Today will most likely go down as a landmark day in the history of the sports media landscape. Per Awful Announcing, the NFL and sports media conglomerate ESPN officially announced the mega deal that will see ESPN acquire NFL properties such as NFL Redzone and NFL Network, and the NFL will be gaining a 10% interest in ESPN.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro all touched on the deal in the official press release.
ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and the National Football League (NFL) today announced a non-binding agreement under which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL – including NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy – in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets.
“These transactions between America’s most popular sporting league and the world’s most innovative sports media leader are designed to set a new standard for how professional football is delivered, experienced and celebrated by fans.
“‘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,’ said Iger. ‘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.’
“‘Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,’ said Goodell. ‘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.’
“’This is an exciting day for sports fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN. ‘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.’”
Now, key details are emerging about changes that are coming, which include a change to the Monday Night Football broadcasts. The details include no more Monday Night Football doubleheaders, ESPN/NFL Network getting standalone windows for 28 combined games, and Four NFL games hitting the open market.
It’ll be interesting to see how these changes go over with fans.