Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith announced Tuesday that the Utah Jazz have reached an agreement to televise every non-nationally televised game of the 2023-24 season on KJZZ. The broadcast crew will still consist of familiar faces, Craig Bolerjack, Thurl Bailey, and Holly Rowe will continue to call games, while Michael Smith and Alema Harrington will host the pre-and post-game show.
The Jazz released the following details concerning the new TV deal that will grant greater access to all Utah residents.
Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) – parent company of the Utah Jazz – today announced the launch of SEG Media, a new production company, which will grant unprecedented access to the Jazz organization via various platforms including giving Utah Jazz fans ubiquitous access to watch games and access other unique team content through a combination of over-the-air broadcast television and a paid, subscription-based streaming service, starting in the 2023-24 NBA season.
Utilizing a basic antenna connection, fans within the Jazz’s local broadcast market will be able to watch all non-nationally televised Jazz games on an over-the-air, local TV station – KJZZ, channel 14 – which will become “The Home of the Utah Jazz.” Utah Jazz games will also be accessible through local cable and satellite providers carrying KJZZ.
“Our top priority has always been providing the best fan experience possible. When we first took over stewardship of the team, 39% of Utah households had the ability to watch Jazz games, so as soon as the window opened last fall for us to rethink our approach to broadcasting, we began exploring all options to provide fans the most reliable access to Jazz games,” said Ryan Smith, chairman of Smith Entertainment Group and governor of the Utah Jazz. “This new approach is one of the most important investments we have made since purchasing the team because it allows us to deliver Utah Jazz games to all 3.3 million plus Utahns.”
SEG Media/Utah Jazz
Emboldening a new era of content creation, SEG Media is the organization’s first entry into the media and broadcast world. The new production company will produce all Utah Jazz content to be distributed on the over-the-air TV channel, the team’s digital platforms, and a new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming option, with future plans to service other SEG entities and external partners.
Starting October 2023, a new paid, Utah Jazz-branded, subscription-based streaming platform will deliver every available Jazz game, as well as unprecedented access to the team, front office, and corporate management via exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. Full details on the Jazz’s DTC offering will be announced in the coming months.
“Our players work too hard and are too much fun to watch for us to be ok with any fan missing the action. No one has closer proximity to our team than we do, and SEG Media will help Jazz fans experience our organization in a way that has never been possible before, on more channels than ever before,” continued Smith.
Utah Jazz TV broadcasters Craig Bolerjack, Thurl Bailey, and Holly Rowe will continue to call games, while Michael Smith and Alema Harrington will host the pre-and post-game TV show hosts.
The Jazz have granted Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns and operates KJZZ, the rights to air all available Jazz games on the station, and fans should expect significant coverage of the team from Sinclair’s CBS affiliate in the market, KUTV (channel 2). The Jazz will also collaborate with the KJZZ and KUTV teams to distribute additional Jazz-related ancillary programming, produced by SEG Media, throughout the year.
SEG and the Utah Jazz have obtained all necessary approvals from the National Basketball Association and were advised on the new direction by Endeavor/WME Sports. Financial terms are not being disclosed.
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