Rumors have been flying about a possible mobile version of the NFL's RedZone Channel for a long time. However, no one knew where it would finally land. According to a press release from Verizon today, it looks like we have an answer. The NFL has joined forces with Verizon Wireless to provide fans with streaming NFL content.
The four-year agreement for NFL Mobile kicks off next month with coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft to be held from April 22-24 and continues with the NFL's regular season.
Among the programming that will be available for the first time during the regular season will be the NFL RedZone Channel from the NFL Network, which airs live "look-ins" of every key play and touchdown from Sunday afternoon games. Fans also will be able to watch live streaming of NBC's Sunday Night Football and NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. In addition, fans will receive the NFL Network channel, which airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis, and is fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.
"This is an agreement that has, at its core, a mutual desire by both the NFL and Verizon Wireless to provide consumers with what they want on and off the field," said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, in a statement. "For Verizon Wireless, it is NFL content delivered over our 3G network so football fans can extend the excitement of the sport long after the last touchdown of a season. And the NFL content is customizable in that consumers have options from video to ringtones to alerts; the choice is theirs."
"We are looking forward to working with Verizon Wireless to deliver our fans the most extensive experience on mobile phones," said Brian Rolapp, the NFL's senior vice president of media strategy, in a statement. "Our fans have an insatiable appetite for football, and we will be able to keep them connected wherever they are on game day but also throughout the year."
In addition to NFL RedZone, live Sunday Night and Thursday Night games, and NFL Network, other features of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless will include: game highlights, live radio broadcasts of every regular season and playoff game from both home and away teams, access to fantasy information, customizable NFL alerts, ringtones and graphics.