The dust has settled from the formal announcement of the blockbuster deal between ESPN and the NFL, with the league swapping NFL Network, linear rights to RedZone, NFL Fantasy and other content assets to ESPN for a 10% equity stake in the network. This isn’t a traditional sports “trade,” in which teams exchange star talents or draft picks, but it …
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For more than 20 years, the NFL owned and operated NFL Network. It was an obvious conflict of interest for those paid by the NFL to cover the NFL. While the mere mention of that obvious dynamic continues to trigger some reporters whose paychecks are signed by Roger Goodell, former NFL Network reporter Michael Silver confirmed the practical impact of …
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The non-binding agreement between the NFL and ESPN may not become binding for a while. According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, the deal possibly won’t close until the end of 2026, given the expected timetable for regulatory approval. Disney Head of Corporate Development Justin Warbrooke told Karp that a closing in late 2026 “is our best case.” The …
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft sees the deal that will make NFL Media part of ESPN and give the NFL 10 percent ownership of ESPN as another step toward the league’s global growth ambitions. “I think we’ve hooked up with the best partners we can have,” Kraft told NFL Network. “That will help expose us to more homes, more of an …
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On Tuesday, the league announced that it will sell NFL Network to ESPN, allowing ESPN to distribute NFL RedZone to pay-television operators and combine NFL Fantasy Football with ESPN Fantasy Football. In exchange, the NFL will take a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN. The NFL Network’s Judy Battista spoke with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is the chairman of …
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