NFL fans fume as ESPN’s billion-dollar bid for more control of football broadcasting is given green light
ESPN’s billionaire-dollar deal with the NFL that will see the network air three more games every season and have access to NFL Network and RedZone has finally been approved.
The deal was struck back in August but only received approval from government regulators on Saturday night, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
As part of the package, the NFL has taken a 10 per-cent ownership in the network that is owned by Disney. That stake is worth billions.
However, ESPN are the big winners. They now own and operate NFL Network, will be the official home of the league’s fantasy football product and hold the rights to RedZone.
NFL Network will still air seven games per season. Four of ESPN´s games, including some that are in overlapping windows on Monday nights, will move to NFL Network. ESPN will license three additional games that will be carried on NFL Network.
When the 2026 season begins in September, any viewer with an ESPN Unlimited subscription will now have full access to NFL Network for the $29.99 fee they currently pay.
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As part of the package, the NFL has taken a 10 per-cent ownership in Disney-owned ESPN
But fans were left far from impressed by the news on Saturday night and took to social media to make their feelings clear.
One posted: ‘If you thought the commercials this season were bad on RedZone… buckle up.’
Another said: ‘The more ESPN touches, the worse things will get. Big mistake by NFL letting them get access.’
A third commented: ‘ESPN just swallowed the NFL ecosystem whole. Neutral coverage officially extinct.’
‘Let’s see how fast they ruin it all,’ one furious fan wrote.
Another declared ‘ESPN ruins everything’ while another stated they will ‘miss prime RedZone’.
Viewers are not expected to notice changes on NFL Network until April, when those employed by NFL Media become part of ESPN.
‘The NFL and ESPN are pleased to announce the official closing of the sale of NFL Network and other NFL Media assets to ESPN,’ the NFL and ESPN said in a joint statement.
‘With the closing, we will begin integrating NFL employees into ESPN in the months ahead.
‘As we look to the future, NFL fans can look forward to expanded NFL programming, greater access to NFL Network, innovative Fantasy experiences and unparalleled coverage of America’s most popular sport.’
