• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, November 30, 2006

The NFL will offer live regular-season games over the Internet for the first time in the U.S. next month. Six games broadcast simultaneously on the NFL Network will be available to a select group of Verizon Internet customers.

The ads slotted in the NFL Network broadcasts will also run in the Verizon feed. But the Verizon content will feature some added-value as viewers will be able to select alternate camera angles as well as audio feeds, including from players wearing microphones in action. An NFL spokesman was unsure whether those additional features would be sponsorship opportunities.

While somewhat of a groundbreaking move since it will allow consumers to watch live NFL games anywhere there's a broadband connection, only about 344,000 customers will actually be able to do so at first. That's because only Verizon DSL customers who also have DirecTV through Verizon (about 250,000), or customers who have both Verizon's FiOS-branded telco TV and Internet services (about 94,000) will be able to tap in.

In addition to the six live games, starting Dec. 7 with Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland, two college bowl games will also be simulcast online.

The NFL's deal with Verizon appears to be another effort by the league to increase pressure on large cable operators such as Comcast and Time Warner to start carrying its network. A carriage deal presumably would include the chance for the MSOs to offer the live games to their broadband customers. (FiOS and DirecTV carry the channel.)

Eligible consumers will be able to log on to the surround.verizon.net site around the globe to watch the games.