Honestly, trying to figure out where to watch a game in Chicago lately feels like you need a master's degree in broadcast engineering. If you’re sitting there wondering what channel is the bulls on tonight, you're likely feeling the sting of the massive TV shift that happened recently. Gone are the days of just flipping to NBC Sports Chicago and calling it a night.
Tonight, Saturday, January 17, 2026, there actually isn't a game on the schedule. The Bulls just got off a rough one yesterday against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, losing a nail-biter 112-109. They are currently in the middle of a home-and-home set with Brooklyn, which means they’re likely on a flight back to O'Hare right now or resting up for the rematch.
The next time you'll need to find the right channel is tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, for the return leg against the Nets at the United Center.
Where to Find the Bulls Tomorrow Night
Since tonight is a dark night for the team, you’ve got about 24 hours to make sure your setup is actually working. When they tip off tomorrow at 6:00 PM CT, the game will be on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).
If you haven't kept up with the drama, CHSN is the new home for the Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox. It replaced the old regional sports network model, and it’s been a bit of a transition for fans used to the old ways.
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- Over-the-Air (The Cheap Way): You can actually get the game for free with a digital antenna on channels 62.2 or 62.3 in the Chicago market. It’s old school, but it works perfectly.
- Cable and Satellite: If you’re a DIRECTV subscriber, look for CHSN on channel 665. Xfinity (Comcast) users also have access, though you usually need a specific tier of service.
- Streaming Services: Fubo is currently the most reliable big-name streamer that carries CHSN.
The Struggles of the 2025-26 Season
Watching the Bulls right now is... a choice. After yesterday's loss, the team is sitting at 19-22. They teased us all with that 6-1 start to the season, but things have leveled off into that familiar "middle of the pack" territory.
Yesterday’s game in Brooklyn was a perfect microcosm of the season. Nikola Vucevic was solid with 19 points, and Ayo Dosunmu played his heart out with 18, but they couldn't close the door. Michael Porter Jr. basically took over for the Nets at the end. That’s been the story lately: the Bulls keep it close, Tre Jones (who has been a bright spot at PG) makes a clutch play, and then the defense just sort of leaks oil in the final thirty seconds.
Tonight’s rest is probably needed. Josh Giddey is still out with that nagging hamstring, and the bench depth is getting tested. When you look for what channel is the bulls on tonight and realize there's no game, it's actually a good time to check the injury report for tomorrow. We're still waiting to see if Kevin Hunter’s hip is good to go for the Sunday matinee.
Why the TV Situation Is So Confusing
The reason people are constantly searching for the channel is that the NBA’s national TV schedule for the Bulls is almost non-existent this year. They only have six national windows for the entire 2025-26 season.
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We had a rare ESPN game yesterday, but those are few and far between. Most of the time, if you aren't on CHSN, you aren't seeing the game. If you live outside of the Chicago area—say, you moved to Indy or Florida but still bleed red—you’re stuck with NBA League Pass.
Just a heads up: League Pass is great, but the blackouts are still a nightmare. If you’re in Chicago, League Pass will black out the live game because CHSN owns those local rights. It’s basically a tool for the "displaced fans" only.
How to Watch Without Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, you have three real paths:
- The CHSN App: You can go direct-to-consumer now. It’s about $20 a month if you just want the Bulls, or $30 if you want the Blackhawks and Sox included.
- Antenna: Like I mentioned, this is the "secret" way. A $20 antenna from a big box store gets you the games in HD without a monthly bill.
- Fubo or DIRECTV Stream: These are the "cable replacements" that actually pay for the regional sports fees. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV currently do not carry CHSN, which is a major bummer for a lot of people.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
Since you’re likely prepping for the game tomorrow, keep an eye on the matchup between Matas Buzelis and the Nets’ frontcourt. The rookie has been showing flashes of why he was a lottery pick, but he’s still finding his footing.
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The Nets are coming in with some momentum after snapping a five-game skid against us. Tomorrow's game at the United Center is basically a "must-win" if the Bulls want to stay in the Play-In conversation.
If you are trying to find the game on a streaming device tomorrow, make sure your location services are on. These apps are super picky about "in-market" versus "out-of-market" broadcasting.
To get ready for the next tip-off, you should verify your CHSN login or scan your antenna channels today. If you're planning on going to the United Center instead of watching on TV, tickets are currently hovering around $23 for the 300-level—not a bad price for a Sunday evening.
Check your local listings for CHSN (665 on DIRECTV) or fire up the CHSN app tomorrow at 6:00 PM CT to catch the rematch against Brooklyn.