2026 White Sox watch guide: Regional and national TV info for Chicago’s South Siders

The past three seasons reduced Chicago White Sox fandom to humiliation ritual. Chicago went 81-81 in 2022, then put up three straight stinkers of 100+ losses. It almost feels like another “ Disco Demolition Night” is due.

Maybe it’s the multicolored pinwheels out past center field, or maybe there’s really some light at the end of this tunnel. The 2026 White Sox might not be playoff-bound, but they are adorned with a few exciting prospects.

Shortstop Colson Montgomery got hot in last year’s second half and hit 21 home runs in 71 games. Right-hander Shane Smith made the All-Star Game as a rookie, and he’s the Opening Day starter at just 25 years old. The front office also signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to a high-upside contract.

Here’s your guide to watching this young core across 162 games. This year, the national TV maze gets even more complicated with NBC and Netflix in tow. There’s also a new MLB.TV/ESPN situation affecting those outside the regional TV territory. And frustratingly, CHSN is no longer over the air in Chicago. We break it down below.

White Sox games on CHSN

In-market fans

Most of the White Sox’s regular season falls on the regional Chicago Sports Network, or CHSN. The channel is a joint venture between the Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls. It premiered in October 2024 and was originally free with a broadcast antenna. Unfortunately, over-the-air coverage ended for much of the White Sox’s market when CHSN signed a deal with Comcast last June.

Chicago no longer gets CHSN over the air, but in-market areas include Indianapolis, Milwaukee, several cities in Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City) and Grand Rapids, Mich.

Under current blackout rules, in-market White Sox fans can’t use MLB.TV to stream the regional broadcasts. Those with CHSN in their live TV package are all set. Those without it need the direct-to-consumer option through the CHSN app. A White Sox pass is $19.99/month, and the full plan for all three teams is $29.99/month.

There will be some free offerings in 2026, though. CHSN is simulcasting 10 regional games on WCIU, Channel 26 in Chicago. The first game as part of that OTA package will be at home against the Seattle Mariners on May 8.

What you need to watch: A provider with CHSN, or a team subscription through the CHSN app (starting at $19.99/month). The 10 WCIU games are free with an antenna.

Out-of-market fans

All Sox fans beyond the team’s TV territory need MLB.TV to watch the CHSN games.

MLB season-ticket holders get an automatic MLB.TV login code, and T-Mobile customers get it for free through their cell service. Returning MLB.TV subscribers keep their plans through the league.

But because ESPN is now selling and running the package, all new sign-ups must come through ESPN Unlimited, with a one-month trial included for the newcomers. According to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich, users don’t need to keep the ESPN Unlimited plan to access the MLB.TV one, at least not for 2026.

What you need to watch: MLB.TV. It’s $134.99 annually for ESPN Unlimited subscribers and $149.99 for others.

White Sox games on national TV

The league’s national TV partners are sorted alphabetically, with the main days for MLB action listed below.

ABC/ESPN

Main days: Sunday for ABC, midweek for ESPN

ESPN and MLB have been tied together since the 1990 season. The stalwart is no longer home to “Sunday Night Baseball,” but its reworked agreement gives it 30 regular-season exclusives in 2026.

Over-the-air parent network ABC has three telecasts this year as part of the 30-game purchase.

What you need to watch: ABC is free with an antenna. ABC and ESPN are included with most pay TV providers, and they’re also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription (starting at $29.99/month). Some pay TV providers, like Fubo and a few others, include ESPN Unlimited with their subscription.

Apple TV

Main day: Friday

This is home to “Friday Night Baseball,” which started in 2022. That weekly window is usually a doubleheader, free from local blackouts but exclusive to Apple TV. Wayne Randazzo calls games here with Dontrelle “D-Train” Willis.

What you need to watch: An Apple TV subscription (starting at $12.99/month).

Fox/FS1

Main days: Saturday for Fox, midweek or Saturday for FS1, All-Star Game

There are 23 “Baseball Night in America” Saturday centerpieces lined up on Fox. The network airs two games at 6 p.m. CT and assigns markets by matchup relevance. Some Saturdays are doubleheaders with an FS1 game in the early afternoon.

FS1 has an additional weekly spot falling on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Fox and FS1 total more than 85 regular-season games this year.

Come October, Fox has the NLDS and NLCS playoff series, plus the Fall Classic itself. Joe Davis has been on the World Series call since 2022, when he took over for longtime play-by-play voice Joe Buck. John Smoltz has been the color commentator since 2016. Fox’s World Series hold dates back to 2000 and runs through at least 2028.

What you need to watch: Fox is free with an antenna. Fox and FS1 are included with most pay TV providers, and they also stream with a Fox One subscription (starting at $19.99/month).

MLB Network

Main days: Throughout the week

Here’s our backstop, unassuming but reliable. The “MLB Network Showcase” has been around since 2009. The network usually airs a couple of games each week.

What you need to watch: A pay TV provider with MLB Network, typically included in standard or sports plans. MLB Network also streams with an MLB.TV subscription (starting at $134.99/year) or with MLB+ ($5.99/month or $59.99/season).

NBC/Peacock

Main day: Sunday, Opening Day

“Sunday Night Baseball” migrates from ESPN to NBC and Peacock, as the Universal network returns to live MLB coverage for the first time in 25 years. NBC, its streamer and the linear NBC Sports Network combine for 27 prime-time games and 34 afternoon ones in 2026. Some of the Sunday nighters are exclusive to Peacock.

NBC’s lineup launches with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 and concludes with the playoff wild-card series. To trumpet the return, the network has brought on some big names, including Bob Costas, Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto and Anthony Rizzo.

Peacock usually has a live game in its “MLB Sunday Leadoff” spot, most of them with noon local starts. The White Sox make their Peacock debut on July 5, visiting the Cleveland Guardians as part of the “Star Spangled Sunday” slate.

What you need to watch: NBC is free with an antenna, but Peacock requires a subscription (starting at $10.99/month for live sports). NBCSN is included in select pay TV providers.

Netflix

Main days: Opening Night, Home Run Derby, “Field of Dreams”

Already venturing into live sports with NFL Christmas Day, Netflix has three MLB exclusives this season, starting with the 2026 opener on March 25.

July 13 is the Home Run Derby, airing with All-Star festivities. Aug. 13 is the “Field of Dreams” game, a neutral-site showcase in Iowa with the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. The Netflix arrangement runs through 2028.

What you need to watch: A Netflix subscription (starting at $7.99/month).

TBS

Main day: Tuesday

TBS Tuesdays continue in 2026. The network’s play-by-play broadcasters are Brian Anderson and Alex Faust. The studio show features Pedro Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Chicago’s own Curtis Granderson.

The White Sox are not on the network’s first-half schedule, but they could wind up there once July rolls around. TBS also has this year’s ALDS and ALCS playoff rounds.

What you need to watch: A pay TV provider with TBS, or an HBO Max subscription (starting at $10.99/month).

Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

White Sox’s all-time leaderboard

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