Sprint Nextel Corp. reported a five-year agreement with the National Football League for the wireless carrier’s Sprint-branded service to become the official wireless telecommunications service sponsor of the NFL. The agreement also provides Sprint Nextel with exclusive NFL content and original programming.
Financial terms of the agreement were not released.
Sprint Nextel said it will begin delivering exclusive and original NFL content to mobile phones shortly after the 2005 NFL season begins, including game highlights and live updates; live video from the NFL Network; video on demand of NFL films and original content produced by Sprint Nextel and the NFL; fantasy football leagues; downloadable ringtones, screensavers and wallpapers; and wireless polling, sweepstakes and contests.
“No other sports marketing arrangement comes close to the fan benefits that we’ve achieved with the NFL,” explained Tom Murphy, vice president of sponsorships at Sprint. “It represents a clear departure from the standard sports sponsorship and delivers exclusively into the hands of Sprint customers and fans an entirely new and interactive experience.”
In connection with the agreement, Sprint Nextel said it will also be the presenting sponsor at the NFL Opening Kickoff 2005 event that will feature the New England Patriots playing the Oakland Raiders in Boston Sept. 8.
Other wireless carriers have agreements with various local professional football teams.
