NEW YORK, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon and Verizon Wireless have teamed up with ESPN to give football fans the ultimate fantasy football experience and a competitive edge with three ways to select, manage and keep up with their teams.

Fans joining ESPN's Fantasy Football leagues at ESPN.com can participate in those leagues through a FiOS TV widget, their Verizon Online broadband account or with their Verizon Wireless phone - or all three.

"Only Verizon gives football fans this level of enhanced access to their fantasy teams and leagues across so many different platforms," said John Williamson, vice president for Verizon corporate marketing. "The enormous popularity of fantasy football is reflected in the millions of Americans competing with friends, family and co-workers, and now Verizon is giving them an edge with unmatched access to live updates and team development online, on TV and through their wireless phone."

In addition, Verizon and ESPN are sponsoring a number of fantasy football events in different cities that will allow sports fans to meet and discuss their fantasy leagues and teams with ESPN commentator Molly Qerim, as well as participate in demonstrations of how to use Verizon FiOS TV, Verizon Internet and Verizon Wireless phones to access the Fantasy Football programs.

The events, which begin at noon each day, will be held at the Verizon store at 264 First Ave. on Sept. 19; the Verizon store at Jordan's Furniture, Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, Mass., on Sept. 26; and the Verizon Wireless Communications store at Stacks at the Waterfront, East Bridge Street, Homestead, Pa., on Oct. 3.

"Verizon knows how to maximize the customer experience for their Fantasy Football fans," said Matt Murphy, ESPN senior vice president, digital video distribution. "They've created a truly seamless experience for users who want to be able to access their teams and leagues at all times, on the best available screen to the consumer, whether that be on their computer, wireless phone or TV."

(Note: Videos and images related to this announcement are available at http://verizon.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=36987.)

After Fantasy Football fans register online at ESPN.com, the three ways they can stay on top of their leagues and teams with Verizon are:

    --  Verizon FiOS TV Fantasy Football Widget - Provides instant on-screen
        access to personalized ESPN Fantasy Football points and football
        statistics, including rosters, box scores, scoring leaders and player
        information.  All the information is available, at no additional charge,
        for FiOS TV customers who are registered ESPN Fantasy Football players.
    --  ESPN Online Fantasy Football Widget - Available at Verizon.net, the
        online option provides expert analysis and predictions, as well as
        features like LiveDraft and mock drafts, and information participants
        can use to dominate the competition.
    --  ESPN MVP - The most in-depth sports content over the best wireless
        network - including Gamecast, Video Alerts and ESPN Radio Clips - allows
        Fantasy Football fans to track their teams and manage rosters directly
        on their Verizon Wireless phones.  V CAST Video on Demand has the latest
        game action and updates, as well as news and analysis.

Further details are available at www.verizon.com/espn or www.espn.com/fantasy.

Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon