Overview

• Under the deal, ESPN will acquire the NFL’s media properties—including the NFL Network, RedZone and its online fantasy football services—as well as rights to seven regular-season games, six of which are international.
• In exchange, the NFL will receive up to a 10% stake in ESPN through an equity-for-assets arrangement finalized in late July.
• ESPN plans to use the NFL content to drive subscribers to its pending streaming-only service, set to launch later this month.
• President Trump’s FCC alongside the Justice Department will spend nine to twelve months reviewing the deal; past probes into Disney’s diversity practices followed by a DOJ inquiry into its FuboTV acquisition have heightened scrutiny.
• Observers say the outcome could set a benchmark for future sports broadcasting rights deals in an increasingly streaming-dominated market.