No football, no problem. Sprint has just inked a deal to get ESPN Mobile TV on its handsets.
The news comes a few days after rival Verizon Wireless intercepted NFL Mobile in a deal reportedly worth $720 million, and it will bring Sprint users a wide variety live programming and sports entertainment. Sprint originally said it did not renew its deal for NFL Mobile because the return on investment wasn’t quite there, but it looks like the third-largest carrier is still trying to court sports fans. Programming through this April will include:
- 23 Live Men’s NCAA Basketball Games (including Conference Championship games)
- 19 Live Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship Games
- 9 NBA Playoff Games
- 15 Regular Season NBA Games
- 30 Live NBA Fastbreak Shows
- 10 Regular Season MLB Games
- 50 Live Baseball Tonight Studio Shows
- 3 College Football Spring games
- 3 Live Friday Night Fights
- 3 Live NCAA Hockey Championship Games
- 5 Live MLS Matches
“This collaboration is about giving great programming to our customers who are sports fans,” said Len Barlik, Sprint’s VP of wireless services, in a prepared statement. “Sprint is committed to delivering the best mobile video experience, which will continue to be enhanced with the deployment of our Sprint 4G services.”
Like the NFL service, ESPN Mobile will be included at no additional cost for those with a Simply Everything or Everything data plan and it will be compatible with multiple handsets including the Pre, Hero, Moment, and BlackBerry handsets. Last time, a few Sprint fans expressed their displeasure with losing the NFL. Does this move make up for it?
[Via Sprint]