NHL Hockey Fans Go Mobile With Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and NEW YORK — Hockey fans around the country can get an all-access pass to National Hockey League (NHL®) games, players and other exclusive mobile video content on V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless, Verizon Wireless and the NHL said today.

Watch the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Live on New Year’s Day
For the second consecutive year, Verizon Wireless and the NHL are bringing NBC Sports coverage of the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day to V CAST Video on Verizon Wireless phones.

At 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, the Boston Bruins® will host the Philadelphia Flyers® in the NHL’s annual outdoor game to be played this season in Boston. Streaming the NBC Sports broadcast of the game on V CAST gives avid hockey fans and casual sports enthusiasts who don’t want to miss a minute of the action the opportunity to watch it live, even if they are not near a television. The New Year’s Day game will be streamed in its entirety and can be found on the NBC Sports channel on V CAST Video. Additional NBC Sports games will be streamed live during the remainder of the season.

Sign Up for Live Audio of NHL Games on V CAST
Beginning Jan. 1, the NHL and Verizon Wireless are giving hockey fans across the country the chance to listen to teams’ local radio broadcasts live on V CAST. The audio – featuring hometown announcers and analysts – from every game will be available throughout the season and the playoffs. Fans who live far from their favorite team can use V CAST to stay on top of the action, and local fans will now have another option to hear the game. Broadcasts from select games will also be available in French.

Customers who want to sign up for live audio of NHL games on V CAST can visit www.verizonwireless.com/nhl for more information.

NHL and Verizon Wireless Partnership
Verizon Wireless is the Official Wireless Telecommunications Partner of the NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) in the United States. In addition to the exclusive mobile video content available on V CAST, the NHL and Verizon Wireless are developing a world-class NHL application for Verizon Wireless handsets, which is expected to be available in the first half of 2010. Several current NHL stars will also be featured in Verizon Wireless’ upcoming marketing and advertising campaigns.

“This renewed and expanded partnership with Verizon Wireless demonstrates that for key consumer categories, the NHL has the right demographics, substantial reach and relevance through our digital and traditional media, and flagship events that drive substantial, engaged audiences,” said David Lehanski, NHL vice president of integrated sales. “At the same time, Verizon Wireless will help us to continue our innovation in shortening the distance between the NHL and its fans by developing premier content for V CAST.”

How to Get V CAST Video
Customers with V CAST-enabled feature phones can check out V CAST Video for a $10.00 monthly subscription, which includes access to full-length television shows plus news, sports, weather, live entertainment and access to Verizon Wireless’ ESPN MVP service. There are no megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription; however, new customers must also have a data package for a data usage allowance. The V CAST Video on Demand plan replaces the $15.00 V CAST VPak. These changes will not impact existing customers.

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 and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 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, the NHL Shield and NHL Winter Classic name are registered trademarks and NHL Winter Classic logo is a trademark 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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