Help NFL Mobile Live to be Verizon only, has Sprint lost it?

[momentoid]

Verizon intercepts NFL Mobile

This was the only pre-loaded Sprint app I liked.

 

[jfe]

Fumble!!!!!

 

[cephraim]

Can't we already watch these games live through SprintTV?

 

[BiGMERF]

wow, i know my bro is pissed. his hero just became a lil less cooler

 

[pastafarian]

At $180 million a year, I don't blame Sprint for passing the ball. I'm sure there are a few people out there that value this app, but I'm willing to bet there are 10+ times as many that view it as unnecessary junk ware on their phone or are unaware it even exists. I'm a football fan and a season ticket holder and I had little use for the app. It was initially a little cool to watch the Thursday game because my cable system doesn't carry the NFL network, till the pain of watching a low frame rate 3" stuttering picture killed off any joy. I'd rather Sprint invested the money in a couple of more cell towers, some better customer service training or even lowering my bill by penny or 2 than on apps that benefit a very small percentage of customers.

 

[April_Fool_79]

There will still be a football application available, but it will not have the NFL branding on it, and will not have the live games or radio broadcast. Just heard about this at work today, was gonna wait until I had more information about what the new app would include before I posted about it.

There is information that it will have something for college teams, which I am massively excited about. Go Hokies!!!

 

[forty9er]

I am personally glad they lost it. I am glad to see them not cough up that amount of money for it.

 

[Jedi Neo]

WTH?!?! I just left the big red V and this was the one thing I was looking forward too. Guess now I gotta wait for a slingbox app to be developed so I can watch the NFL ticket on the go.

 

[IOWA]

Why would anyone really be concerned about this? I deleted mine. If you wanted to watch a game, well, its called a tv.

 

[9Nails]

Why would anyone really be concerned about this? I deleted mine. If you wanted to watch a game, well, its called a tv.

Because wifes don't let me sit on the couch for more than a minute. Its always "fix this thing! Shouldn't you be mowing the grass? When are you going to get this done?" Well if you don't sneak off to some sports bar, something is better than nothing! Just say, "yeah I'm going to do that now" and dodge out to somewhere quiet, like Starbucks, and watch the game!

 

[AnthroMatt]

Why would anyone really be concerned about this? I deleted mine. If you wanted to watch a game, well, its called a tv.

Not all people are in front of a tv when their team is on tv...if they even live somewhere that they can watch their team every Sunday, so the live audio was good for that.

 

[zcarman]

@Iowa - yeah, but I'm an Eagles fan trapped in Seattle - watching NFL games on my phone rather than paying $60 a month for 6 months to watch them would have been good for me... Sucks... Wonder if losing this means they have 'significantly changed the service agreement' enough to exit without term fees?

And I'm also wondering if we really did lose anything in this deal.

1) Game Day Audio - not mentioned in the VZW deal...
2) Video Highlights - same as m.nfl.com
3) NFL Channel - live broadcasts

just a thought

 

[LincKraker]

The NFL app is getting replaced

A new ‘Sprint Football Live’ app is said to be replacing the NFL app, but you know all of that live video and exclusive content you’re used to seeing? Well, it looks like you’re out of luck. The bulk of information to be provided in the new offering will come in simple news stories, posted stats and editorial commentary.

from intomobile.com

 

[zcarman]

Here it is... Straight from the Sprint Email...

Starting 4/1/10, Sprint will no longer be the wireless sponsor of the NFL.
Beginning 3/31/10, when customers access the application NFL Mobile Live, they will be prompted to download the new application Sprint Football Live.

So what will Sprint Football Live include?

Pro Football Draft

Live Draft Tracker
In depth analysis and bios on nearly 500 top prospects
Exclusive blogs from top Draft prospects Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh
Draft Predict-a-Pick: 32 picks in 32 days
Regular Season Football

Pro and college football coverage
Live Game Center
Real-time stats and scores
Breaking news
Game previews and recaps
Expert insight and analysis from source likes Pro Football Talk and Sports Blog Nation
Even more content will be confirmed before the start of the college and pro football seasons
Will customers still be able to get NFL audio and NFL video?

