Mobile ESPN Makes its Return on Verizon
As promised, ESPN will re-launch its mobile brand through a major carrier, signing a multi-year exclusive agreement with Verizon Wireless. The feature will be available to subscribers of the company's V CAST service.
ESPN shuttered its mobile operation in September of last year after less than nine months in operation. It leased cellular spectrum off of Sprint Nextel and operated as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). However, the service never got off the ground, and reportedly only had 30,000 subscribers.
Additionally, the venture was costing parent company Walt Disney a lot of money. Between ESPN and its other MVNO, Disney Mobile, the company invested $150 million during 2006.
Details of the offering are still sketchy, as the deal has not been finalized and any information is only from sources within the two companies. However, it does appear than the service would be part of the V CAST package, as well as streaming video content.
A streaming video channel will be available in at least one market by the end of March using technology from Qualcomm called MediaFLO, press reports indicated.
Certain phones will be compatible initially, with the application eventually available on all V CAST handsets. Additionally, it has been indicated that the agreement is for a longer term than is normal with wireless content agreements, sources say.
Some industry watchers expressed some disappointment with the news. Rafat Ali, who first broke the news of Mobile ESPN's demise last year on the Moco.News web log, seemed to scoff at the exclusive deal with Verizon.
"[Mobile ESPN] had a big chance of finally going direct to consumer in a big way, but seems like it won't, unless a variation will be offered to other network and handset users," he wrote.
Details of the deal were first reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday.