ESPN and NFL Make it Official: NFL Network Headed to ESPN in Exchange for 10% Equity Stake ESPN also acquires the rights to distribute NFL RedZone to pay TV operators By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - 3:13 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
In a long-expected industry-shaking deal, ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL - including NFL's linear RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy - in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets.
READ MORE: ESPN Extends Media Rights Agreement for NFL Draft, Adds NFL Content to Upcoming DTC Service
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, says 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.
Under terms of the agreement, NFL Network, including both linear and digital rights, would be owned and operated by ESPN and fully integrated into ESPN DTC, alongside traditional pay television distribution, increasing accessibility and flexibility for consumers and promoting innovation in sports programming.
ESPN would own broad rights to the RedZone brand and distribute the NFL RedZone Channel to pay TV operators for continued inclusion into their sports packages.
NFL Fantasy Football would merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, creating the official Fantasy season-long game of the NFL and one best-in-class digital experience, driving innovation and enabling broader reach to meet global demand.
In total, ESPN's platforms will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network as a result of today's news. In addition, ESPN will adjust its overall NFL game schedule, with four games (including some from overlapping windows) shifting to the NFL Network, which will continue to present seven games per season.
The NFL will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses including properties such as NFL Films and key fan-facing platforms such as NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel and the official sites for the league's 32 clubs. It will also continue to own, operate, and produce NFL RedZone, and retain the rights to distribute NFL RedZone digitally.
Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love, says 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.
This is an exciting day for sports fans, says Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN. By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN's reach and innovation, we're creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game-anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN's digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.
ESPN is 80% owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20% by Hearst. Under the new deal, Disney would now own 72% of the network, while Hearst would control 18%. The transactions are subject to the parties' negotiation of definitive agreements, various approvals including by the NFL team owners, and customary closing conditions. According to SBJ, the deal could close as late as the end of 2026. Analyst Rich Greenfield estimates ESPN to be worth roughly $25B, meaning the NFL assets have a $2B-$3B valuation.
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
11/08/2025
11 08 2025 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates emerging creatives and cu...
09/08/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr announced the ap...
09/08/2025
ATLANTA CBS Stations has announced the senior leadership team for WUPA, soon to rebrand as owned-and-operated station CBS Atlanta. The network affiliation chang...
09/08/2025
A new study from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan is forecasting rapid advertising growth for Amazon's streaming efforts....
08/08/2025
(L-R) Amy Berg, Mary Guibert, and Ben Harper attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival It's Not Over, Jeff Buckley premiere The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Robin ...
08/08/2025
ATLANTA Following an announcement in June that Byron Allen's Allen Media Group planned to sell its TV stations, Gray Media struck a deal to acquire AMG'...
08/08/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr announced the ap...
08/08/2025
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES Fox has finally announced a launch data and pricing for Fox One, with the direct-to-consumer streaming service set to launch Aug. 21 fo...
08/08/2025
PLYMOUTH, Wis. Heartland Video Systems has announced that they've signed a reseller agreement with Cuez for the company's all-in-one rundown/news room c...
08/08/2025
Grass Valley, the pioneering media and entertainment technology innovator, is bringing the full power of the Grass Valley Media Universe (GVMU) to IBC 2025 with...
08/08/2025
Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, announces the successful inauguration of a new Virtual Production XR studio at the ITS Apulia Foundatio...
08/08/2025
The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center (SRCLC), a nonprofit clinic dedicated to supporting children with communication disorders, has significantly upgrade...
08/08/2025
European developer Profuz Digital will present at IBC Stand 8.A88, the latest version of subtitling platform SubtitleNEXT and new capabilities in the powerful A...
08/08/2025
Disguise has announced a major update to its AI-powered workflow assistant for Designer Pro, Ask AId3n. The update enables production teams to sequence repetiti...
08/08/2025
Wyandotte Municipal Services (WMS), a municipal non-profit service provider, has successfully deployed Synamedia Gravity, a cloud-based device management and se...
08/08/2025
IBC2025 has unveiled a powerful and provocative IBC2025 Conference line-up that will bring together global disruptors and long-established leaders from across t...
08/08/2025
Evergent (#5.A86), the leader in customer management and monetization for streaming and digital subscription businesses, will debut a suite of new solutions to ...
