Disney's ESPN Scores Big With NFL Network Acquisition

ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), is set to take over NFL Network and several other league-owned media assets, including NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy, in a groundbreaking equity-for-assets deal with the National Football League (NFL). In return, the NFL will receive a 10% ownership stake in ESPN.

Disney aims to fold these NFL properties into its expanding digital offerings and upcoming direct-to-consumer platform. ESPN will integrate NFL Network into its new streaming service while acquiring distribution rights for the NFL RedZone linear channel.

Merging ESPN Fantasy with NFL Fantasy will create a unified fantasy football experience, creating what both parties call a best-in-class digital ...