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The ESPN-NFL Media Deal Is Happening

The NFL is finally close to a deal with ESPN that would give the league an equity stake in the network, and offer ESPN total control over NFL Network and NFL RedZone. I know regular readers of The Varsity have been reading that sentence for the past 18 months now. But, really, the two sides are closer than ever.

nfl washington commanders
For ESPN, getting into bed with the owner of the most popular programming on TV was too good to pass up, especially given the coming battles over the NFL’s rights. Photo: Nic Antaya/Getty Images
John Ourand
July 24, 2025

Two years ago, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro started reaching out to other network heads to discuss ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, which is launching this fall. To ensure the app’s success, and draw the most subscribers, ESPN brass believed they needed more than just the sports content that the network, itself, provided. Pitaro’s plan was simple, as you know: He wanted the service to be a sports hub. If a subscriber to the ESPN app wanted to watch, say, Fox’s production of the World Series, they’d be able to add a Fox Sports–branded stream for $10 or $20 per month, without leaving the app.