Verizon Signs Deals with ESPN, CBS Sports and others for college sports

Verizon deals with various big networks for college sports games.

Verizon Communication (NYSE:VZ) is planning to launch its wireless Internet TV service by the end of 2015. It has also signed a number of deals with channels such as CBS Sports and ESPN and others to distribute college sports programs.

Verizon plans to introduce its “mobile-first” pay-TV service with initial channels of between 20 and 30 channels targeting the young audience who aren’t much interested in typical channels shown on cable TV, Chief Executive Officer Lowell McAdam stated.

"College sports with all of its live programming and networks targeted to millennials are a natural fit for any mobile-first video platform," said Terry Denson, Verizon's VP of content acquisition and strategy.

He Further said, "These brands are at the top of the league, and we're excited to work with them as new content models for our customers develop and evolve."

The deals will provide subscribers to watch full college games, including various famous college games from CBS Sports. Verizon signing up these deals indicate that they will mostly focus on recaps and highlights. It also makes sense as the Internet Service which is mobile focused, the audience would most likely be more interested in the smaller versions.

Fran Shammo Chief Financial Officer at Verizon hinted that the service will use the carrier's LTE multicast technology for broadcasting live events.

However, it also indicates that big networks that have access to popular games don’t wish to offer it online. That’s probably the reason why Verizon is making deals with networks like ACC Digital Network and Campus insiders and 120 sports.

Last year, Verizon acquired Intel’s OnCue over-the-top division for $200 million. Intel had been providing services to compete with Pay-TV service providers but did not continue due to cost issues.

Additionally last year Verizon also purchased content-delivery network provider UpLynk and EdgeCast Networks, which provides streaming video services.Verizon has also announced deals with Viacom, giving a permit to the company to the distribution rights for MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and other channels.

AT&T, the biggest mobile service competitor of Verizon has also hinted of offering future mobile video. Verizon stock were trading at a share price of 50.55, and we up by 0.94% as on Wednesday at 6:27AM.