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Topic: Mobility

iPhone users mourn AT&T's loss of NFL

Summary: Verizon signed a four-year exclusive contract with the NFL which effectively locks out iPad/iPhone customers, at least those on AT&T anyway.

Jason D. O'Grady

By for The Apple Core |

Verizon Wireless announced that it has signed a four-year exclusive contract with the National Football League.

The National Football League (NFL) has joined forces with Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, to provide fans with the deepest NFL experience on select mobile phones, it was announced today.  The new 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...

As part of the deal Verizon Wireless devices will be able to stream NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live Sunday Night and Thursday Night games, amongst other features.

Among the programming that will be available for the first time during the regular season will be the wildly popular 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 the only network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.

This means that only Verizon mobile phones will carry the NFL. Period, end of story. It's bad news for iPad/iPhone users on AT&T (which is all of us, as of now) who will get no NFL -- at least in its official goodness, like live video for example -- for at least four years.

Let's be real though, I'm sure that VZW was the highest bidder and/or simply offered the best value proposition to the almighty NFL. Can you really blame the NFL for going with their best offer? I hope that AT&T is using the money that it saved by not paying the NFL to beef up its network -- which it appears to be doing with great success.

It's another shutout for AT&T, who can't seem to tie its digital shoes these days, and a coup for VZW. It's just another reason why I can't wait for the iPhone to come to Verizon. Please?

What about you? Do you care about streaming the NFL on your device? Or are you planted in front of the 50-inch plasma on Sunday?

Topics: Mobility, Hardware, Networking, Smartphones, Verizon

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Talkback

23 comments
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  • No biggie ...

    This is much to do about nothing. Are there any stats as to how many
    people watch TV on their phones? To me that particular feature isn't
    worth the cost. Most sports fans I know have the packages offered by
    their cable/satellite providers.

    I use to have Sprint's unlimited plan that included select TV viewing. The
    Unlimited plan was $99 a month. I toyed around with the TV shows and
    my bill skyrocketed!
    vince7@...
    Reply Vote

  • Huge Biggie!

    This sealed the deal for me, I'm staying with Verizon. Watching the NFL live on my phone anywhere, Awesome!! Verizon is hitting on all cylinders.
    tgschmidt
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iPhone users mourn AT&T's loss of NFL

    Personally I couldn't care less about the NFL or where it streams its content. I do, care, however, about the disenfranchisement of the consumer as an ENTITLED CITIZEN of this country by the vested self-interest and power of corporate capitalists and their investors, and the ever-weakening power of government to support the common welfare in serving as the legal enforcement arm of corporate policy through well-funded lobbying initiatives and self-serving investor performance pressure.
    podstolom
    Reply Vote

    • Ya know....

      There are other web sites & forums you can go to to vent this kind of stuff whre people really give a crap about what you said.... ;-)
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

    • Huh?

      Um, aren't all of the people who work at large
      corporations ALSO consumers and "entitled
      citizens"?
      I have a 401K and I demand the investment
      company demand the best performance from the
      companies it invests in. Aren't I "entitled" to
      that?
      And why do you think you have rights when it
      comes to any company or corporation? Companies
      can treat consumers however they like. If the
      consumer votes with their dollars, then the
      companies will change. Keep paying money to the
      NFL egos and you'll keep suffering their whims.
      aep528
      Reply Vote

      • Meaning

        ;-) means kidding.... Dont take it so personally. Trying to interject some humor into things is so hard these days, jeese!
        tgschmidt
        Reply Vote

  • Isn't there an ESPN app for the iPhone

    that does NFL with the addition of other sports anyway that does video and play by play, etc...? Such as MLB, NHL, MBA, NASCAR, etc... Or am I thinking about yet another apps that does this?
    Can the NFL cutout ESPN?
    Axsimulate
    Reply Vote

  • What, the almighty

    What, the Almighty iphone didn't help ATT keep business?? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
    Stan57
    Reply Vote

  • Yes!!!!!

    I knew sticking with Verizon would pay off one of these days. Speaking of which - how much are we talking for this service?
    soulquarian
    Reply Vote

    • $$$$$$

      I have Verizon and I barely use my mobi anymore since they nickel and dime me to death for games and web access even though I have an "unlimited" plan. So this NFL BS is not an issue for me. Hope you folks who do watch TV have very deep pockets, with Verizon as your carrier you will need all the cash you can get...
      ThePrairiePrankster
      Reply Vote

  • RE: iPhone users mourn AT&T's loss of NFL

    I guess that's bad if your into sports and stuff.
    Loverock Davidson
    Reply Vote

  • One Word

    SLINGBOX. And if you get a family member to set a cable box for you and you add a Slingbox there, you can get out of market games on CBS or FOX.
    jbelkin
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iPhone users mourn AT&T's loss of NFL

    Who cares? Dang that is what I have a TV and a computer for!
    This looks more like a Verizon commercial than a real article. How much did Verizon pay for this piece. How lazy is this article. How about some professional journalism. I need substance not a substitute for useful information. We don't care if you can view a football game on a @#$# cellphone. That is what I have a big screen TV and incredible sound system for.
    tom.reh@...
    Reply Vote

    • Hey.... I care

      I am not always able to be home for game's & dont want to watch them on DVR, live is better. I travel allot for work & not always able to watch my local team on TV. When on vacation I want to be able to watch. Being at a party or event that does not have a TV on, all kinds of reasons! Having this available is a great thing & I am really excited about it!
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

      • Slingbox would pay for itself in a year

        Verizon will charge a premium price. I would suggest you take a look at Slingbox, the upfront cost of buying the device can easily rationalized when compared to the fees that Verizon will stick to you. I am a Verizon customer who likes the service but is finding it cost prohibitive to stay their customer.
        ThePrairiePrankster
        Reply Vote

  • iPhone users can still watch the NFL

    NFL Sunday Ticket and the Supercast App will still work as
    they always have. This is just a PR boost and some free
    content for VZW subscribers. The NFL won't be leaving the
    iPhone.
    A/UX
    Reply Vote

  • What really blows...

    ... is NFL Sunday ticket only being available on DirecTV.
    Hallowed are the Ori
    Reply Vote

  • What about AT&T's NON iPhone useres?

    Are they mourning the loss too, or just the iPhone users?
    John Zern
    Reply Vote

  • I want Sharks games, but Comcast won't let me. :( [nt]

    [nt]
    olePigeon
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iPhone users mourn AT&T's loss of NFL

    Just a sign of the NFL abusing its monopoly... I really do
    wish regulators would begin investigating their practices.
    Remember their deal a few years back with EA to have only
    1 "official" NFL video game, essentially crapping on the
    market for those of us who liked seeing EA get pushed for
    features and pushed on price... instead, prices went back
    up and I had to give up playing football games.

    (only way they'll learn is to vote with the wallet, and there's
    no way I'm paying the NFL to restrict competition among
    game companies)
    merlin747
    Reply Vote
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