The Utah Jazz took the next step in their new-age media rights distribution for the 2023-24 season Wednesday, as they launched Jazz+, their direct-to-consumer streaming service.
The service will be a key component of the team’s broadcast plans in its 50th season as it moves off a regional sports network and allows fans to watch games either for free over the air on local television or online through their streaming app. The Jazz will broadcast games locally on KJZZ and stream them on their new app. It is expected to be available for anyone in the state of Utah and the entire in-market region, which includes parts of Idaho and Wyoming.
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“We’ve got a great new broadcast partner situation where we’re over the air free to 100 percent of the state of Utah, but we also realize that not everybody’s sitting at home every game night able to watch the game on their TV,” Jazz president Jim Olson said. “And so streaming is a huge part of that. And so we set out very early on to create a streaming service that we control, that we brand, it’s us. It’s not a third party. It’s not someone else that has ulterior motives. We want a streaming service that is directly us to our customer.”
Jazz+ will charge $125.50 for an annual plan, $15.50 for a monthly subscription and also allow fans to buy individual games for $5. This makes it the second streaming app to make lone games available to buy after MSG+ announced it would do the same for the games broadcast in the New York market.
The direct-to-consumer service, which is run by Smith Entertainment Group, also will have what officials say will be original shows, behind-the-scenes content and replays of Jazz games. SEG will handle production for all of it. Games also will feature a Spanish-language broadcast stream, using the team’s Spanish radio call. The broadcast lag is expected to be just a few seconds.
“Our plans and our goal and where we’re headed, and where we will launch, is to lead the league in terms of teams when it comes to original content offerings that are exclusive to our streaming subscribers,” Jazz chief communications officer Caroline Klein said.
The Jazz will be one of three NBA teams this season to have a standalone streaming service, along with the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns. The Jazz, like the Suns, are embracing a hybrid broadcast approach this season after fleeing an RSN.
The Jazz are also attempting to get access to Jazz+ beyond the local market and other nearby markets that are not considered primary NBA ones, such as Montana, so consumers can watch Jazz games there instead of through NBA League Pass. The team first needs approval from the league, but Olson called it a priority and said, “We’re very confident that we’re going to be able to do this.”
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Jazz+ will allow fans who leave the market to continue to watch the app for up to 30 days if they travel domestically.
“With Jazz+, we have created 24/7 digital access to the team,” Jazz governor Ryan Smith said in a statement. “We are so excited that all Utahns can be with us for every minute of the action.”
(Photo: Jeffrey Swinger / USA Today)
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