NHL fans will be able to tune into the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 on New Year's Day on their wireless phones with V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless.

At 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1, the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings in the league's annual outdoor game to be played this season at Wrigley Field, home of MLB's Chicago Cubs. The game will be streamed in its entirety and can be found under the "What's Hot" channel on V CAST Video.

"We know people like to watch sports and get the latest scores when mobile, so it's a great match," said Debra Lewis, spokeswoman for Verizon, Basking Ridge, NJ. "V CAST Video has also started offering more long-form programming, including full episodes of highly-rated shows, so we think this game is another great example of giving customers programming they want in the form they want it.

"And, this is just part of our overall relationship with the NHL -- no news on what might be coming in the future," she said. "This is the first game to be shown on V CAST Video, although some games may have appeared on V CAST Mobile TV, which is a different service."

Verizon Wireless is teaming with the National Hockey League to bring both avid hockey fans and casual sports enthusiasts the opportunity to watch the game on New Year's Day.

"NHL fans are the most tech-savvy in all of sports," said Andre Mika, the NHL's senior vice president of broadband and new media production, in a written statement. "On a day when hockey fans across North America come together with the League to celebrate the game, we are thrilled to be able to offer these fans the opportunity to be part of the action on V CAST."

The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 is the first time a major-league sporting event in the United States will be shown as it happens on V CAST Video.

Last year, the NHL Winter Classic, held in Buffalo, NY, was attended by more than 71,000 fans and millions more watched on national television across North America.

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to the Verizon Wireless ESPN MVP service, Get It Now and Mobile Web services.

Customers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video.

There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.

Verizon Wireless operates a wireless voice and data network serving 70.8 million customers, making it the No. 2 carrier in the U.S.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone.

The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America.

Today, the NHL consists of 30 member clubs, each reflecting the league's international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters.

The Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks are two of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises. The others are the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent and access content through digital means more than any other sport.

The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television, including Versus, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, NASN, ASN and NHL Network.

Its radio partners include NHL Radio, Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada.

Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer and NHL Youth Development and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players.

"We think it's great for folks who don't want to miss a single shift of the game -- they may be on the go, shopping, in an airport or just in a place where they don't have control of the remote to watch it on TV," Ms. Lewis said. "Showing the game on V CAST Video allows someone with the service to watch it where they are that day, and the casual fan to check it out, too.

"The game is getting lots of coverage because it's such a unique event," she said. "We'll feature it in the top spot on V CAST Video that day and hope people on the go tune in."