ESPN has reportedly been close to a broadcasting deal that involves NFL RedZone and an assortment of live television games.
A potential new service priced at $29.99 per month is also expected to be revealed soon.
NFL and ESPN are reportedly close to a broadcasting deal[/caption]
The deal would include NFL RedZone and other live TV games[/caption]
The 2025 NFL season is approaching, and fans could be getting access to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service soon.
Throughout the offseason, the NFL and ESPN have been in talks about a major deal.
And it appears the pair are applying the finishing touches to the deal.
ESPN and the NFL are “inside the five-yard line” in their negotiations, which would see the Worldwide Leader receive a big portion of NFL Media, per The Athletic.
ESPN could acquire assets, which include NFL Network, Red Zone Channel, and the seven regular-season NFL games that currently broadcast on the league-owned network, the report added.
Negotiations have even gone to the point that the league has told its owners that they could vote on a deal early next month, The Athletic reported.
It’s not known how much money will be exchanged in the deal.
But it’s believed the potential spending spree “will be enormous,” per The Athletic.
It’s been reported that NFL Media has a value of close to $2 billion.
Still, it’s expected that the process to finalize the deal will take about nine months.
ESPN’s potential acquisition of NFL properties will give the network plenty of football-related content for its DTC streaming service set for the fall.
The office launch date has yet to be announced.
The service will be referred to as simply “ESPN.”
Negotiations between ESPN and the NFL were first reported in January 2024.
ESPN will broadcast Super Bowl 61 in 2027[/caption]
But talks between the two first began in 2021, the Athletic reported.
ESPN pays $2.7 billion per season to broadcast 25 games a year.
The network will broadcast its first Super Bowl on all its platforms in 2027.
NFL Network, meanwhile, has experienced layoffs and downsizing, which has caused ESPN to take advantage.
NFL important dates 2025 season
March 12 – Free Agency begins
April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin
September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header
January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season
February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
