access CHSN, you should choose a Choice plan or above and must reside in CHSN’s market.
All DIRECTV STREAM plans come with Unlimited Cloud DVR recording, so if your schedule conflicts with a Hawks game, just watch it back when you get home! With this service, you will also have access to popular sports channels from the ESPN family as well as Fox Sports 1 and 2, but if you want even more sports channels, you can easily add on the DIRECTV Sports Pack, which includes over 40 regional and specialty sports networks.
Fubo has historically been a dependable option for fans of all sports, and the same goes for NHL fans, with a few caveats. Unfortunately, Fubo hasn’t offered TNT or TruTV since 2020 since failing to reach an agreement with the parent company of the channels. That said, while CHSN isn’t currently part of the Fubo channel lineup, it’s likely it will be added at some point, as Fubo has historically offered RSNs like NBC Sports Chicago. And you’ll be able to easily catch nationally televised Hawks games that are broadcasted on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
All Fubo subscribers with a Pro, Elite or Deluxe plan enjoy Unlimited Cloud DVR as well as the ability to watch content on up to 10 different screens in your household. That’s right—no fighting over the remote with Fubo. With an Elite or Deluxe plan, viewers can also enjoy content in 4k at no extra charge and International Sports Plus and MGM Plus with a Deluxe plan.
Just like its name suggests, a Hulu + Live TV plan offers subscribers the best of both on-demand and live TV, including plenty of hockey. All Hulu + Live TV plans include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TruTV as well as a complementary ESPN Plus and Disney Plus membership. Don’t need all of that?
Hulu + Live TV has great features like Cloud DVR with unlimited storage capacity and supports up to six individual profiles (for your household’s disgraceful St. Louis Blues fans). You can also stream on up to two screens at a time, whether you’re at home or definitely not watching the game while driving. If you need more simultaneous streams, no problem. Just add on the Unlimited Screens feature to your monthly plan.
Sling TV regularly undercuts its competition due to price alone, and if you’re a Hawks fan, this is definitely the most affordable way to catch your team in action. Sling TV is great for sports fans who don’t want to break the bank and don’t need tons of channels they’ll never watch. To get access to the most Blackhawks games, subscribe to a Sling Orange & Blue plan, which includes ABC in some areas, ESPN, ESPN2, TruTV and TNT.
However, being stingy about price means you also have to be stingy with your Sling TV DVR. Subscribers get only 50 hours of free DVR storage or can pay an extra monthly fee to unlock up to 200 hours of DVR. But it’s not all bad news. If you opt for a Sling Blue and Sling Orange & Blue plan, these subscribers are able to watch on multiple screens at the same time, made easy by the plethora of devices Sling TV is supported by—yes, including your smartphone.
YouTube TV is every NFL fan’s paradise thanks to NFL Sunday Ticket, but what about NHL fans? Don’t worry—YouTube TV won’t hang you out to dry. YouTube TV includes nearly all the channels you need (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TruTV) in one convenient plan so you don’t have to second guess your decision. The streaming service also includes several Chicago RSNs, meaning CHSN may be well on its way once it gets more established.
YouTube TV subscribers also get Unlimited Cloud DVR, and each member of your household up to six can enjoy their own login and personal DVR library. YouTube TV also includes some of the coolest features for sports fans in the streaming industry like Stats view and Key Plays view, scratching the itch of the more analytical Hawks fans in your inner circle. All that, and YouTube offers a free trial and is still one of the cheapest streaming services on the market.
If you don’t have a Hulu + Live TV subscription with ESPN Plus included, it’s still a great standalone subscription to have. With a subscription, you can stream live sports and on-demand sports content from around the NHL. Just note that to access ESPN and ESPN2 games, you’ll need a TV provider like Hulu. But even without the additional ESPN channels, you’ll be able to catch the Hawks in action right on ESPN Plus a handful of times throughout the 2024-25 season, like on Oct. 25 when they play the Nashville Predators or Jan. 5 when they face the New York Rangers.
Games will air on CHSN, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT this season. You can view the team’s 2024-25 complete broadcast schedule on NHL.com.
Yes, you can watch the Blackhawks on Hulu with a Hulu + Live TV plan. Hulu + Live TV plans include ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
Yes, Blackhawks games broadcasted on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will be available to watch with a YouTube TV subscription. YouTube TV’s Base Plan includes ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.