logo
ESPN and NFL closing in on ‘Next Era'-defining media deal

ESPN and NFL closing in on ‘Next Era'-defining media deal

New York Times13 hours ago
In 1987, an eight-year-old cable network in just 41 million homes acquired the rights to eight NFL regular season Sunday night games and the Pro Bowl.
The then-up-and-coming ESPN paid a now-quaint $51 million per season to the NFL for the three-year package, and it changed the trajectory of what became arguably the most powerful sports media company of all time. ESPN was built on a lot of things, but the most notable was its nearly four-decade relationship with the league.
Advertisement
Now, according to sources briefed on negotiations, ESPN and the NFL are inside the five-yard line on another ground-breaking deal that may not have the impact of 1987 but could be historic, as the all-sports network makes its programming available in a direct-to-consumer product this fall that will cost $29.99 per month. ESPN is hyping this upcoming iteration as 'The Next Era.'
While a contract between ESPN and the NFL is not signed, the two sides have been closing in on talks that first began four years ago, heated up a little more than a year and half ago and now are the closest they have ever been, with the league even informing its owners they may be needed for a vote on it early next month, as first reported by Sports Business Journal.
Until a deal is across the goal line, it is not done – and the minute details, which the sides are said to be working around the clock on, matter. All that said, it's a big deal.
The NFL and ESPN declined to comment for this column.
In 1987, ESPN used NFL games as a battering ram to increase the fees it charged cable subscribers. By 2011, that once-little network was in 100 million homes, it called itself, 'The Worldwide Leader in Sports,' and it wasn't wrong.
Today, still strong, but diminished, ESPN charges more than $10 per month for its services, but with the digital revolution, the rise of Netflix and other streaming options has resulted in just 65.3 million homes receiving ESPN through cable, satellite and services like YouTube TV and Fubo, according to Nielsen.
ESPN wants to maintain as many of those viewers as it can. Those subscribers will be able to have access to ESPN in its traditional format, while adding the ability to log on to the new and improved direct-to-consumer app, launching soon.
The same way a generation first turned to ESPN on cable, the Disney-owned network hopes the ESPN app becomes the ultimate go-to for sports fans. That leads back to the NFL.
Advertisement
The NFL has tried for years to unload many of its media assets, including NFL Media (which operates NFL Network and Red Zone Channel, among other entities), and there is optimism that it will finally happen. The league has had some success with its in-house creations, but in a media ecosystem that is more scattered, it may finally be ready to let someone else manage them – for a pretty penny, of course.
The exact amount of money or equity that Disney/ESPN would pay is not yet known, but it will be enormous. There is expected to be a regulatory period that will need approval before everything goes into effect. The process may take nine months, give or take.
What could be in the deal is the Red Zone Channel, NFL Network, seven regular-season games that appear on NFL Network, enhanced betting and fantasy league possibilities. There may be more.
Red Zone is the Sunday afternoon show that takes viewers inside all the stadiums when teams are threatening to score. This could be a boon for ESPN's app, as well as in its future negotiations with cable and operators for its slew of networks. It could upsell Red Zone in the app, as well as demand more from operators (like YouTube TV, Fubo or cable systems) to continue to offer the service on its platform every Sunday in the fall.
The NFL Network, under ESPN, would likely be enhanced. ESPN's main channels would still feature the NFL a lot of the time, but the devoted network would be on 24/7.
NFL Network has seen years of layoffs and downsizing, and while ESPN will likely take advantage of overlapping jobs to cut costs, it will also want to make NFL Network even more of a must-watch.
With sports betting and fantasy becoming an increasing part of the fan experience, ESPN can be expected to use its potentially enlarged user base integration into its new direct-to-consumer app for what it will likely hope is a transformative experience and increased subscriber growth.
Advertisement
In 2024, of the 100 highest-rated programs on television, 72 were NFL games. This does not appear to be changing anytime soon.
With increased NFL competition from Amazon Prime Video on Thursday nights, Netflix on Christmas and now, for the first time, YouTube, for the second game of the 2025 season from Brazil, to go along with fellow traditional players such as Fox, NBC and CBS, a closer relationship for ESPN with the league would seem to make sense.
ESPN already pays $2.7 billion per season for 25 games a year, mostly on Monday Nights. It will have ESPN's first Super Bowl on its platforms, including its sister network, ABC, in February 2027.
This potential new agreement is probably not as transformative as 1987, but the sports streaming battle is about to have a historic marker in the fall when ESPN's direct-to-consumer launches, with possibly even more NFL in its portfolio.
When 'The next era begins,' ESPN's first big move may be using its old playbook.
(Top photo of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tanner Gordon's 6 scoreless innings help Rockies beat Cardinals for their 1st shutout of the season
Tanner Gordon's 6 scoreless innings help Rockies beat Cardinals for their 1st shutout of the season

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tanner Gordon's 6 scoreless innings help Rockies beat Cardinals for their 1st shutout of the season

