NBC Sports Chicago Launches New Fan-centric, Social-media-focused ‘Bulls Outsiders’ Show

NBC Sports Chicago is launching Bulls Outsiders – a brand new live, multi-platform, fan-interactive Bulls program that will provide a fresh take on that evening’s game from three non-conventional sports show hosts. Bulls Outsiders will make its network debut after the Bulls’ season opener on Thursday, Oct. 18 (approx. 11 p.m. ET) immediately following Bulls Postgame Live on NBC Sports Chicago+, via live stream to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers at NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive, and on Facebook Live. Bulls Outsiders will also re-air on the main NBC Sports Chicago channel on this night at 11:00 PM (the majority of airings will also air live on the main channel location)

Hosted by three, die-hard Bulls enthusiasts – Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck), David Watson (@bawlsports), and John Sabine (@jsabine214) – Bulls Outsiders will provide viewers with the hottest takes, insightful analysis, and spirited commentary from the fans perspective. This new half-hour program will immediately follow the network’s dedicated, season-long presentation of Bulls Postgame Live for all 82 Bulls games this season.

In addition to the lively post-game discussion with the show’s hosts, Bulls Outsiders will also emphasize heavy viewer interaction via fan engagement on a number of the network’s social media platforms including Twitter (@NBCSBulls; fans urged to utilize the Twitter hashtag #BullsOutsiders in their posts) and Facebook Live, which will enable Bulls fans to directly interact with the show’s hosts via comments and questions pertaining to that particular evening’s game, the key topics presented to them that night, or anything else they want to discuss from a league-wide NBA perspective.

“Our primary goal at NBC Sports Chicago is to super serve our fans and with the introduction of Bulls Outsiders to our multi-platform programming line-up, we are able to continue that mission with a fresh and fun new program that not only speaks to Bulls fans, but one that directly involves them in the dialogue,” says Kevin Cross, VP of Content for NBC Sports Chicago.

In preparation for the hiring of the program’s three primary hosts, NBC Sports Chicago reached out to a number of notable local (and vocal) die-hard Bulls fans who stood out among the vast Bulls social media community. Candidates who responded back with interest were simply asked to shoot a one-minute video on their phone and offer up their take on Chicago native/Simeon Career Academy H.S. grad Jabari Parker joining the Bulls via free agency.  From there, the initial two dozen candidates were narrowed down to eight, who were then all brought in for in-studio auditions. Following the lengthy on-camera process, Cross, along with Bulls content producer Kevin Anderson, finalized their decision and welcomed Peck, Watson, and Sabine to the NBC Sports Chicago family.

“It was an intricate process in choosing our hosts, but there’s no doubt Matt, David, and John have a great chemistry and solid individual strengths,” adds Cross. “I’m also excited about how Bulls Outsiders will take fan interactivity to a brand new level and I couldn’t be more pleased that we will be able to deliver this show to the passionate and undeniably-dedicated Bulls fan base.”

The new Bulls Outsiders host bios:

Matt Peck – Podcast host/writer for ‘Locked On Bulls’
Age: 31
Hometown: Glen Ellyn, IL
Favorite Bull of all time: “MJ, obviously…but Rodman is a very close second.”
Favorite Current Bull: Lauri Markkanen
Favorite Bulls moments:
1st place – “1997 NBA Finals Game 1. MJ hits the game-winner at the buzzer after Karl Malone misses 2 FTs…Mailman doesn’t deliver on Sundays.”
2nd place – “2011 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1…Bulls blow out the ‘Heatles.’ Taj destroys Dwyane Wade’s soul. And has a FILTHY put back dunk late with the route on. The Madhouse goes insane. We all leave that night thinking we were about to win the title.” 

David Watson – Bulls writer/podcast host for BawlSports.com
Age: 39
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite Bulls player of all-time: Michael Jordan
Favorite current Bulls player: Lauri Markkanen
Favorite Bulls moment: “Jordan Flu Game in ‘97…Noah dunk on Paul Pierce in ’09 first round Game 6 Triple OT…oh, and that Pippen dunk on Ewing in the ’94 playoffs.”

John Sabine – Actor, copywriter, and improviser…he has performed with The Second City IO and The Improvised Shakespeare Company.
Age: 34
Hometown: Originally from Dallas, TX…has lived in Chicago for the last 11 years
Favorite Bulls player of all-time: “Pippen or Rodman, it’s probably Rodman. Is it weird it’s Rodman?”
Favorite current Bulls player: “Lauri Markkanen, but really Bobby Portis. I want to be friends with Bobby Portis.”
Favorite Bulls moment: “Jordan’s return from baseball. As a kid I couldn’t understand, I said “wait …he just decided to not play and now he decided to play, but like he has a new number and he’s still awesome…what?!’ or…either 2013 Round 1 Game 4 against the Nets 3OT, Nate Robinson. It was a Marvel Movie.”