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4d ago

Goodell and Pitaro Promise ESPN Will Maintain NFL Coverage Integrity

ESPN leaders are assuring staff that editorial independence will be preserved as the network readies its new streaming service under federal antitrust review.

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Massillon Independent

Overview

  • Under an agreement announced in early August, ESPN will acquire NFL Network, RedZone and certain fantasy assets in exchange for roughly a 10 percent stake in ESPN valued at about $2.5 billion.
  • Commissioner Roger Goodell and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro addressed employees in a Bristol town hall on August 13 to reaffirm that NFL ownership will not dictate journalistic content.
  • ESPN’s standalone direct-to-consumer service, priced at $29.99 per month, is set to launch on August 21 with expanded NFL game windows and WWE Premium Live Events beginning in 2026.
  • The transaction remains subject to a Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission antitrust review expected to last nine to twelve months and requires formal approval from NFL team owners.
  • Public debate over potential conflicts has intensified, with commentators such as Don Van Natta Jr. and Dan Patrick raising concerns about the league’s influence on ESPN’s reporting.