Deseret News | Utah Jazz: DirecTV defends action, describing KJZZ-TV's demands 'outrageous'

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Utah Jazz: DirecTV defends action, describing KJZZ-TV's demands 'outrageous'

Direct TV | 7:30 a.m. Jan. 3, 2009

will be missing a lot of money as well as QWest if they do not rethink this issue. At the price they charge for their service more and more people will migrate to other service.

You don't suppose this is a greedy grab what with the February digital issue coming up do you?

kirby | 8:07 a.m. Jan. 3, 2009

I have been a jazz supporter from Florida for years--I order nba package just to see every Jazz game--if this is not resolved , I will switch to dish--I'm furious!

Keith Suds.... | 8:20 a.m. Jan. 3, 2009

Miller needs money!

So he can give it to Boozer!

Who sits behind the bench in expensive suits!

The suits were purchased in LA & Miami!

Comments continue below

KK | 1:34 p.m. Jan. 3, 2009

I don't believe DirecTV for one second. I have a friend who works in their customer service department and says the NFL Sunday ticket makes more than enough money to pay for all its (DirecTV) costs. I think they are using "tough economic" times as a scapegoat like everything else. Glad I have comcast (most days).

Think about it | 1:57 p.m. Jan. 3, 2009

Before you condemn DirecTV, ask yourself what you would pay for KJZZ alone. Other than a few Jazz games, with second-rate audio and video, what do you watch on KJZZ? I won't miss it.

Comcast | 2:13 p.m. Jan. 3, 2009

So DirectTV won't give us Jazz games, and Dish Network won't give us BYU and Utah games.....sounds like Comcast will be laughing all the way to the bank while the satellite providers continue to lose customers. If you don't give the customers what they want....they will find somewhere else to get it. Plain and simple. If I were in Comcast's marketing department...I'd be putting on a big push right now...you want KJZZ and the MTN???...Here we are.

GoodGuyGary | 3:38 p.m. Jan. 3, 2009

Again, for Dish Netword and DirectTV, KJZZ, BYU, and Utah may not be cash cows for them. I think it is pure business decision for DirectTV and Dish Network not to carry the games. Comcast is different, they already had the investment in the physical cable network, they have to have local subscriptions to pay for the investment, so they will do whatever the subscribers want.

Kurt | 10:02 a.m. Jan. 4, 2009

I finally coughed up the $$ for Directv because KJZZ had failed as the Flagship station of the Utah Jazz. When KJZZ came to life, it was suppose to offer all sorts of programming geared towards the Jazz and its fans. Now there are barely a handful of games shown on KJZZ. Now that I am paying big money for Directv, KJZZ can fade away, their programming is awful and does not provide any benefit to the community at all. If KJZZ is holding Directv and Jazz fans hostage because they want money for something that is broadcasrt for free over the air because they need the money to survive, then LHM needs to save his $$$ and shut down KJZZ. It has failed to live up to its hype.

Yeah right | 12:02 p.m. Jan. 4, 2009

"A lot" of KJZZ advertisers are 100% behind them? If I were paying for advertising on KJZZ, I don't think I would be really happy about them blocking my access to a large group of potential customers, but that's just me.

Upset | 11:29 p.m. Jan. 4, 2009

I live outside of Utah and enjoyed seeing and hearing Craig and Ron via DirecTV. But recently I moved to an apartment complex that won't allow many of the tenants to have satellite dishes. I now have Comcast and found it very limited. BUT it looks like I'll see JZZ for the rest of the season. I do prefer KJZZ commentators over the cheerleaders that do the commentary for teams like the Clippers or the Mavericks.

alot of hot air | 1:30 p.m. Jan. 5, 2009

I have DirecTV for the mountain and for MLB extra innings so I can see the Dodgers; I will be sad if they do not continue with KJZZ but I can still see it on cable at my work.

DISH lost my business over the MTN issue and all of the sports packaging they said they would have but never did; nor will they for many years to come/ ( MLB has an exclusive contract with DirecTV for 5 more seasons as I believe they do with the NFL), KJZZ needs to just give all the games to FSN and make it a more legit local Fox sports affiliate.

BYE BYE KJZZ | 9:13 p.m. Jan. 5, 2009

I really don't care that KJZZ is gone. 66 of the 82 Jazz games are not even on KJZZ. They are on FSN Utah (Channel 684). Other than the 16 Jazz games this year, I had no plans to watch KJZZ. What programming would I watch? Friends re-runs? No thank you.

Mr. Miller, your little station does not produce any of its own content other than Jazz games. Why would DirecTV pay you to rebroadcast re-runs? They already have other channels that do that: TNT and TBS.

KJZZ | 10:44 p.m. Jan. 5, 2009

That's part of the deal, it's business, i'm with dish, so apparently i'm in the good, if i were with directv i'd be changing my subscripiton, what a bunch of chimps.

Scartissue | 6:41 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

What is this KJZZ that you speak?
I agree with others...KJZZ has become inconsequential as the team has moved the majority of their games to Fox Sports. If I were DirectTV I wouldn't give them a dime for a free over-the-air station that only shows a handful of Jazz games and Dr. Phil the rest of the time.

1i | 7:14 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Anyone on Direct TV's side is just dumb. Dish Network, Comcast, and other local cable providers have all agreed. All those companies are paying KJZZ why is Direct TV being difficult. This problem is on Direct TV more than KJZZ.
I'm not loosing this battle so call in and complain I have a few times sent plenty of e-mails be stern and tell them you want KJZZ back, this is bull. Why shouldn't direct tv have to compensate KJZZ when Dish, Comcast and all others carrying KJZZ willing compensate them just like any other local channel for their broadcasting. Call 1-800-531-5000 and complain.

Anonymous | 9:23 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

It simple put rabbit ears in your tv and go to channel 14 and you can watch KJZZ and once we go digital you can get a free digital receiver and go to channel 14 and still watch KJZZ. You can do that even if you have Direct TV

some money is better than none | 9:45 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

The issue is not that DirecTV won't pay them any money but they don't want to pay what KJZZ is asking - they have been trying to negotiate a lower price and KJZZ won't accept it! Besides, I never got the KJZZ in HD through DriecTV so unless the two companies can agree to broadcast the KJZZ in HD, watching Jazz games on KJZZ was awful anyway!

KJZZ goodbye | 7:55 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

I never watched this channel except when it broadcast some Jazz games. I will not miss them, because of poor picture quality with no HD. KJZZ and MIller company lost viewers.

susy randall | 6:51 p.m. Jan. 11, 2009

who cares about the jazz I miss Jeporday and People"s Court. Guess I'll have to watch Judge Judy more.

Dave Devey | 6:19 p.m. Jan. 20, 2009

I just checked the TV guide listings and I see KJZZ is listed in Standard Def Only on Direct TV. The Jazz games are the only HD programming on KJZZ when viewed over the air. I can see why Direct-tv would not want to dedicate valuable bandwidth to a second rate tv station like ch-14....I commend Larry Miller for Broadcasting the Jazz in HD, however he ought to bring his tv station up to standards. Then the public will be better motivated to press Direct-TV to carry KJZZ...Clean up you act KJZZ

HD | 11:08 a.m. Jan. 21, 2009

The KJZZ News at 9am M-F and 9pm seven nights a week are broadcast in HD as well as the weekly Joseph Smith Papers Specials. These programs come in great on my HD receiver.

jack | 1:44 p.m. March 29, 2009

Is KJZZ still around? I heard they have laid evryone off...

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