Sports fans have long awaited the NFL to make the big leap into the mobile streaming market. Thanks to a deal between the NFL and Verizon Wireless (VZ) on Tuesday, football fans were finally granted their wish.
According to CBSSports.com, the NFL and Verizon Wireless struck a deal for the rights to stream all games within local markets. The deal is reportedly worth $1 billion over four years.
The new NFL Verizon App will reportedly launch in 2014 and will only be available on Verizon Wireless smartphones.
The NFL also announced an update for its mobile app that will give mobile users streaming access to Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night games, as well as NFL Network and RedZone. This update is expected to be ready for the upcoming season.
The deal opens up many exciting doors for NFL fans. The NFL Verizon app will allow fans to stream games in their local market on the go, as well as the entire postseason. It will also allow fans to watch two games at one time: one at the stadium and one on a smartphone.
Sports fans have grown frustrated over the years with the lack of content available on mobile devices. Tuesday’s deal is certainly a big step in the right direction, and the day is nearing when all sporting events will be available to stream on mobile devices.
This newly acquired content could be a major source of revenue and subscription growth in the future for Verizon. Shares traded up on Tuesday, rising .37 percent to $48.84.
