Utah Jazz expand broadcast territory into Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming
Just a few weeks ago, the Utah Jazz announced that more fans than ever would be able to access games over the air on KJZZ or through their new streaming service, Jazz+.
Even though more people had access to games, the Jazz were still wanting more and there were some people who were in strange in-between areas.
Some fans were too far away to get the over-the-air broadcast or watch games on Jazz+, but still were getting blacked out by the NBA’s option, League Pass (even though the NBA has said that shouldn’t have been the case). Some fans were just on the outskirts of the previously outlined maps that detailed where KJZZ and Jazz+ were available, leaving them feeling left behind.
Well, the Jazz worked relentlessly over the past few weeks and in doing so are now able to broadcast their games in an expanded territory that now includes parts of Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming.
“Our broadcast strategy is an evolution,” Jazz owner Ryan Smith said. “We deliberately designed our new approach so we can be nimble and form deals like these most recent outer market agreements that allow us to reach a wider base of fans through every available platform.”
In addition to the previously available areas announced this summer, fans in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming can now watch Jazz games through a KJZZ feed on fuboTV, or subscribe to Jazz+. This comes as part of an expanded agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns KJZZ.
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Additionally, a new deal will allow fans in the rest of Idaho, all of Montana, eastern Washington and eastern Oregon to be able to watch Jazz games through a Root Sports subscription, which is available through nearly all TV providers in those markets (games are subject to programming conflicts and availability).
When the Jazz took over distribution of their broadcast product, rather than a regional sports network, it opened up new conversations that frankly the NBA has not had to deal with much, if at all. Expanding the broadcast territory and looking to offer a team-specific streaming service in outer market areas is really a new frontier for an NBA team.
For example, Root Sports was previously able to broadcast Jazz games through a deal with AT&T SportsNet. Fans within those territories might not have even known or realized that when the deal between the Jazz and AT&T SportsNet ended so too did their ability to see games.
Without a regional sports network dealing with distribution, a Jazz executive team, led by president Jim Olson, has been doing the work to make sure fans were not left in a lurch or didn’t have access for any other reason. It is the new deal between the Jazz and Root Sports that makes it so that Jazz games will continue to be broadcast in those areas.
The Jazz have prioritized trying to realize Smith’s vision of having Jazz games available to as many people as possible. Team sources told the Deseret News that conversations are ongoing between the NBA and other broadcast partners as they try to expand even further.
Some might be wondering, why not just offer Jazz+ in all of the outer market areas? Well, even though Jazz+ is a streaming service, they still have to honor territories where other broadcast groups still have rights, like Root Sports. In order to broadcast games within those territories there has to be an agreement and approval.
That’s one of the things the Jazz are currently working on — trying to make deals with other broadcast groups in order to offer Jazz games in more areas.
