NFL begins lobbying for approval of ESPN deal
NFL begins lobbying for approval of ESPN deal
The deal sending NFL Media properties to ESPN will see plenty of scrutiny from the federal government.
The NFL’s behind-the-scenes machine is one of the best in the business at quashing opposition to just about anything it wants to do. Those powers are now being exerted toward ensuring that its deal to acquire a 10% stake in ESPN in exchange for NFL Network and other NFL Media properties. According to Reuters, the NFL has begun contacting congresspeople to lobby them for support as the deal prepares for regulatory scrutiny.
Key Details:
- Just the beginning: The NFL has reportedly put calls in to around 30 congressional offices to lobby for the deal.
- DOJ on the case: The Department of Justice will begin taking a look at the transaction in the coming months.
- Long delay?: Sources indicate that it could take more than a year for an antitrust review to be completed.
According to Reuters, the NFL has contacted 30 congressional offices to begin drumming up support for its deal with ESPN. The league is trying to convince representatives that the agreement would result in greater consumer choice, and would make it easier instead of harder to access NFL content.
Recently, government officials have scrutinized the difficulty of finding and watching live sports as more and more rights are split amongst streaming services. Reuters reports the Department of Justice is expected to review the Disney and NFL transaction for antitrust concerns, investigating whether it will lead to higher prices and fewer options for consumers.
Sources tell Reuters that the DOJ review could take up to a year to complete, which may complicate any plans the NFL and ESPN have to launch NFL Network on the new ESPN streaming service in time for the 2026 season. The regulatory process has to be concluded before that happens, so fans might be in for a bit of a wait before they see NFL Network shift to ESPN control.
Will politics play as heavy a role in the ESPN and NFL deal as they did in the Paramount merger? The Trump administration’s FCC withheld approval for the merger until President Trump settled a lawsuit against CBS which he felt was unfair editing of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Although FCC chairman Brendan Carr denied any link between the suit and the FCC’s review, the merger was allowed to go through just days after the settlement was reached.
The NFL isn’t used to bending the knee in that fashion, and its early lobbying efforts are a clear attempt to try and grease the rails now to avoid complications in the future. Whether or not that tactic will work is less than clear, but the wrangling to get the deal officially approved has begun.
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