Yahoo will soon make the NFL free on smartphones

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Soon all National Football League (NFL) games will be available on smartphones thanks to an app from Yahoo. Previously, the NFL was only available on Verizon, but that has changed now that Verizon owns Yahoo.

However, it will be more difficult to watch football through online-TV services like Sling or YouTube TV. NFL games on ESPN will still be blocked on the phone app and, starting next season, some games will be unavailable on tablets as well, according to Brian Angiolet, Verizon’s global chief media and content officer.

Verizon’s five-year deal with the NFL takes effect in January, in time for playoffs. Games will stream on the Yahoo Sports app, Yahoo.com on mobile (but not Yahoo.com on computers); Verizon’s go90 video app and the NFL mobile app.

File: Logos on a laptop in North Andover, Massachusetts, July 25, 2016. /AP Photo

Verizon bought AOL in 2015 and Yahoo in June and wants to combine the two in order to build a digital ad business to rival Facebook and Google. It hopes adding more sports streaming will help expand the audience for its media business. “Sports is the first major pillar in Verizon’s strategy. The NFL is a marquee piece of content,” Angiolet said. Verizon will be able to sell some digital ads during games.

The NFL has had a partnership with Verizon since 2010 and has been experimenting with other ways to televise its games besides broadcast and cable TV. Amazon this year has 10 Thursday night games and a Christmas game.

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Source(s): AP