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December 31, 2008 (Salt Lake City) --A retransmission agreement between DIRECTV, a national satellite TV provider, and KJZZ-TV, a local independent TV station that carries the Jazz basketball games, local sports and syndicated programming, will be suspended at midnight tonight. Viewers who want to see the Utah Jazz games carried on DIRECTV again should contact DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000.
According to Chris Baum, General Manager of KJZZ-TV, "DIRECTV has denied KJZZ TV a retransmission consent agreement. They have deemed that the 16 premiere Jazz games produced in High Definition and aired by KJZZ are of no value to their customers. Although DIRECTV profits from KJZZ programming by way of monthly satellite fees to their subscribers, it has never paid for programming created or provided by KJZZ. We have established fair and reasonable agreements with the other satellite providers as well as many local cable companies. We are shocked by their decision."
Cable and satellite providers normally pay TV stations and networks for programming content they provide their subscribers in order for the stations to pay the expense of producing and delivering the content. This "retransmission fee" is partly what subscribers are paying for in their monthly cable or satellite bill.
All of the programming KJZZ offers, including the Utah Jazz, high school sports, KJZZ News at Nine, POWERHOUSE, The Joseph Smith Papers and other shows will continue to be available over the air, through DISH Network and Comcast Cable.
Customers need to call DirecTV and express that KJZZ TV and the Utah Jazz be part of their program lineup.
