Report: NFL Wants Verizon To 'Cough Up More Cash'

According to a report by the New York Post, The National Football League is expecting Verizon Communications Inc. VZ to "cough up more cash" and renew its existing mobile-phone rights deal. The New York Post, citing its sources, reported that Verizon is interested in renewing its deal with the NFL which expires after next year's Super Bowl. Verizon is said to be interested in winning wider streaming rights under any future agreement. "The [NFL] wants to tie [Thursday streaming rights] to an extension of Verizon's NFL sponsorship and its $1 billion exclusive lock on mobile," a source close to talks told the New York Post, adding that Verizon wants to renew the deal but has been pushing back on price. Part of the deal would include a renewal of its NFL sponsorship, too. The NFL may be able to place a steeper price tag on any deal as Verizon isn't the only company vying for a longer-term agreement as AT&T Inc. T and Yahoo! Inc. YHOO are also said to be potential bidders. Shares of Verizon were trading lower by more than 2 percent Tuesday morning.