Tuesday September 26, 2023
The Best Employers in Sports Survey is Now Open!

Like The Suns, Jazz Are Ditching Their Cable Regional Sports Network

  • Jazz games next season will air locally on Sinclair's free KJZZ channel.
  • The team will also launch a paid service to stream games as cable RSNs continue to lose rights.
Utah Jazz is moving away fron RSN TV model.
Photo: USA Today
Front Office Sports Today

How Jamie Erdahl Made Good Morning Football Her Own

Jamie Erdahl joins to discuss her career and the growth of “Good Morning Football.”
Listen Now
September 25, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

The Utah Jazz will air games next season on a local, over-the-air TV station and streaming service — becoming the latest team to move away from a cable regional sports network. 

All non-nationally televised Jazz games next season will air on KJZZ, a Salt Lake City-based TV station owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Jazz games previously aired on Warner Bros. Discovery’s AT&T SportsNet, a collection of RSNs that could shut down by October. 

Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Jazz, launched a new production company called SEG Media to lead the team’s new broadcast distribution strategy. Jazz games will also stream on the team’s new paid-subscription streaming service launching in October. 

The Jazz are following the same model as the Phoenix Suns, who in April agreed to air games on local TV station Gray Television and launch a new streaming service. However, a bankruptcy judge blocked the deal because it violated the Suns’ agreement with Sinclair’s Diamond Sports Group.

Since the Jazz are working directly with a local TV station owned by Sinclair, the team is likely to avoid the same legal challenge faced by the Suns. 

Sinclair’s bankrupt cable RSNs have missed payments to several team partners across sports. MLB recently took over Sinclair’s San Diego Padres distribution rights to air games locally on DirecTV, Cox, AT&T U-Verse, fuboTV, Spectrum, and MLB.TV.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Commanders Still Face Legal Fight Over Former Name

More than three years after shedding their former nickname, the Washington Commanders are still facing legal hurdles in connection with it. 

ESPN's Reported Studio Closures Could Mean More Layoffs

ESPN's Seaport studio will reportedly close by 2025.

NFL Owners' Debt Limit Could Increase To $1.6B

Currently, new NFL owners can use $1 billion of debt.
The in-market KnightTime+ streaming service will offer 69 regular-season games.

Vegas Golden Knights Launch New Streaming Model Amid RSN Fallout

The KnightTime+ streaming service will offer 69 regular-season games.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How Jamie Erdahl Made Good Morning Football Her Own

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Rob-Manfred-MLB

Oakland-MLB Relationship Devolves Into Next-Level Toxicity

Commissioner, mayor have very different accounts of July meeting
Jacksonville Jaguars Team President Mark Lamping addressed community members at Strings Sports Brewery on Main Street for the first of 14 planned town hall sessions to present the team's plans for the new "stadium of the future" complex and address the public concerns.
September 25, 2023

Jacksonville Jaguars President Walks Back Stadium ‘Threat’

"Viewing those comments as a threat to leave Jacksonville isn't correct."
Chatri Sityodtong
September 25, 2023

ONE Championship's Quest To Challenge Rival UFC Through U.S. Expansion

Leveraging its Amazon deal, ONE Championship seeks to expand in U.S.
Savannah-Bananas
September 24, 2023

Savannah Bananas Break All The Rules To Hit The Mainstream

Team concludes 2023 tour with even-bigger plans for next year

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Ohio State players celebrate after after their defeat of Notre Dame in the final seconds at Notre Dame Stadium.

Ohio State-Notre Dame Scores Historic 10.5M Viewers for NBC

It was NBC’s second-most-watched regular-season college football game ever.
September 24, 2023

Fox Opts For College Sports Over WWE Post-UFC Merger

Fox has plenty of college sports to lean on in WWE's absence.
Deion Sanders and The Rock
September 21, 2023

Deion Sanders Reshaping College Football Fanbase With Buffaloes Surge

Deion Sanders has made Colorado "Black America's Team."
NBC will reportedly pay $287 million annually across five years to air broadcast on USA Network.
September 21, 2023

NBC Inks WWE SmackDown Rights for Reported $1.4 Billion

The reported rights fee is about 40% higher than SmackDown's Fox deal.
September 20, 2023

Can Amazon Keep Up NFL Viewership Boost After Record Week 1?

The San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants face off on Thursday night.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is tripped up by New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium.
September 20, 2023

NFL Viewership Sees 2% Increase in First Two Weeks of 2023 Season

The NFL is experiencing its highest viewership since 2018.
September 19, 2023

WBD Pursues ‘Different’ Strategy For Sports on Max

Company to place all of its live sports on new streaming tier
September 19, 2023

Colorado's Epic Victory Sets New ESPN Prime Time Viewership Record

Coach Prime Deion Sanders delivered in prime time on ESPN.