Overview

• The agreement grants ESPN control of NFL Network, RedZone, online fantasy football services and rights to seven additional regular-season games in exchange for up to 10 percent equity.
• Negotiations concluded after nearly four years as Disney seeks to anchor ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service with must-have football content.
• NFL owners must deliver a three-quarters majority vote to greenlight the transaction before it moves into the regulatory phase.
• President Trump’s administration will scrutinize the deal through the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department, building on probes into Disney’s DEI practices and FuboTV acquisition.
• ESPN aims to launch its standalone streaming platform imminently and views the NFL media assets as critical to attracting and retaining subscribers.