• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 9, 2009

Verizon's telco TV service FiOS has been expanding its on-screen widgets and has a deal with the NBA, where people can use one to subscribe to the league's package that allows people to watch out-of-market games.

The widget to sign up for "NBA League Pass" is free, although the service costs money.

But the widget -- located on FiOS's Widget Bazaar and displayed on the right side of the screen so as not to interrupt programming -- will provide NBA news, score updates and more info.

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg has likened the FiOS widgets to iPhone apps and is looking to add as many as possible, partly to try and draw customers away from cable and satellite operators.

"League Pass" offers 40 games a week.

Verizon also carries the NBA TV network, which is free as part of various FiOS packages.