Utah Jazz: Sign long-term deal with FSN Utah; KJZZ won't televise games

PORTLAND, Ore. — When the deal finally is done, coach Jerry Sloan can't promise he'll be a viewer.

But that didn't stop the Jazz and FSN Utah from signing a contract extension through the 2020-21 NBA season that calls for the network to have exclusive regional television rights to all of the team's regular-season games for the next 12 years.

The deal means no regular-season games will be shown on KJZZ-TV, the local station controlled by the Jazz's Miller family ownership.

It also means no Jazz games will be shown free and over-the-air.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but obviously are such that entering into such a long-term agreement makes sense for the Jazz.

"To do a deal of that length," said Chris Baum, KJZZ's senior vice president of broadcasting, "both parties have to feel really good about the terms."

Even if it lasts so long Sloan can't be sure he'll tune in.

"I probably won't be watching them then," the longtime Jazz coach joked.

Baum said there were multiple reasons to make such a pact, but mainly it's the result of an established business relationship between FSN Utah, parent company Liberty Sports Group and the Jazz.

FSN Utah is part of Fox Sports Regional Networks, a.k.a. Fox Sports Net, a collection of cable TV regional networks.

The network aired 27 games during the 2004-05 season, 40 games the following season and 60 games last season.

FSN Utah will telecast 77 of 82 games this season — all on HD, and the most Jazz games ever on FSN dating to 1988-89 — and TNT will carry the other five nationally.

"FSN has been a great partner of ours," Baum said. "They really believe in the strength and power of our franchise."

Baum suggested the deal does not stem from a dispute last season between KJZZ and DirectTV that resulted in the satellite provider not carrying the network, and as a result Jazz games, for a time.

The broadcast VP said FSN Utah has long-term deals with all major satellite and cable providers, meaning customers of DirecTV, the Dish Network and Comcast all will be an offered an opportunity to buy access to the Jazz games.

FSN Utah's right to air Jazz games extends to viewers within the NBA-designated Utah Jazz territory, which includes all of the state of Utah and portions of Colorado, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming, along with territories in the FSN Northwest footprint, which includes portions of Idaho Washington, Oregon and the remainder of Montana.

Baum also said KJZZ, which aired 16 self-produced Jazz games last season but shows mostly syndicated programming, will continue to operate even with the NBA no longer available.

"Jazz games were an important part of KJZZ," he said, "but it isn't the only thing KJZZ has."

Play-by-play man Craig Bolerjack and longtime Jazz broadcast analyst Ron Boone will team for a fifth straight season, but exclusively now on FSN Utah.

FSN Utah also will carry the usual 30-minute pre- and postgame show, "Jazz Live," along with a halftime show hosted by David James, Thurl Bailey and Pace Mannion.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com