ESPN, NFL Agree on Media Deal Amid Looming DTC Launch

ESPN and the NFL have reportedly struck a deal, giving the sports network access to the NFL's top programs, including "RedZone," additional regular-season games, fantasy football, and special features. In exchange, the NFL may receive up to 10% of ESPN equity. The deal comes amid ESPN's launch of its direct-to-consumer product, ESPN+, expected to cost $29.99 per month if bundled with Disney+ and Hulu.

ESPN and the National Football League (NFL) have reportedly reached a significant media agreement, with ESPN gaining access to the NFL's top programs in exchange for equity in ESPN. The deal, which has been in discussion for four years, includes access to RedZone, NFL Network, seven additional regular-season games, and the NFL’s fantasy football business. ESPN may also integrate special features, including betting, into its programming [1].

The agreement is expected to be announced by Disney, ESPN’s parent company, during its earnings call on Wednesday. ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, ESPN+, is set to launch in the coming weeks, with a monthly subscription cost of $29.99 when bundled with Disney+ and Hulu [2].

For the NFL, the deal represents a strategic move to divest its TV production business, allowing it to focus more on its core intellectual property. The league may receive up to 10% of ESPN equity, which could be worth billions [1]. RedZone, a service that allows fans to see live action of scoring opportunities during Sunday afternoon games, is of particular importance to the deal. ESPN is expected to make RedZone available through its app, although the pricing for this service is not yet known [1].

The deal coincides with a challenging period for ESPN, which has seen a decline in cable subscribers from over 100 million in 2011 to 65.3 million by the end of 2024. The network hopes that the upgraded ESPN app, offering all of its programming, will help stem the subscription-loss trend [1].

References:
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6530655/2025/08/01/nfl-espn-media-deal-tv-broadcast/
[2] https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/nfl-espn-reach-major-media-deal-2025-regular-season-looms-report