The National Football League and Verizon Communications have agreed to deliver live NFL Network sports and entertainment programming via Verizon's consumer broadband services, beginning Dec. 7 with the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. Verizon already offers the NFL Network television channel to subscribers of its FiOS TV Service and is the only Internet service provider to deliver selected NFL Network programming over broadband.

The deal includes live, online broadcasts of NFL Network's Thursday and Saturday regular season games, certain college football bowl games telecast by the NFL Network, plus other programming for Verizon consumer broadband subscribers who also receive the NFL Network.

Additionally, all Verizon consumer broadband customers - including customers of both Verizon's FiOS Internet Service and Verizon Online's DSL service -- will be able to enjoy a variety of additional NFL-related and NFL Network programming, including weekly previews of NFL Network games, highlights of NFL Network games, off-season programming and links to an NFL.com fantasy football game.

"Customers who subscribe to video and broadband with Verizon can now enjoy live NFL action on their TVs, PCs and laptops, both at home and away from home," said Bob Ingalls, chief marketing officer of Verizon. "NFL Networks already is a premier part of our video offerings, and we're delighted to add it to our fast-growing roster of top-quality online entertainment programming. This reflects our commitment to providing consumers more and better choices in video and online entertainment."

Through a separate agreement, Verizon provides the NFL Network TV channel to subscribers of its 200-channel all-digital FiOS TV Premier package.

To access the new, online NFL programming, customers will log onto their Verizon consumer broadband accounts and access the shows from the Verizon Surround online entertainment site (http://surround.verizon.net/). They can enjoy live programs at home or use any broadband connection to log on remotely.

Verizon FiOS TV subscribers -- or customers who subscribe to DIRECTV through Verizon -- who receive both the NFL Network and a Verizon consumer broadband service will have access to online broadcasts, including:

• Live NFL Network feed for NFL Network's Thursday and Saturday regular-season games, including alternative camera angles and audio feeds; real-time statistics; and in-progress highlights of NFL Network games and other college games.

• Special events, including college bowl games and college all-star games.
• All of Verizon's consumer broadband subscribers will have access to:

• Weekly NFL preview videos, including a highlights package for each Thursday and Saturday game.

• Programming from NFL Network shows including NFL Total Access and NFL Point After.

• NFL off-season programming.

• Exclusive commentary from NFL analysts, including Rich Eisen, Vic Carucci and Pat Kirwan.

• NFLN Fan Challenge fantasy football game based on NFL Network's eight-game package.