ESPN to get NFL Community, rights to RedZone from NFL for fairness stake

ESPN is buying the NFL Community and different Nationwide Soccer League media property, together with the linear rights to the league’s widespread RedZone channel, in a deal that can see the NFL get a ten% fairness stake within the all-sports community, it was introduced Tuesday night time.

ESPN will even purchase the NFL’s fantasy product and merge it into its present platform, making ESPN Fantasy Soccer the official recreation of the NFL. In a separate deal, the NFL additionally agreed to license to ESPN different NFL content material and mental property that can seem on the NFL Community and different property.

The NFL Community will likely be owned and operated by ESPN, which is able to management the community’s linear and digital rights. The NFL Community will likely be built-in into ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming product, and it’ll proceed to be accessible on conventional pay TV suppliers.

“By combining these NFL media property with ESPN’s attain and innovation, we’re making a premier vacation spot for soccer followers,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro mentioned in an announcement. “Collectively, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how followers have interaction with the sport — anytime, anyplace. This deal helps gas ESPN’s digital future, laying the muse for an much more strong providing as we put together to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”

ESPN platforms will even license three further NFL video games per season, giving it a complete of 28. NFL Community will proceed to indicate seven video games per season, with some video games shifting to NFL Community from ESPN’s authentic schedule. Dates and video games weren’t introduced. The entire ESPN-owned video games will air on linear and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer platform.

In accordance with a joint assertion, ESPN will personal broad rights to RedZone, together with the trademark, and proceed to distribute the channel to pay TV operators. The NFL will proceed to personal, function and produce the RedZone channel and can hold the rights to distribute it digitally.

The league will even proceed to personal and function a few of its media companies, together with NFL Movies and NFL.com.

“Right this moment’s announcement paves the way in which for the world’s main sports activities media model and America’s hottest sport to ship an much more compelling expertise for NFL followers, in a method that solely ESPN and Disney can,” Robert A. Iger, chief govt officer of The Walt Disney Firm, mentioned in an announcement. “Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have constructed excellent media property, and these transactions will add to shopper selection, present viewers with even higher comfort and high quality, and develop the breadth and worth proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.”

“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Community has offered hundreds of thousands of followers unprecedented entry to the game they love,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in an announcement. “Whether or not it was debuting Thursday Evening Soccer, televising the Mix, or telling unbelievable soccer tales by authentic exhibits and breaking information, NFL Community has delivered. The Community’s sale to ESPN will construct on this outstanding legacy, offering extra NFL soccer for extra followers in new and modern methods.”

Additionally of observe:

Starting with the 2026 draft, Disney+ and Hulu will stream ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes’ trio of draft shows. All choices will likely be accessible on the DTC service.

ESPN and ABC will every produce telecasts for Rounds 1-3 on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, ESPN will proceed to air Rounds 4-7, with ABC simulcasting the community’s protection. Additionally, ESPN can add different alternate telecasts throughout streaming platforms for Rounds 1-7.

Faculty GameDay and NFL Stay will proceed to be on-site from the draft, whereas ESPN Radio will proceed its reside broadcast of the draft.

In Could, ESPN introduced its streaming service would launch in early fall with a $29.99 per thirty days worth level and can hold the linear community’s identify — ESPN.

The direct-to-consumer service, launching on August 21, will permit customers to get all seven of ESPN’s home linear networks along with ESPN on ABC and several other different streaming choices.

ESPN is 80% owned by ABC, Inc., an oblique subsidiary of The Walt Disney Firm, and 20% by Hearst.

The agreements between ESPN and the NFL are topic to approval from NFL house owners and authorities regulators.