Okay, so you wanna know how I watch Chicago Bulls games? It wasn’t always easy, let me tell ya. I’m talking blackout restrictions, streaming services all over the place, and just trying to figure out what channel even SHOWS the game. Here’s the breakdown of how I finally nailed it.
First things first: The cord-cutting plunge. I ditched cable years ago. Too expensive, too much crap I didn’t watch. So, that meant finding alternative ways to watch the Bulls.
Round 1: League Pass Fail. Okay, so NBA League Pass seemed like the obvious answer, right? Pay a subscription, watch all the games? Nope. Blackout restrictions are a killer. Living in the Midwest, a lot of Bulls games are considered “local” even if they aren’t actually on local TV. This means League Pass blacks them out. Major bummer.
Round 2: Streaming Services: The Trial and Error. This is where it got messy. I started bouncing around different streaming services, grabbing free trials, seeing what worked. Here’s what I tried:
- YouTube TV: This one actually worked pretty well for a while. It carries NBC Sports Chicago, which is the main channel for Bulls games in the area. The picture quality was solid, and the interface was easy to use. The downside? It’s not the cheapest option out there, and the channel lineup has some fluff I don’t need.
- Hulu + Live TV: Similar to YouTube TV, but the channel selection didn’t quite match what I needed. I think they USED to have NBC Sports Chicago, but then dropped it. Boo!
- FuboTV: This one’s focused on sports, so it seemed promising. But again, no NBC Sports Chicago. Strike three!
The Aha! Moment: NBC Sports Chicago App (with a catch). So, I discovered the NBC Sports Chicago app. Seemed perfect! Live streams of the games, on my phone, tablet, whatever. The catch? You need a cable or satellite subscription to authenticate and watch. Seriously? Back to square one.
The Solution (Finally!): A Friend in High Places. This is where I got sneaky. I have a buddy who still has cable (I know, right?). He has NBC Sports Chicago as part of his package. So, I “borrowed” his login credentials. Don’t judge me! Now I can use his login to authenticate the NBC Sports Chicago app on my devices. Boom! Live Bulls games, anytime, anywhere (as long as he keeps paying for cable!).
The Backup Plan: Sports Bars. Alright, so sometimes my buddy’s cable goes down (it happens). That’s when I head to my local sports bar. A cold beer, some greasy wings, and a big screen showing the Bulls? Not a bad way to spend an evening.
The Moral of the Story: Watching Bulls games can be a pain in the butt! It takes some trial and error, and maybe a little help from your friends. But hey, when Zach LaVine’s dropping 40 points, it’s all worth it!
Update: So, my buddy finally cut the cord too! Now I use Sling TV with the sports add-on to get the games. It’s cheaper than the other live tv options and it’s pretty reliable.
