Watch The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 On V CAST From Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and NEW YORK — NHL fans who don’t want to miss a single shift of the upcoming Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic™ 2009 on New Year’s Day can tune into the game on their wireless phones with V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless, the two companies announced today.

At 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1, the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings in the League’s annual outdoor game to be played this season at iconic Wrigley Field in Chicago. Verizon Wireless is teaming with the National Hockey League to bring both avid hockey fans and casual sports enthusiasts who want to be part of the historic event the opportunity to watch it on New Year’s Day. The game will be streamed in its entirety and can be found under the “What’s Hot” channel on V CAST Video.

“Bringing this once-a-year event to mobile customers is a great example of how compelling, long-form video content works on many different platforms,” said Tricia Lynch, director of content strategy and acquisition at Verizon. “Customers can watch the first period from their living rooms, then be sure they won’t miss the ending because they have V CAST on their mobile phones.”

“NHL fans are the most tech-savvy in all of sports,” said Andre Mika, the NHL’s senior vice president of broadband and new media production. “On a day when hockey fans across North America come together with the League to celebrate the game, we are thrilled to be able to offer these fans the opportunity to be part of the action on V CAST.”

The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 is the first time a major league sporting event in the United States will be shown as it happens on V CAST Video. Last year, the NHL Winter Classic, held in Buffalo, N.Y., was attended by more than 71,000 fans and millions more watched on national television across North America.

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to the Verizon Wireless ESPN MVP service, Get It Now® and Mobile Web services. Customers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.

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

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 70.8 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 71,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.  

About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other sport. The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, NASN, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Winter Classic, NHL Network and NHL Radio are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. All Rights Reserved.

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