08/08/2025
Humans Not Robots (HNR), a pioneering provider of sustainable media technology solutions, is delighted to announce its participation in IBC2025. At the leading ...
08/08/2025
As Little League Softball World Series Popularity Grows, So Too Does ESPN's ...
08/08/2025
Levi's Stadium Facelift, Part 1: Full Glass-to-Glass 4K, IP-Based Control Ro...
08/08/2025
Levi's Stadium Facelift, Part 2: NFL's Largest 4K Videoboards, LED Sport...
08/08/2025
Levi's Stadium Facelift, Part 3: ANC's Jerry Cifarelli Jr. on Growing th...
08/08/2025
Levi's Stadium Facelift, Part 4: Under the Lights' Event Culminates Mul...
08/08/2025
The Hills Are Alive: A Year at Kylemore Abbey starts Sunday at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player
The Hills Are Alive: A Year at Kylemore Abbey, a new RT obser...
08/08/2025
Kieran's last C il House will be live from Fleadh Cheoil na h ireann this Saturday August 9
After three decades at the helm of RT Radio 1's C il Hou...
08/08/2025
Researchers identify promising new compound to treat tuberculosis Study led by Scripps Research, Texas A&M and additional institutions highlights that the world...
07/08/2025
By Jessica Herndon
In writer-director Marielle Heller's feature debut, The ...
07/08/2025
Increasing uncertainty about the future development of global trade, tariff incr...
07/08/2025
A bold new sporting documentary series celebrating First Nations athletes, cultu...
07/08/2025
L3Harris delivered three AEPS thrusters to NASA Glenn Research Center for testing. AEPS thrusters are capable of accelerating spacecraft to extremely high speed...
07/08/2025
Rendering of NTS-3 Navigational Satellite over North America...
07/08/2025
There are two ecosystems coexisting in entertainment: one for millennials and younger; another for Gen X and older, so says media universe cartographer Evan S...
07/08/2025
Berklee City Music Students Receive Scholarships, Awards at Concert This year, 17 students received scholarships, housing awards, and aid to attend Berklee Co...
07/08/2025
WASHINGTON Broadcast Management Group (BMG) has announced plans to open two new full-scale broadcast studios in the nation's capital, filling a long-standin...
07/08/2025
NEW YORK Nielsen and WPP Media have announced a new agreement for audience measurement spanning TV, streaming, audio, and cross-platform ad performance via Niel...
07/08/2025
BRISTOL, Conn. In a long-awaited move that could have a major impact on the pay TV ecosystem, ESPN said it will launch its previously announced direct-to-consum...
07/08/2025
MONTREAL Haivision Systems Inc. has announced that it will slowcase its latest tech advances in live video contribution at IBC2025 from September 12-15 at Hall ...
07/08/2025
PARIS Ateme has announced that it is powering a nationwide terrestrial service upgrade for KT Skylife, a South Korean satellite television provider....
07/08/2025
WASHINGTON Following an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump that appointed Federal Communications Commission Chair Brandan Carr to a White House Ta...
07/08/2025
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN), the Motion Picture Association's (MPA) global content security initiative, today announced the upcoming launch of its nex...
07/08/2025
07 Aug 2025
VEON 2Q25 Earnings Release: Direct Digital Revenues Up 57% YoY. Sol...
07/08/2025
NBC Olympics Tech Guru Darryl Jefferson to Receive SMPTE's David Sarnoff Med...
07/08/2025
Tennis Channel's Broadcast Feat: One Day, Two Tournaments, Four Cities Two ATP Masters 1000 tourneys will be aired today By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor
...
07/08/2025
The World Games 2025: ISB Shares Bold Production Plans for 12th Edition of the M...
07/08/2025
SVG Summit, SVGW Australia Event Expand SVG's Presence Down Under By SVG Staff
Thursday, August 7, 2025 - 1:47 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story...
07/08/2025
The CW, FOX Nation Saddle Up for PBR Camping World Team Series Broadcast, streamed coverage is designed to spur fanbase expansion By Jason Dachman, Editorial D...
07/08/2025
RT has today announced the appointment of Mark Simpson to the role of Managing Editor, RT Radio 1.
Reporting to the Head of RT Radio 1, Tara Campbell, Mark ...
ESPN and NFL Make it Official: NFL Network Headed to ESPN in Exchange for 10% Equity Stake ESPN also acquires the rights to distribute NFL RedZone to pay TV operators By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
