After years of collaboration, ESPN and the National Football League are deepening their relationship in a deal that could reshape how American football is watched, streamed and played online.
The [Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS, ETR:WDP)](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/NYSE:DIS/Walt-Disney-Co/) owned sports network is set to acquire NFL Network, along with a handful of key media assets, in exchange for a 10% stake in ESPN, according to a joint announcement after hours.
Included in the deal are the NFL’s RedZone channel and its Fantasy Football platform.
Though still subject to final approval and contract negotiations, the agreement marks a major consolidation of two of the biggest brands in US sports media.
“This is an exciting day for sports fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chairman. “We’re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game — anytime, anywhere.”
The proposed deal will give ESPN full control of NFL Network, both its cable channel and digital operations, as well as the RedZone linear channel, the live broadcast that jumps from game to game every Sunday, and the NFL’s fantasy football platform.
In return, the NFL will take a minority stake in ESPN, signalling a new level of integration between the two sports franchises.
Importantly, ESPN plans to fully incorporate NFL Network and RedZone into its upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, while continuing to offer both via traditional cable and satellite.
This would make NFL content available to more viewers, across more platforms, than ever before.
Fantasy football is also in for an overhaul. ESPN Fantasy and NFL Fantasy will merge into a single platform, creating what both sides are calling the official season-long game of the NFL.
That’s likely to appeal to the millions of fantasy players already invested in both ecosystems, while giving ESPN a broader footprint in the booming sports-gaming market.
“This partnership 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,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger.
“It adds to consumer choice, provides viewers with greater convenience and quality, and expands the value of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.”
The agreement also reshuffles the NFL’s game distribution. ESPN will license three additional games per season for NFL Network to air, and will shift four games from its own broadcast calendar to the network, which will now carry seven games annually.
Crucially, not everything is changing. The NFL will continue to own and operate NFL Films, the NFL+ app, NFL.com, team websites, and its podcast and FAST (free ad-supported TV) channels.
It will also retain digital rights to distribute RedZone, meaning ESPN will run the linear channel, while the NFL manages online distribution.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell framed the move as a natural next step. “NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” he said. “This sale to ESPN will build on that legacy, providing more football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”
For ESPN, which is preparing to launch its long-anticipated streaming service, the deal helps clarify its future.
A 10% stake from the NFL brings not just content but brand alignment, and sets the stage for Disney to push deeper into live sports streaming at a time of rapid change in the media landscape.
The transaction still requires approval from NFL team owners and will need to clear various regulatory and contractual steps before it closes.
But if completed, it would represent one of the most significant realignments in US sports media in over a decade, and could well be a model for future league-network tie-ups.