Subscribe
Close
Sports

ESPN Acquires NFL RedZone & NFL Network In Exchange For 10% Stake

ESPN Acquiring NFL RedZone & NFL Network Leaves Fans Stressed Out

Published on August 6, 2025
Comment

Share the post

Share this link via

Or copy link

In business, the name of the game is to acquire and scale, and ESPN is doing just that. Tuesday night, the sports juggernaut announced a new deal to purchase NFL Network and some of the league’s other properties, including NFL RedZone.  In exchange, the NFL will now have about a 10% stake in ESPN, with Wall Street Journal reports estimating that stake could be between $2.5 billion and $3 billion.

Related Stories

ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro is excited to see the game and the coverage become even closer to potentially developing a better experience for those sitting on their couch. “By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans,” Pitaro said in a statement to ESPN. “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.”
Expected changes include ESPN licensing three more games a season, upping the total to 28. NFL Network will still air seven games per season, but some games will move from its typical ESPN slot to NFL Network, and those specific games haven’t been chosen yet. The league will also continue to own and run some of its other platforms like NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, and the NFL podcast network. But the biggest change is the acquisition of ESPN Fantasy Football, which ESPN now says will make it the official fantasy platform of the league.  Fans will also see that NFL RedZone, the league’s channel dedicated to showing you all the week’s action, will now bear ESPN’s name despite the NFL still technically owning it. However, according to Awful Announcing,  the branding is now in the broadcaster’s umbrella, which means we could see other leagues get the RedZone treatment; a college football version would become an instant classic.   And don’t worry, host Scott Hanson is staying put, reassuring fans by tweeting, “Fired up for a great season! Optimistic about this new partnership!”    “Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”
The agreement’s ink hasn’t dried yet because NFL owners and government regulators still need to sign off on it, but it could become official before the 2026 season begins.  However, fans think the deal makes ESPN and the NFL too close and believe it’ll somehow compromise coverage. See the reactions below.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Related Tags

espn nfl

Stories from Our Partners

    More from Cassius Life

    You May Also Like

    Suspect in Long Island Acid Attack

    New York Rapper Charged Over 2021 Elmont Acid Attack

    Hip-Hop Wired

    Gene Simmons Gets Checked By Chuck D Over Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Jab

    Hip-Hop Wired
    Anthony Anderson - TV One UNCENSORED

    Anthony Anderson Opens Up About His Health & Being A Diabetic On TV One's 'Uncensored'

    Global Grind
    Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles - Super Bowl LVII - State Farm Stadium

    Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows Since 2000 Ranked By Viewership

    Global Grind
    Trending
    Los Angeles Lakers Media Day
    25 Items
    Entertainment  |  By Davonta Herring

    The King’s Still Reigning: LeBron James’ Most Legendary Moments

    Comment
    Keepers of the Culture
    Target Keepers of the Culture  |  By Victoria Kim

    Cooking With Purpose: How Brittney Williams Honors Her Caribbean Roots Through Food

    Comment
    Ice Hockey - Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 1
    23 Items
    Pop Culture  |  By Stephen A. Crockett Jr.

    AOC, Claressa Shields Drag Jake Paul For Calling Bad Bunny A “Fake American” As He Backtracks

    Comment
    Super Bowl LX: New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks
    18 Items
    Sports  |  By Bruce Goodwin II

    Patriots’ Mack Hollins Arrives At Super Bowl Wearing Prison Uniform With Handcuffs & Confuses Everyone

    Comment
    13 Items
    Style & Fashion  |  By Bruce Goodwin II

    Adidas Drops Bad Bunny’s Signature Sneaker From His Super Bowl Halftime Show

    Comment

    Cassius Life

    Quick Links

    Legal

    Subscribe
    Close