ESPN officially set to acquire NFL Media properties
ESPN officially set to acquire NFL Media properties
In exchange for a 10% equity stake in the channel, the NFL will send a wide range of its media holdings to ESPN.
The NFL is deepening its relationship with ESPN. As has been expected for some days, the league and the channel have announced a deal that will see NFL Media properties come under ESPN’s control. In return, the NFL will be given a 10% ownership stake in ESPN, while the new ESPN streaming service gets its hands on a host of new football content.
Key Details:
- NFL Network on the move: ESPN will take full ownership of NFL Network and will integrate it onto its new streamer.
- RedZone returning: ESPN will have rights to distribute the NFL RedZone linear channel, but digital rights stay with the NFL.
- Lucky seven: NFL Network will continue to present seven games per season on the ESPN streamer.
The news that ESPN and the NFL had sealed a deal first came down on Friday, but wasn’t officially confirmed until Wednesday. In exchange for 10% equity in the worldwide leader in sports, the NFL Network will fall completely under the control of ESPN, which will distribute the channel to pay-TV operators and digitally on its new streaming service launching Aug. 21. The NFL+ service, the NFL Podcast Network, and the NFL free streaming channel will continue to be owned by the NFL.
The NFL RedZone channel will also see linear distribution by ESPN, which will get “broad rights” to the RedZone brand. However, the NFL will retain the rights to distribute NFL RedZone digitally, so it appears that the popular whiparound channel will not be included in the ESPN direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, but instead will be distributed digitally via NFL+. However, ESPN has announced that a bundle for the ESPN streamer and NFL+ is in the offing ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Streamable has reached out to ESPN for more clarification on RedZone plans, and will update this article when we receive further details.
NFL Fantasy Football is due to merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, and ESPN will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network. Also, ESPN will adjust its overall NFL game schedule every year, with four games — including some from overlapping windows — shifting to NFL Network. That will leave NFL Network to present seven games per season, as it currently does.
“Today’s announcement paves the way for the world’s leading sports media brand and America’s most popular sport to deliver an even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. “Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets, and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth and value proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.”
ESPN and the league have also announced an extension of their deal regarding the NFL Draft. ESPN will continue to present the draft, and starting in 2026, it will also stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Alternate presentations of the draft will expand, and a new daily show dedicated to the draft will air on ESPN2 starting in January. Additional NFL rights are being licensed to ESPN for use on its new streaming service as well. Fans will be able to use ESPN’s new multiview feature to watch “Monday Night Football” doubleheaders, or to stream a “ManningCast” presentation at the same time as the main broadcast, for example.
“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Whether it was debuting ‘Thursday Night Football,’ televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”
ESPN Select
ESPN Select is a streaming service that replaced ESPN+ and provides access to live NHL, MLB, and MLS games, PGA Tour Golf, international sports events, ESPN original programming, and a complete archive of “30 for 30.” Find out our review of the service and how to start streaming ESPN Select.