NFL streaming on mobile is no longer Verizon-exclusive, including Super Bowl 2018
The Super Bowl may not be Verizon-exclusive to stream on mobile devices any more, it seems, as the NFL announced a new five-year deal with America's largest carrier that introduces other carriers into the mix. Under the auspices of the new streaming deal that Verizon and NFL just outed, "All in-market games including national pre-season, regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl will be open to all mobile customers across Verizon and Oath’s platforms next season."
Starting from the playoffs next month, sports fans on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or another service, can access the games through the official NFL app, Yahoo Sports, and Verizon's own go90 streamer. Big Red will still sponsor the NFL, and keep the Up rewards program at events like the Super Bowl or the NFL Draft.
"Starting with the upcoming playoffs and for seasons to come, live NFL action directly on your mobile device - regardless of carrier - will give millions of fans additional ways to follow their favorite sport," quipped Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner. This is a pretty unexpected move on part of Verizon and the NFL, as the WSJ reports that the carrier's annual rights and sponsorship fees will jump from $250 million to $450 million now. Verizon boasts a reach of 200 million people across its digital platforms, so it may have rightfully concluded that the bigger exposure the games have, the more users they will attract to its assets. NFL, on the other hand, has been struggling with kneeling controversies and diminishing viewership lately, so it seems like a win-win deal.
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