In a major move for sports media, ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and the National Football League (NFL) announced today a non-binding agreement that will see ESPN acquire the NFL Network, the NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. Alongside this acquisition, a second non-binding agreement will grant ESPN licenses to select NFL content and intellectual property for use across NFL Network and other assets. This partnership between America’s premier sports league and the global leader in sports media aims to redefine how fans experience professional football.
The deal positions ESPN to integrate NFL Network’s linear and digital rights into its ecosystem, including its upcoming direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform. This will enhance accessibility, offering fans more ways to engage with NFL content across cable, satellite, streaming services, and ESPN’s DTC service. The NFL RedZone Channel, a fan-favorite for its live, whip-around coverage of Sunday games, will continue to be distributed to pay TV operators, ensuring its availability in sports packages. Additionally, NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, creating a unified, best-in-class digital platform to serve millions of fantasy players worldwide.
“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,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “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.”
The agreements also adjust NFL game distribution. ESPN will license three additional NFL games per season for NFL Network, which will continue to air seven games annually, with four games shifting from ESPN’s schedule to NFL Network. The NFL will retain ownership of key assets like NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel, and the digital RedZone, as well as the official sites for its 32 teams.
The transactions await definitive agreements, approval from NFL team owners, and customary closing conditions. ESPN, 80% owned by ABC, Inc. (a Disney subsidiary) and 20% by Hearst, is poised to leverage its expertise to expand NFL content’s reach, affordability, and innovation, solidifying its position as the world’s leading sports media brand.
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