ESPN is nearing deal to acquire NFL Network, Red Zone

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With the 2025 NFL season and the launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service both approaching, the two entities find themselves on the verge of a major deal.

According to The Atheltic’s Andrew Marchand, ESPN and the NFL are “inside the five-yard line” in their ongoing negotiations, which would see the Worldwide Leader acquire a significant portion of NFL Media. While the details of the potential deal that was first reported on in January 2024 have yet to be finalized, Marchand notes that it could see ESPN acquire properties including the NFL Network, Red Zone Channel and the seven regular-season NFL games that currently air on the league-owned network.

Plenty can still change as nothing has been finalized, but Marchand added that talks have advanced to the point that the league has informed its owners that they may need to vote on a deal early next month, which Sports Business Journal also reported last week. At this point, it’s unclear how much money or equity would be exchanged in the deal, although recent reports have valued NFL Media at approximately $2 billion.

“It will be enormous,” Marchand reports regarding the potential payday.

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