ESPN and the NFL are in advanced talks that would give league a stake in the network
https://nypost.com/2024/01/12/sports...y-in-tv-giant/
ESPN and the NFL are in advanced talks that could result in the league taking an equity stake in ESPN, The Post has learned. As part of a potential agreement, Disney-owned ESPN would take control of NFL Media, which includes NFL Network, and the league would receive equity in ESPN. For the long-term viability of ESPN aligning with the most powerful sports league would enhance its position as the network plans to move to direct to consumer by 2025. While the idea of an ESPN-NFL alliance has been mentioned before, discussions between Disney-owned ESPN and the NFL are far enough along that sources said that owners and the Players Association are being informed about the talks. The owners and players need to be involved in the equity agreement because of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two sides that calls for them to share revenues. It is unclear of how an equity stake in ESPN would be accounted for in the CBA. It still could take months for a deal to be finalized. Both ESPN and the NFL declined comment. The NFL has been trying to unload its network for years now. In its recent talks that resulted in its $110-plus billion deals with ESPN, Amazon, CBS, Fox, NBC and YouTube, the NFL searched for a buyer, but was unsuccessful. NFL Media consists of NFL Network, NFL.com, Red Zone, NFL Films and NFL+. Since ESPN covers the league thoroughly, there would be synergies if the two sides are able to reach an agreement. Disney/ESPN might be able to secure better carriage arrangements for NFL Network. ESPN has targeted 2025 as the most likely year it will go direct-to-consumer. It is still possible it could move up the date to end of this year. When it does, it plans on offering all its programming without a cable subscription. A subscriber could choose to pay for the service directly through ESPN’s app or would still be able to opt for the ESPN channels through a cable or satellite provider. ESPN currently offers ESPN+ as a separate add-on service, but it has more specialty programming, including one exclusive NFL game. As it turns to direct-to-consumer, ESPN ideally wants a league partner and one of the top digital players, such as, but not limited to Apple, Amazon or Verizon, so it can leverage its content with the best distribution channels. In June, CNBC reported that ESPN held talks with the NFL, NBA and MLB. ESPN currently pays the NFL around $2.6 billion per year for rights that include 25 games, highlighted by its weekly Monday Night prime time schedule. |
I get the vision here but having content, journalism, and sports betting housed under the same entity partially owned by the NFL seems like a big issue.
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This could kick ass for NFL Films.
Not sure about the news portions. |
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Why does the NFL need ANOTHER NFL network? Unless, monopoly is the game, in which case it's probably long term detrimental whether it trips legal standards or not. In real world terms, it damn well is a monopoly play.
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ESPN has been kissing the NFLs ass since they got NFL games. They use to run interesting pieces about issues Outside the lines etc ..they don't do it now.
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Bad Idea!!!
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Sweet Jesus.
That feels like legit beginning of the end stuff. It's when the ominous tones start and they go to commercial in VH1s Behind the Music documentaries. |
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Roger Goodell doing everything he can to create an environment where the league can determine who wins any given game and to control the spread, and now he wants to make sure that no one at ESPN can criticize officials and the bad calls they use to get the outcome they desire.
Goodell is hell bent on ruining the NFL for more money. His insitince on playing regular season games in foreign countries, and soon there will be an 18 game season, only 2 preseason games, and games on every day of the week. |
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Disney looking for a boost?
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Wokepn failing and needs more help lying and whining.
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Maybe they'll bring vince McMahon in as a creative consultant. We can have bigger storylines and players can cut promos...actually that already happens.
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How does the NFL not know that weak ass whiny woke wussies don't watch football.
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Can you please keep your DC opinions out of the lounge? |
Disney and football? What could go wrong??
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FS1 will get a spike in viewership if ESPN and NFLN are lockstep with the same message.
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Seems like the NFL Network is on life support.
GMFB is on an indefinite hiatus and several layoffs today… <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Andrew Siciliano, Melissa Stark, James Palmer and Will Selva are all out as NFL Network continues trimming, The Athletic has learned. <a href="https://t.co/ORtNrUSHY9">https://t.co/ORtNrUSHY9</a></p>— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/1775865463773212861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> |
This is just another step towards steaming their content to keep all the money instead of having to give cable or youtubetv part of their profits.
The NFL Network was founded to be its PR arm for the shield. It evolved into a real network for football. I will skim through GMF during the season. Watch the mic'd ups. Love the Red Zone when the Chiefs are not playing. |
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I’m not this GMFB super fan or anything, but Schrager needs a show of some type. The rest of them are interchangeable. Maybe bring Brandt on exclusively the day after Chiefs playoff wins |
I liked Siciliano
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https://news.syr.edu/wp-content/uplo...iciliano-2.jpg |
LMAO
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get all the white people out
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Now we need NFL/Disney/ESPN to build the most advanced nicest stadium in the world in Orlando Disney World.
Can be the all-time host of the Super Bowl but can of course do concerts and other things. |
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Hmmm would this mean we can have a Mahomes Star Wars movie? Find out that Mahomes is actually Yoda's ancestor!
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Since James Palmer has became a de facto Chiefs beat reporter, ESPN should hire him to replace Adam Teicher.
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**** this. ESPN will create two super-divisions of teams that we are forced to watch including the Cowboys, Giants, etc. 80% of playoff berths and TV proceeds will go those top 6 teams. The rest of us can get ****ed. I’ve seen this movie with the ESPN-SEC and ESPN-B1G and no thank you.
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Your new Super Bowl matchups. The Field will win 90% of the games by a margin of three touchdowns, minimum. |
WTH is going on at NFL Network? Just fired a bunch of folks, postponing shows, etc.
I don't want to sit through basketball highlights to get to my football. |
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