The NFL Takes A 10 Percent Stake in ESPN

Episode 534 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the editor and founder of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast, we discuss Disney/ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and substantial rights to RedZone, along with other content assets, in exchange for the NFL getting a 10 percent ownership stake in ESPN; how we see the deal; the game inventory ESPN receives; what it means for ESPN's coverage of the NFL; the formal announcement of a launch date — Aug. 21 — for ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service; the rights agreement for ESPN DTC to become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including WrestleMania; the NFL extending ESPN’s rights to cover the NFL Draft through 2030 and expanding the Disney networks where the draft can air, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.