• March 10, 2010

The NFL is coming to Verizon Wireless through a new four-year deal between the league and the nation's largest carrier valued at a whopping $720 million. The agreement allows Verizon to offer live streaming of games, including Sunday afternoon broadcasts, as well as access to the NFL's popular RedZone Channel starting next season. The pact will formally kick off with coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft on April 22.

Under the deal, Verizon will also become the official wireless sponsor of the NFL. The carrier replaces Sprint as the exclusive mobile partner of the NFL. The previous distribution deal with Sprint, which began in 2005, was valued at only $120 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. In addition to live coverage, the NFL Mobile service on Verizon will include on-demand video and analysis from the NFL Network and NFL Films, news and statistics and alerts.

Verizon plans to provide pricing information for NFL Mobile in the coming weeks. It will work on the carrier's BlackBerry and Android phones and won't necessarily require a device upgrade. --Mark Walsh