ESPN, Sprint to Team Up

Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN sports television channel plans to offer its own mobile telephone service using Sprint Corp.'s network in an effort to boost revenue from its viewers.

In addition to voice service, ESPN Mobile will offer sports news, analysis and statistics, as well as streaming audio and video, as early as the second half of next year, said John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president for consumer products. Terms weren't disclosed.

For ESPN, which already sells content through several U.S. phone service providers including Sprint, the pact gives greater control over how its programming and data are used on wireless devices.

The agreement may help Sprint, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, add phone customers and increase use of its high-speed data network.