ESPN, the Disney-owned international sports broadcaster, has reportedly reached an agreement with NFL Media, the media business of the American football league, to acquire several of its properties in a deal potentially worth billions of dollars.
Under the deal, first reported by news outlet The Athletic, ESPN will acquire NFL Network, the 24/7 channel owned by the league, and NFL Redzone, the channel featuring live-action cut-ins as teams approach the opposition’s end zone, as well as other top NFL Media holdings.
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ESPN, owned by Disney, will also receive seven more regular-season games and the NFL’s fantasy football business, among other NFL Media assets.
In return, the NFL will reportedly secure as much as 10% of an equity stake in ESPN, potentially worth billions of dollars.
NFL Media comprises NFL Films, and the league’s cable channels – NFL Network, Redzone, NFL.com – as well as NFL+, the recently launched streaming service.
The report said an official announcement of the deal is expected this week, with Disney set to have an earnings call on Wednesday (August 6).
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By GlobalDataThe deal will still require regulatory approval, which could take up to a year, potentially putting it on course to be finalized during the 2026 season, just before ESPN covers its first Super Bowl in 2027. The broadcaster and its free-to-air sister channel, ABC, also have rights to air the flagship end-of-season event in 2031.
The reports also come as ESPN prepares to launch its direct-to-consumer streaming service later this year. It is set to cost $29.99 per month and give subscribers access to all ESPN programming, including live games, through an app.
A potential deal between the NFL and ESPN has been mooted since last year, when the New York Post reported that discussions had advanced enough for the league to inform the NFL Players Association and team owners. Both owners and players will have to sign off on any deal due to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, which includes revenue sharing.
The talks came after Disney chief executive Bob Iger told the media in August 2023 that his company wanted to keep ESPN as an asset but would seek strategic partners to form a joint venture around the broadcaster or buy a stake in it.
The broadcaster has been challenged by increased cord-cutting by subscribers in favor of direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services, and Iger previously stated that any investment would be used to help take the network DTC by this year.
Disney and ESPN hold domestic rights to two NFL packages, including Monday Night Football (MNF), which airs on ESPN and sister channel ABC, and two Super Bowls. Its MNF deal encompasses 25 games worth around $2.6 billion per year.
Elsewhere, the NFLPA labor union for American footballers has elected former Hollywood union leader David White as its interim executive director.
White replaces Lloyd Howell Jr., who resigned last month after being accused of a range of inappropriate acts – including misappropriating NFLPA funds to pay for visits to strip clubs, among other allegations (including collusion) that have littered his tumultuous two-year tenure.
White is the chief executive of executive coaching and strategic firm 3CG Ventures and serves as the board chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He previously served as the leader of the SAG-AFTRA actors union from 2009 to 2021.
White was chosen after representatives from each of the 32 NFL teams voted yesterday (August 3), after interviews were conducted over the past two weeks.
In a statement, NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin has said: “This decision is the result of a comprehensive, player-led process. We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.
“David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all that the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.
“Soon, we will commence a thorough search process for a permanent executive director. This process will continue to be player-led, as the strength of our union has and will always lie with our membership.”
As interim executive director, White will be tasked with stabilizing the organization, which is still reeling from the fallout from its previous leadership under Howell Jr.
The NFLPA has been mired in controversy since late May when reports surfaced that US authorities – including both the FBI and the US Department of Labor – had launched an investigation into licensing firm OneTeam Partners, which has extensive business ties to the NFLPA (as well as to the players' association of baseball's MLB).
The body’s woes continued after multiple media reports about Howell Jr., including allegations that he colluded with NFL owners to keep contract values low and had made an agreement with the league to keep the results of the collusion investigation confidential.
Other reports have accused Howell Jr. of maintaining a part-time consulting role with the Carlyle Group investment firm while leading the NFLPA. That group has since gained league approval to bid for minority stakes in NFL franchises.
Another alleged that during Howell's time as a senior executive at global consultancy firm Booz Hamilton in 2011, he had been sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation.
Last week, it was reported that the NFLPA is facing a federal investigation into potential misuse of funds and self-enrichment by union officials.
