The league will continue to own and operate NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the official websites of the 32 teams, the NFL Podcast Network and the NFL FAST Channel (a free ad-supported streaming channel).
‘’The moves align with the NFL’s longstanding ambition to reach $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027 — a target first set in 2010, when league revenue stood at approximately $8.5 billion,’’ O’Connor said. ‘’Financially, the move also signals to investors that ESPN is doubling down on differentiation and content stickiness by offering a scarce and premium product in a crowded marketplace. Intentionally ceding equity to the NFL transforms ESPN from a media licensee into a true platform partner — with few properties rivaling the league in terms of cultural significance, appointment viewing, audience reach, and monetization efficiency."
Viewers will likely not see any immediate impacts until next year once everything is approved.
Besides ESPN, the biggest winner in this could be NFL Network, which had seen reductions in original programming the past couple years. ‘’Total Access,’’ the network’s flagship show since its launch in 2003, ended in May 2024 amid a series of layoffs and cost-cutting moves. ‘’Good Morning Football’’ also moved from New York, where it had been since its start in 2016, to Southern California last year.
NFL Network moved to a broadcast facility across the street from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in 2021.