NFL Acquires Slice Of Disney’s ESPN In Streaming Deal

Axios reports:

Disney announced Tuesday that ESPN will acquire the National Football League’s NFL Network, and would get broad rights to its other media platforms such as RedZone, in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the sports network. The landmark deal brings the country’s biggest sports league even closer to the preeminent sports network as streaming upends live TV.

The deal, announced ahead of Disney’s earnings report Wednesday, ensures that ESPN will become the premiere destination for NFL coverage, a key advantage as the network looks to lure subscribers to its new streaming service.

The agreement allows ESPN to fully own and operate the NFL Network, and integrate it into ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming network that’s set to debut this fall.

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