If you want to make friends, give people something they want for free. That isn’t the only rationale behind Chicago Sports Network’s decision, but that’s how many received it.

The Chicago Sports Network is supplanting NBC Sports Chicago, the 20-year-old regional sports network whose broadcast rights expire after the current White Sox season.

Comcast is planning to shut down its regional sports network for Chicago as the company loses some of its most-lucrative sports rights to a startup broadcast television network. This month, some pay TV platforms like YouTube TV and Comcast’s own Xfinity TV began notifying subscribers that NBC Sports Chicago will be removed from packages on October 1,

The network will be available to subscribers of DIRECTV’s Choice packages or higher, just as NBCSCH has been. That network will go off the air on Sept. 30.

An agreement between the new Chicago Sports Network and DIRECTV will provide live Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox games to five states, including Illinois, beginning next month. In a news release Wednesday,

DirecTV becomes first major distributor to deliver Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox games across all three teams’ home territories

We have always prided ourselves on being a sports leader and intend to remain at the forefront,” said DIRECTV Chief Content Officer Rob Thun. “The most important element in