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Verizon Calls Play To Broadcast NFL Games On Web

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By RICHARD MULLINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

Tapping into America's great love of Thanksgiving and football, Verizon soon will unveil a new way to watch the games - online.

Verizon has signed an arrangement with the NFL Network, letting some Verizon customers watch NFL games live on their computer, plus take that access anywhere with a broadband link.

The online service lets viewers use their computers to watch certain games in multiple camera angles, with live statistics and other features. The system works from any broadband connection, even those other than Verizon, so customers visiting a friend's house could turn on their friend's system there to watch an interactive version of the game simultaneously with a traditional television.

Verizon has been launching the service in stages across the country during the past year. Although the NFL Network carries just a few pro football games live, the network is adding more games exclusively with each season.

In the Tampa Bay area, the new Verizon system will start with the "Road to the Playoffs" - eight regular-season, primetime Thursday and Saturday games, beginning with the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons.

Although there's no extra charge for the service, customers must subscribe to Verizon's FiOS high speed Internet (or high-speed DSL Internet service) and subscribe to Verizon's FiOS TV service (or DirecTV satellite service distributed by Verizon). Then, they log onto a Verizon Web site, verizon.net/nfl, and use their Verizon.net e-mail address as a user name.

Although the video images of the games are not in high definition, the system is set up so customers can plug their notebook computers into a larger TV screen to watch the games in a larger image.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919 or rmullins@tampatrib.com.

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