Live NFL game audio and video will not be available at this time.
Customers will be able to follow all the live play-by-play action with the Live Game Center for both pro and college football games.
Additionally, Sprint offers live stream of ESPN college football games and other great video coverage on ESPN Mobile TV and NBC Sports on Sprint TV.
How can customer get the Sprint Football Live app?

Starting 3/31/10, if a customer goes to download NFL Mobile Live, they’ll be prompted to download the new application Sprint Football Live. Customers can also text “FOOTBALL” to 7777.
The installation of the new application will replace the NFL Shield/NFL Mobile Live link on certain phones.

Not the news I was hoping for, but it sounds like Sprint is trying to keep some of the content (read live game audio will not be available at this time) but it's not looking good... The overall bid that VZW put in to secure this deal was $700 million dollars - that's a multi-year deal - but still!

And to think VZW is going to charge $10-$25 a month for this like everything else they have...?

I'll keep my Sprint bill lower thank you - wonder if we will get some kind of credit for losing that service?

 

[i VTAK]

Good ridence!! Now if they would take the app off my phone to free up some space.

 

[AnthroMatt]

Good ridence!! Now if they would take the app off my phone to free up some space.

I took it off myself.

 

[Eaglesfan9106]

well as long as there will be some kind of app where i can get live game player stats ill be happy cause i play fantasy football

 

[April_Fool_79]

Wonder if losing this means they have 'significantly changed the service agreement' enough to exit without term fees?

No, because this is a free app, you are not paying anything for it. When the Connection Card plans changed from unlimited to a 5GB included amount, *THAT* is considered a change that would allow you to get out w/o an ETF. Nowhere in the T&C does it say that NFL Mobile is a guaranteed service. Same thing with when the Basic TV Channel lineup changed last year, since this isn't a separate service you pay for, there's no T&C breach.

As soon as I get updated info on the app (especially the college stuff it will have), I'll pass it on.

 

[meangene]

If they want to foce a preloaded sports app maybe they should make one that's a little more functional and includes not just the NFL but also NBA, NHL, NBL...and of course curling, lol. Oh wait, I forgot I already ripped that app off my phone. Got root?

 

[zcarman]

No, because this is a free app, you are not paying anything for it. When the Connection Card plans changed from unlimited to a 5GB included amount, *THAT* is considered a change that would allow you to get out w/o an ETF. Nowhere in the T&C does it say that NFL Mobile is a guaranteed service. Same thing with when the Basic TV Channel lineup changed last year, since this isn't a separate service you pay for, there's no T&C breach.

As soon as I get updated info on the app (especially the college stuff it will have), I'll pass it on.

Actually, the way the services read in the Any Mobile, Any Time deal...

This plan includes
Any Mobile, Anytime: Unlimited domestic calls from the Sprint network to and from ANY U.S. mobile phone regardless of carrier. Any network, any time.

Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Music Premier, TV Premier, NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM

Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures and video

Talk: Night calling and weekends starting at 7 p.m., nationwide long distance and no roaming charges. Lines 1-2 included. Lines 3-5 are $19.99/mo./line.

Unlimited Direct Connect: Direct Connect and Group Connect (for capable phones)


So, according to this, NFL Mobile Live is considered the same as data and if the data alteration was enough to cause the issue, then losing a premier service should be as well.

The difference is the loss of NFL Mobile vs. losing channels is that the service itself is still intact. You may not have Fox News, but you still have ABC News. This we are losing a significant functionality of the software itself (Gameday Audio & Video being the two largest portions for people) but they may come up with a solution for this before the season starts.

There's no way this is going to make me jump ship to anyone else as Sprint has been fabulous for us in our first month, but it is a major setback for Sprint as a company.

 

[IOWA]

Calling it a Major Setback is a bit over exaggerating. And back to my "tv" comment, they also have TiVo, Radio, and the like. Fact is, I'm willing to bet less than 5% of users actually utilize this app, and as a for-profit company, it just wouldn't make sense to keep it on at a premium price. I'd rather have low prices, and good service, versus a couple of specialized apps that drive up premiums for everyone, regardless of if you use the app or not.

 

[Bigjohn]

If you have a PC with "slingbox", or a tv tuner, you can install ORB. Then you watch anything you've recorded on the PC and, depending on the configuration, live tv.