The NFL has reached a deal to acquire a minority stake in a sports media conglomerate that is attempting to scale as a co-owner of a sports betting brand.
America’s most popular professional sports league reached an agreement to sell NFL Network and other media assets to ESPN in exchange for a 10% stake in the media giant.
According to CNBC, a deal for the 10% minority stake in ESPN could fetch up to $3 billion.
"By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
"Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game—anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”
As part of the pending transaction, ESPN will be the owner and operator of NFL Network. The sports network will also obtain rights to NFL Fantasy and to distribute the popular weekly NFL regular season TV program NFL RedZone. NFL RedZone will only be distributed by ESPN with the NFL retaining ownership and production rights of the program.
https://sbcamericas.com/2025/08/06/espn-nfl-media-sale-equity/