Please stop the bickering

By now, anyone who subscribes to DirecTV here in Utah knows that KJZZ and the satellite TV giant are not getting along.

You might have guessed that when you try to tune in to Ch. 14 and you discover it's no longer available. That's because the two sides can't agree on whether DirecTV should be paying for Ch. 14's signal, let alone how much. KJZZ blames DirecTV. DirecTV blames KJZZ. Viewers in general — and Jazz fans in particular — are caught in the middle.

And if you're expecting me to take sides in this dispute, I'll take the side of those viewers.

Gee, can't we all just get along?

As personally passionate as fans can be about the Jazz, this kind of dispute takes place on an entirely different plane. This is about business, not passion.

When will it end? Well, remember, it took two full years after The mtn. launched before the Mountain West Conference's TV channel made it onto DirecTV's lineup. And we're still waiting for the home of most BYU and Utah football and basketball games to get picked up by Dish.

And The mtn. situation adds irony to the plot. If you don't have DirecTV, you can't get The mtn. on satellite. And if you have The mtn., you can't get the Jazz on Ch. 14.

Sigh.

Who's telling the truth in the Big Battle Between KJZZ and DirecTV? They both are. And they're both lying.

It's called "spin."

For example, DirecTV says KJZZ is demanding an "exorbitant" amount for its signal. KJZZ says its demands are in line with its deal with Dish.

KJZZ says it derives no benefit from having DirecTV pick up its signal without paying for it. Which isn't exactly true, because KJZZ can sell advertising based on all of its viewers, including the ones who watch on DirecTV.

(And advertisers may not be getting what they paid for if KJZZ isn't on DirecTV. Which is a problem for KJZZ.)

KJZZ says that DirecTV is charging its subscribers for KJZZ's programming without paying KJZZ for that programming. Which is true. DirecTV customers do pay a monthly fee for local channels — a flat fee for all the local channels. Until recently, in Utah that included Ch. 14.