ESPN to Acquire NFL Network and Other Media Assets From the NFL
Posted on: August 6, 2025, 08:50h.
Last updated on: August 6, 2025, 09:48h.
- ESPN will own and operate NFL Network
- ESPN Fantasy Football will combine with NFL Fantasy
- ESPN also announces FanCenter, melding fantasy football with sports betting
ESPN and the NFL have announced a deal where the sports network will acquire the NFL Network and other media assets owned by the league, including the popular RedZone and NFL Fantasy.
The NFL will get a 10% equity stake in ESPN. The all-sports network will merge the NFL fantasy product into its existing fantasy platform, which will improve the product and broaden its reach, the company said in a statement.
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 Disney CEO Robert 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.”
ESPN Adds Three NFL Games
ESPN will own and operate NFL Network, and plans to integrate it into ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service. The company is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. RedZone will join The Walt Disney Company’s linear networks portfolio.
The companies also announced a second agreement. The NFL will license NFL content to ESPN along with additional intellectual property and assets. In total, ESPN’s platforms will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network. ESPN will adjust its overall NFL game schedule, with four games shifting to the NFL Network, which will continue to present seven games per season. NFL Films programming is also being licensed to ESPN.
“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” said NFL Commissioner Roger 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.
Merging Sports Betting and Fantasy Sports
“The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways,” Goodell said.
The announcement came a few days after ESPN Bet announced a new feature for users that melds fantasy sports with sports betting, called FanCenter.
The feature is a personalized hub within ESPN Bet. It allows users to easily find game markets, curated player props, and custom parlay offerings based on their favorite teams, players, and ESPN fantasy football rosters.
The new hub is powered by ESPN and ESPN Bet’s account linking technology.
“FanCenter introduces a completely new level of personalization for ESPN BET players and represents our biggest product leap yet,” said Penn Entertainment CTO Aaron LaBerge. “It taps into our players’ fandom in smart, creative ways while connecting seamlessly with ESPN’s industry-leading fantasy football platform. This is what sets ESPN BET apart, and football season is the perfect time to roll it out.”
No comments yet