SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Writer, Rick Reilly, Swings Into Action On V CAST Phones From Verizon Wireless

BEDMINSTER, NJ and NEW YORK — For the first time, Sports Illustrated brings original and exclusive content from one of its most well-known personalities, popular SI columnist Rick Reilly, directly to the phones of Verizon Wireless V CAST customers. Starting today, V CAST customers can access "Riffs of Reilly," a weekly two-to-three minute video segment that offers the very latest from Rick Reilly. Following the exclusive V CAST period each week, "Riffs of Reilly" will also be available online at SI.com — Sports Illustrated's Web site.

Part of an integrated multi-media deal that includes print, online and wireless components, Verizon Wireless' V CAST customers can view "Riffs of Reilly" during an exclusive 24-hour period each week, a day prior to it being made available to users of SI.com. The unique content, produced by SI, features comments on various topics and issues related to the sports world from Rick Reilly — the uproarious and often controversial senior writer for Sports Illustrated. Reilly, author of the weekly "Life of Reilly" column which runs on the last page of SI, was the first signed weekly opinion columnist in the magazine's 51-year history.

"With original content from Rick Reilly on V CAST and SI.com, we can reach sports fans beyond the pages of the magazine," said Jeff Price, president of SI Digital. "This marks the first time that we've worked with a major wireless provider to bring the outstanding editorial talent of Sports Illustrated to multiple digital platforms. This relationship provides V CAST customers with a great weekly video segment that is exclusive to Verizon Wireless, while furthering SI's overall mobile strategy, which is to deliver unique content directly into the hands of sports enthusiasts across the country via their wireless phones and SI.com."

John Harrobin, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless, said "The engaging 10-time National Sportswriter of the Year is a perfect fit for V CAST, enabling fans coast to coast to enjoy Reilly's unique style and sensibility and further extending the range of new and relevant V CAST programming. Our relationship with SI gives V CAST customers exclusive first-look access to the latest video segments from Reilly in the palms of their hands — whether he's talking about wrestling priests in Mexico City or offering a critical view of this year's choices for the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

V CAST from Verizon Wireless allows customers to view video clips from the hottest names in entertainment, news, sports and more in the palms of their hands. V CAST is currently available to about 150 million Americans in 180 major metropolitan markets.

To get V CAST from Verizon Wireless, customers simply equip their V CAST-enabled phones with a V CAST VPak subscription for $15.00 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan. Unlimited basic video clips are included, but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

About SI
SI is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports. The SI franchise is anchored by SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, the most respected voice in sports journalism which reaches a weekly audience of more than 20 million adults, and SI.COM, the magazine's 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 150 original stories to its users each week. The SI franchise also includes SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS (sikids.com), a monthly magazine targeted to kids age 8 and up; SI PRESENTS the magazine's specialty publishing division; as well as SI DIGITAL, SI BOOKS, SI PICTURES, SI PRODUCTIONS, and SI EVENTS. Founded in 1954, SI is a division of Time Inc., the world's leading magazine publishing company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.

About Rick Reilly
Author of the weekly "Life of Reilly" column, which runs on the last page of SI, the 47-year-old Reilly is the first weekly opinion columnist in the magazine's 51-year history. The New York Daily News called him "one of the funniest humans on the planet." His current book "Shanks for Nothing" (Doubleday), a sequel to the cult classic "Missing Links", hits the stores this May. His last book "Who's Your Caddy?" rose to No. 3 on the New York Times best-seller list. He lives in Denver.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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