ESPN Acquires NFL Network, RedZone in Landmark Deal
League Secures 10% Stake in Sports Giant
ESPN is set to become the new home for the NFL Network and a host of other league media assets, including the coveted RedZone channel. The groundbreaking agreement, announced Tuesday night, also grants the National Football League a significant 10% equity stake in the all-sports powerhouse.
Expanded Football Offerings
This strategic acquisition will see ESPN absorb the NFL’s fantasy football product, integrating it into its existing platform to establish ESPN Fantasy Football as the official game of the league. Furthermore, ESPN will license additional NFL content and intellectual property for distribution across the newly acquired NFL Network and its digital channels.
The NFL Network will now be owned and operated by ESPN, which will manage both its linear and digital rights. The network is slated for integration into ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service while maintaining its availability through traditional pay-TV providers.
“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.”
—Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN
More Games, Enhanced Digital Future
ESPN platforms will expand their NFL broadcast rights, adding three more games per season for a total of 28. The NFL Network will continue to broadcast seven games annually, with some shifts from ESPN’s original schedule. Specific game details have not yet been released. All games broadcast by ESPN will be accessible on linear television and its new direct-to-consumer platform.
Under the agreement, ESPN gains broad rights to the RedZone channel, including its trademark, and will continue to offer it to pay TV operators. The NFL retains ownership and operational control of the RedZone channel itself, including digital distribution rights.
“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. 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.”
—Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company
“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love. 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.”
—Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner
The NFL will continue to manage certain media businesses, including NFL Films and NFL.com.
ESPN’s Direct-to-Consumer Service Launch
This development aligns with ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, scheduled for an early fall launch. Priced at $29.99 per month, the service will retain the ESPN brand name and will offer access to all seven of ESPN’s domestic linear networks, ESPN on ABC, and additional streaming options.
The integration of these NFL assets is expected to significantly bolster ESPN’s digital strategy, positioning the company for enhanced fan engagement in the evolving media landscape. In 2023, the NFL generated approximately $20 billion in revenue, highlighting the immense commercial value of its media rights and content (Forbes, 2023).
