Overview
- U.S. and non-U.S. antitrust regulators cleared the transaction late Saturday, and the parties announced the deal has officially closed.
- ESPN acquires NFL Network, NFL Fantasy, and linear distribution rights to NFL RedZone, while the NFL retains ownership, production, and digital distribution of RedZone plus core digital properties.
- NFL Network will be included in ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering, with reporting indicating ESPN Unlimited subscribers will get access at the existing $29.99 monthly price.
- The new schedule plan calls for 28 games tied to ESPN platforms per season, the end of Monday Night Football doubleheaders, and seven games airing on NFL Network.
- Post-closing ownership is about 72% Disney/ABC, 18% Hearst, and 10% NFL, and the league has taken back four international games it intends to resell, reportedly likely to streaming partners.