So, you’re trying to catch the Bulls game. You grab your phone, search for a stream, and suddenly you’re staring at a wall of confusing subscription tiers and blackout warnings. It shouldn’t be this hard to watch a basketball game in 2026.
Honestly, the landscape has shifted a ton recently. Gone are the days when you just flicked on NBC Sports Chicago and called it a night. Now, we’re dealing with the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN), a bunch of different streaming apps, and a league that loves its "exclusive" windows. If you’re feeling a bit lost, you’re definitely not alone.
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The New Reality of the Chicago Bulls Live Stream
The biggest change for the 2025-2026 season is the death of the old regional sports model. CHSN is now the home for basically everything Bulls. They carry about 78 regular-season games. If you live in the Chicago market—basically anywhere from Rockford to parts of Indiana—this is your primary destination.
But here’s the kicker: how you get CHSN depends entirely on whether you’ve cut the cord.
For the cord-cutters, Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM are the heavy hitters because they actually carry the channel. If you're on YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you're mostly out of luck for local games. You'll get the big national matchups on ESPN or ABC, but the vast majority of the season will be a dark screen.
Watching for Free (Yes, Really)
Believe it or not, the "old school" way is making a comeback. CHSN broadcasts over-the-air on channels 62.2 and 62.3 in the Chicago area. You literally just need a $20 digital antenna from a big-box store. No monthly fee. No login. Just crystal-clear HD. It’s kinda wild that in the age of $100 streaming bundles, a piece of metal on your window is the most reliable way to watch.
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What About NBA League Pass?
League Pass is great, but it’s the source of the most frustration for fans. Here is the deal: if you live in Chicago, NBA League Pass will black out every single live Bulls game. The system uses your IP address and GPS to make sure you aren’t bypassing the local broadcasters. You can watch the replay three days later, but who wants to watch a game 72 hours after the final buzzer?
If you live in, say, Los Angeles or Seattle, League Pass is a dream. You get every CHSN broadcast, complete with Adam Amin and Stacey King—who, let’s be real, are the best duo in the business. You get the "Hot Sauce" calls and the genuine hype that makes even a mid-February blowout worth watching.
The VPN "Workaround"
You've probably seen people talking about using a VPN to spoof your location for a chicago bulls live stream. While it works for some, the NBA has gotten surprisingly good at tagging known VPN IP addresses. If you go this route, you usually need a provider like NordVPN or Surfshark that offers dedicated IPs or "obfuscated" servers. Even then, if you're on a phone, the NBA app's reliance on GPS (not just IP) makes it nearly impossible to trick without some serious technical gymnastics.
National TV and Exclusive Windows
Every now and then, the Bulls get yanked off the local network for a national spot. This season, that mostly means Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN.
- Peacock: They’ve grabbed a handful of exclusive games, like the December 1st matchup against Orlando. You can't watch these on CHSN or League Pass. You need a Peacock Premium sub.
- Amazon Prime: The February 5th game against Toronto is a Prime exclusive.
- ESPN/ABC: These are the high-profile ones. Usually, these aren't blacked out on your local cable or streaming bundle, but they are blacked out on League Pass.
It’s a fragmented mess. You basically need a spreadsheet to keep track of which app to open on any given Tuesday.
Direct-to-Consumer: The CHSN App
If you don't want a giant $80/month cable-style bundle, CHSN finally launched their own standalone app. For about **$20 a month**, you can stream the Bulls directly. This is the "Bulls-only" option many fans begged for years to get.
The app works on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV. It’s pretty stable, though like any new tech, it has its moments of lag during high-traffic games like the home opener or matchups against the Lakers.
Key Tips for the Best Stream
- Hardwire your connection: If you're streaming in 4K or even high-bitrate 1080p, Wi-Fi can be your enemy. Use an Ethernet cable for your smart TV or console.
- Check the "Plus" channel: Sometimes CHSN has a conflict with the Blackhawks or White Sox. In those cases, the Bulls get bumped to CHSN+. Make sure your provider includes both.
- Radio is a solid backup: If you're stuck in traffic, the 670 The Score stream on the Audacy app is still free and local. Chuck Swirsky is a legend for a reason.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of this season without overpaying, start by checking your zip code on the CHSN website to see exactly which providers carry the network in your specific neighborhood. If you’re in the Chicago market and want the cheapest path, buy a high-quality digital antenna and scan for channel 62.2. For those outside of Illinois, wait for an NBA League Pass sale, which usually happens right around the All-Star break, to catch the second half of the season for a fraction of the price. If you prefer a pure streaming experience without a contract, Fubo offers a free trial that you can time specifically for a heavy week of games to see if the interface works for your home setup.