The NFL has signed a new four-year deal with Verizon Wireless, putting an end to a roughly five-year partnership with Sprint (NYSE: S).
The deal is valued at $720 million, including a rights fee and advertising spending, according to the WSJ, which quotes people familiar with the negotiations. NFL fans on the Verizon Wireless network will have access to the popular NFL RedZone channel from the NFL Network, including access to live streaming games on Sunday and Thursday. Verizon will kick off things next month with coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft on April 22. Release.
Sprint reportedly signed a five-year, $600 million deal in September 2005, so either it was not able to renew the deal or did not try to renew the deal. However, the deal has been sweet to Sprint, which packaged it together with its Simply Everything plans, or sold it separately for $15 a month. Sprint said that its NFL Mobile Live app reached 1 million downloads quicker than any other application in the company’s history during the 2008 season, and consistently drove more usage than any other application Sprint offered.
Verizon is not currently saying what phones will be supported or how it will be priced until closer to the start of the NFL season in August.
Other features of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless will include:
—Video: Game highlights and a collection of on-demand video, featuring analysis and access to the NFL Network and NFL Films.
—Audio: Live radio broadcasts of every regular season and playoff game from both home and away teams.
—Fantasy: Access to fantasy information, news, and player and team statistics.
—Customizable NFL alerts, ringtones and graphics.
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