SUPER BOWL TO BE STREAMED LIVE ON VERIZON WIRELESS

The NFL and NBC will stream Superbowl XLVI live online and to mobile devices for the first time ever in February. Unfortunately, the broadcast won’t be available to all mobile users; Verizon Wireless will be the exclusive mobile partner and subscribers can watch the game live provided they have a supported phone with NFL Mobile installed. Viewers can also stream the Pro Bowl and Wild Card Saturday using NBC or the NFL’s website, or Verizon’s mobile application. The Associated Press said that streaming viewers will be treated to live stats, highlights from the game and additional camera angles. Superbowl XLVI kicks off on February 5th in Indianapolis.

HULU CONFIRMS IT IS FOR SALE

Hulu has hired bankers Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners to sell the online video site. Hulu is jointly owned by News Corp's Fox, Disney's ABC and Comcast's NBC (although NBC has no voting power or a seat on the board). Hulu has stated it is on track to generate over $500 million in revenue this year, making it a quite attractive property.

Earlier this week it was rumored Yahoo was interested in Hulu and had tendered an initial offer. No news on if that offer was considered, but the board has not met to discuss any offers, so it is doubtful Yahoo's offer was sufficient.

Last year, Hulu and Morgan Stanley floated the notion of an IPO, which went nowhere because the company couldn’t secure long-term exclusive content licenses from its owners.

YAHOO TVs TO STREAM DISNEY, ABC, ESPN WIDGETS

If you own a Yahoo Connected TV you could soon be getting widgets to stream ESPN, ABC and Disney shows. These widgets will reportedly be free, however CBS, NBC, Showtime and Home Shopping Network widgets may be paid apps. Yahoo is expected launch a paid app store in Q1.

Yahoo Connected TV was launched a few years ago and has failed to take off like the set top box, Apple, Google and Boxee for example. Yahoo Connected currently has about 100 free apps in their download store.

BROADCAST NETWORKS BLOCK GOOGLE TV

ABC, NBC and CBS have blocked Google TV from accessing online content of their shows.  According to the Wall Street Journal all 3 networks have confirmed the ban and Fox hasn't reached a decision yet.  Google says "ultimately the content owners' choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform," but Reuters is now reporting the Google is in active negotiations with the networks to get access back.

Google TV can be found in select Sony televisions and also in a Logitech set-top box.  It allows users to view live television as well as the internet at the same time. [Engadget]

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES 10 MORE PARTNERS FOR GOOGLE TV

Google has announced more partners for it's soon to be released Google TV streaming service. Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, HBO, the NBA, Amazon, Pandora, Napster, Netflix, The New York Times, and USA Today will all have content that is optimized for viewing via Google’s internet connected set-top box.  Like all streaming services currently available, not all the providers content will be made available.

Want to know what Google TV will look like?  Check out the video below.

NETFLIX TO STREAM NBC UNIVERSAL SHOWS

NetFlix and NBC Universal have inked a deal that will allow NetFlix to stream a number of current and past NBC TV and cable shows.  This comes one day after NBC Universal declined Apple's overture to be on the re-launching Apple TV, fearing the low price would devalue their content.

NetFlix customers will be able to stream Saturday Night Live shows one day after they air and the entire back catalog of SNL.  Also included in the deal is Battlestar Galactica, last season's 30 Rock and The Office as well as Friday Night Lights.  The Press Release below:

NEW YORK and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution today announced an expanded license agreement through which Netflix members can instantly watch a selection of broadcast series from the NBC television network and – for the first time on Netflix – content from some of NBC Universal's popular cable channels.
The multi-year deal kicks off next week and continues the relationship between Netflix and NBC Universal.
The agreement adds significantly to the growing selection of movies and TV episodes that can be streamed instantly from Netflix with memberships starting at $8.99 a month. Among the highlights, Netflix members will be able to instantly watch:
* Episodes from every season of NBC's signature comedy franchise "Saturday Night Live," including day-after broadcast of the upcoming 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons plus hundreds of episodes from the first 35 years of "SNL."
* Every episode from the last season of the multiple Emmy® Award-winning series "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Law & Order: SVU," as well as earlier seasons of those shows renewed for streaming from Netflix under the current deal.
* All prior seasons – and eventually next year's final season – of "Friday Night Lights," the small-town drama surrounding high-school football in Dillon, Tex.
* All prior seasons of USA Network hits "Psych," the comedy featuring James Roday as a fake psychic who solves crimes with his best friend, Dule Hill; the drama "In Plain Sight," starring Mary McCormack as a U.S. Marshal in New Mexico; as well as all seasons of "Monk," starring Emmy® Award and Golden Globe® Award winner Tony Shalhoub in the title role. Prior seasons of all three shows are available to watch instantly at Netflix for the first time.
* More than 75 prior season episodes of Syfy's mainstay "Battlestar Galactica," as well as prior seasons of the network's popular series' "Destination Truth" and "Eureka" – all streaming from Netflix for the first time.
"We are very pleased to continue our successful relationship with Netflix," said Frances Manfredi, executive vice president and general sales manager of cable and non-theatrical sales for NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution, who forged the deal. "We applaud Netflix for recognizing the value of content like 'SNL,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Monk,' and 'Battlestar Galactica' to their subscribers." [Gizmodo]

APPLE TV RENTALS TO CHEAP FOR CONTENT OWNERS?

Warner Bros. Entertainment Chairman Barry Meyer told attendees of the very long named Bank of America / Merrill Lynch 2010 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference that his company doesn't see a good value proposition in the TV show rental sector.  He went on to say  he doesn't want to "open up a rental business in television at a low price.”   This is probably due to the fact he doesn't want to cannibalize the licensing of entire seasons of shows to other broadcasters.

Currently, Apple only has Disney and News Corp signed for the launch of Apple TV.  CBS and NBC are waiting on the sidelines to see how things progress before jumping in. [NewTeeVee]