DENVER (AP) — Tanner Gordon pitched six scoreless innings and Ezequiel Tovar hit a home run to help the Colorado Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Wednesday and win back-to-back series for the first time since Sept. 13-18, 2024. Gordon (2-2) gave up four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Jimmy Herget threw two innings of one-hit relief before Tyler Kinley pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. The trio combined for Colorado's first shutout of the season. The Rockies hit five consecutive singles in their four-run second inning off St. Louis starter Andre Pallante (5-7) and Jordan Beck added an RBI double in the fifth to make it 5-0. Tovar's solo shot in the eighth capped the scoring. Germán Márquez, who was scheduled to start for Colorado, was moved to the 15-day IL earlier Wednesday due to right biceps tendinitis. The Cardinals snapped their streak of scoring at least four runs in 11 straight games at Coors Field since Oliver Marmol became manager in 2021. Key moment Ryan McMahon drew a leadoff walk and, after Tovar flied out, Austin Nola, Kyle Farmer, Adael Amador, Tyler Freeman and Mickey Moniak hit five consecutive singles to give the Rockies a 4-0 lead in the second. Key stat Colorado, which was an MLB-worst 22-74 at the All-Star break, is 4-2 since their return. The Rockies have won as many series since the break (two) as they did prior to it. Up next Sonny Gray (9-4, 4.04 ERA) is set to pitch for St. Louis on Thursday against Yu Darvish (0-2, 6.08) in the first of four games against San Diego. Kyle Freeland (2-10, 5.19) takes the mound Friday for Colorado against the Baltimore Orioles, who haven't announced a starter. ___ AP MLB:

From balance sheet to alpha engine: The Bitcoin treasury strategy arms race
From balance sheet to alpha engine: The Bitcoin treasury strategy arms race

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

From balance sheet to alpha engine: The Bitcoin treasury strategy arms race

From balance sheet to alpha engine: The Bitcoin treasury strategy arms race originally appeared on TheStreet. Bitcoin treasuries have moved from a curiosity to a capital markets trend with teeth. What began as MicroStrategy's audacious balance sheet bet has ballooned into a $100 billion movement across public and private companies. The question now isn't whether to hold Bitcoin—it's how to manage it. Today's treasuries are increasingly being scrutinized not just for exposure, but for strategy. Passive buy-and-hold approaches—common among early adopters—are now being challenged by firms looking to generate yield, hedge volatility, and even deploy AI-driven trading overlays. 'Everyone wants to have this Bitcoin treasury so that people can get proxy exposure to Bitcoin,' said David Brickell of FRNT. 'But it kind of seems a waste of balance sheet. How do we actually maximize that?' The answer, for many, lies in treating Bitcoin less like gold and more like a yield-generating portfolio asset. Firms like FRNT and Hilbert Capital are experimenting with frameworks borrowed from traditional corporate treasury practices: optimizing for drawdowns, layering in risk management tools, and targeting alpha without compromising core holdings. This approach aims to deliver returns that outperform Bitcoin itself—without exposing the firm to catastrophic downside. But as more companies jump in, the space is becoming noisy. 'When people like GameStop are doing it, borrowing money to buy Bitcoin, it starts to feel bubbly,' said Lucy Balicki. The market has begun to blur the line between strategic treasury allocation and stock-pumping theatrics. Still, the trend is clear: Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset. It's becoming a programmable layer of corporate finance. And in this new era, the winners won't just be the ones who hold the most BTC—they'll be the ones who manage it best. From balance sheet to alpha engine: The Bitcoin treasury strategy arms race first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 23, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared. Sign in to access your portfolio

Alphabet (GOOGL) Gets $190 Price Target Ahead of Earnings, Analyst Sees Favorable Setup
Alphabet (GOOGL) Gets $190 Price Target Ahead of Earnings, Analyst Sees Favorable Setup

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Alphabet (GOOGL) Gets $190 Price Target Ahead of Earnings, Analyst Sees Favorable Setup

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:) is one of the . On July 21, Wolfe Research analyst Shweta Khajuria reiterated an 'Outperform' rating on the stock with a $190.00 price target. The rating affirmation comes ahead of Alphabet's second-quarter earnings report scheduled for Tuesday, July 22nd. The firm noted that even though it's going to 'skew long into the print,' there may not be enough investor focus as it would be diverted to the upcoming Search ruling anticipated in August. The firm highlighted how Alphabet shares have outperformed the S&P 500 by 1 percentage point since the last earnings release, driven by a 'friendly setup,' improving advertising environment, and its AI narrative for Gemini models. Photo by on Unsplash Wolfe Research noted that it will be all ears for Alphabet's updates on the AI mode and AI overview monetization during the earnings call. Any metric disclosures may move beyond clicks growth and come during Q3 call or later. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is an American multinational technology conglomerate holding company wholly owning the internet giant Google, amongst other businesses. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store