• by David Goetzl , December 26, 2007

Verizon Wireless is becoming a sports hub. After NBC offered it Notre Dame football games and ESPN supplied NBA games, Verizon Wireless branched out. The company is showcasing a slew of college football bowl games live on its mobile service through Jan. 6.

The full-length simulcasts of 24 games began Dec. 20 with the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, and are mostly carried on the ESPN channel. A few, however, run on other networks carried on the V Cast service, such as the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day on Fox Mobile.

Verizon bills the game coverage as "a significant benefit for sports fans traveling during the holidays."

The BCS and national championship games that Fox carries will not be available--although CBS will offer the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 on its V Cast channel, featuring a Texas Tech team that showcases a dynamic offense.

This fall, NBC's simulcasts of Notre Dame football games on V Cast and NBA games are on the ESPN channel all season. There have also been a run of live events from the U.S. Open golf tournament to Wimbledon.

Ryan Hughes, vice president of digital media programming for Verizon, said: "By bringing 24 bowl games to V Cast Mobile TV from ESPN Mobile TV, CBS Mobile and Fox Mobile, Verizon Wireless is once again demonstrating our commitment to deliver the best, exclusive programming available on mobile phones."

V Cast, available in more than 50 cities, debuted in March. MediaFLO USA provides the technology backbone for the service.