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CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
NFL and ESPN reach nonbinding agreement for sale of NFL Network and other media assets
Ever since the NFL announced it was looking to sell NFL Network and other media assets, ESPN had been seen as one of the favourites to make a deal. Nearly five years later, a framework is finally in place. The NFL announced Tuesday night that it has entered into a nonbinding agreement with ESPN. Under the terms, ESPN will acquire NFL Network, NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators and the league will get a 10 per cent equity stake in ESPN. The league and ESPN still have to negotiate a final agreement and get approval from NFL owners. The agreement will also have to undergo regulatory approvals. "Sometimes great things take a long time to get to the point where it's right. And we both feel that it is at this stage," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a call with The Associated Press. Along with the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN will have a second nonbinding agreement where the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property that can be used by NFL Network and other assets that have been purchased. "We have been talking about it in earnest for the last few years. But interestingly enough, we started talking about this over a decade ago but nothing really ended up happening. And we got back at it when I came back to Disney after my retirement," Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a call with the AP. What ESPN gets ESPN is expected to launch its direct-to-consumer service before the end of September. The service would give cord-cutters access to all ESPN programs and networks for $29.99 US per month. The addition of more NFL programming increases the value. Many viewers will receive the service for free as part of their subscription to cable, satellite and most streaming services. "When I came back to Disney and assessed essentially the future of ESPN, it became clear that ESPN had to launch a bigger and more robust and digital or direct-to-consumer product, not only for the sake of ESPN's business, but for the sports fan," Iger said. "And obviously, when you start thinking about high-quality sports content, your eyes immediately head in the direction of the NFL because there's really nothing more valuable and more popular than that. NFL Network — which has nearly 50 million subscribers — would be owned and operated by ESPN and would be included in ESPN's direct-to-consumer product. The NFL RedZone channel would be distributed by ESPN to cable and satellite operators. However, the NFL will continue to own, operate and produce the channel as well as retain the rights to distribute the channel digitally. ESPN would also get rights to the RedZone brand, meaning RedZone channels for college football and basketball or other sports could be coming in the future. NFL Fantasy Football would merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, giving ESPN the official fantasy football game of the league. NFL Network will still air seven games per season. Four of ESPN's games, including some that are in overlapping windows on Monday nights, would move to NFL Network. ESPN will license three additional games that will be carried on NFL Network. What the NFL receives (and retains) The league gets a 10 per cent equity stake in ESPN. Aidan O'Connor, a senior vice president at the Prosek Partners marketing firm, estimates the value of that would be $2.2 billion to $2.5 billion. ESPN is currently 80 per cent owned by ABC Inc. as an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The other 20 per cent is owned by Hearst. There isn't any word yet on whether the 10 per cent stake for the NFL would all come from ABC's stake or whether it would be 5 per cent each from ABC and Hearst. This isn't the first time the league has had an equity stake in a digital or communications business. It had that in the past with Sirius Satellite Radio and SportsLine. The NFL could also have equity in the newly formed "Paramount Skydance Corporation," which owns CBS, due to the league's partnership with Skydance. "This is new as far as a partner now operating a business that we built, ran and grew," said Hans Schroeder, the NFL's executive vice president of media distribution. "It'll also be a little bit new again with some of the dynamics here, but we'll continue to balance that in a really arm's length way where we'll think about how we manage and work across to all our partners." Gunman who killed 4 at NYC building was targeting NFL offices but took wrong elevator, mayor says The league will continue to own and operate NFL Films, NFL+, the official websites of the 32 teams, the NFL Podcast Network and the NFL FAST Channel (a free ad-supported streaming channel). "The moves align with the NFL's longstanding ambition to reach $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027 — a target first set in 2010, when league revenue stood at approximately $8.5 billion," O'Connor said. "Financially, the move also signals to investors that ESPN is doubling down on differentiation and content stickiness by offering a scarce and premium product in a crowded marketplace. Intentionally ceding equity to the NFL transforms ESPN from a media licensee into a true platform partner — with few properties rivaling the league in terms of cultural significance, appointment viewing, audience reach, and monetization efficiency." No major changes yet Viewers will likely not see any immediate impacts until next year once everything is approved. Besides ESPN, the biggest winner in this could be NFL Network, which had seen reductions in original programming the past couple years. "Total Access," the network's flagship show since its launch in 2003, ended in May 2024 amid a series of layoffs and cost-cutting moves. "Good Morning Football" also moved from New York, where it had been since its start in 2016, to Southern California last year. NFL Network moved to a broadcast facility across the street from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in 2021. "The thing that's exciting for us is that we have put a lot into the network. I think it's been very effective for fans. We know it's in good hands," Goodell said. "They're innovative, they recognize great production and know how to produce it. They will do a fantastic job of operating the network and taking it to another level."
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Reflecting on Ottawa's inaugural Ironman
Ottawa Watch Ironman Canada-Ottawa's organizer Dave Holme reflects on the inaugural event in Ottawa and looks ahead to 2026.
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Deion Sanders and his Colorado coaching staff have a combined 160 years of NFL experience
Warren Sapp strictly enforces Colorado players being in straight lines while stretching at practice. Marshall Faulk harps over and over on proper footwork. These two Hall of Fame players turned coaches are sticklers for the little things. That's on orders from the third member of their gold-coat club: Deion Sanders. Sapp and Faulk are part of a Buffaloes coaching staff that boasts 160 years of total NFL experience (playing, coaching or covering). The crew runs a no-nonsense, tight-knit operation, which came in handy when Sanders was away and fighting bladder cancer. The coaching staff keeps reaffirming what Sanders always stresses — paying attention to the details. 'It's the little things that will make us great,' explained Sapp, who is the defensive pass-rush specialist for the Buffaloes this season. 'It's the tedious repetition of the little things, over and over and over again. That's what we do. 'He (Sanders) has so much other things on his plate. I figured I'd handle the little things. ... We really don't ask much of them, except, let's go to work and that's what we're going to do.' In addition to Sapp and Faulk, the list of coaches that Sanders has assembled with NFL experience includes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, receivers coach Jason Phillips, defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Kevin Mathis, defensive line coach Domata Peko, and offensive line coaches George Hegamin and Andre Gurode. Combined — and, of course, counting Sanders — that's 27 Pro Bowls, five Super Bowl titles, an NFL MVP (Faulk), three Pro Football Hall of Famers (Sanders, Faulk, Sapp), two NFL defensive player of the year honours (Sapp, Sanders) and an NFL offensive player of the year recipient (Faulk, three times). 'When you have a whole bunch of guys that's been there and done that, and played in the league, it's definitely a blessing for us,' Peko said. 'Everyone kind of checks their egos at the door, and we all just try to collaborate together.' The Buffaloes may be adding more experience, too. Sanders said at Big 12 media day last month he's trying to bring in ex-NFL QB Byron Leftwich and former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to the staff. 'With those two added, that's 204 years of NFL experience,' Sanders said, 'and I want those years.' Faulk and Sapp were both in Canton, Ohio, last weekend for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. There, they hung out with the greats of the game, with Sapp recording personal video messages from past players to show his impressionable Buffaloes. 'I just soak it up from them, and I bring it back to the babies, because just hearing it from me, they hear me all the time,' said Sapp, who had 96 1/2 sacks over his 13-year-career. 'But when John Randle was on (the video), and I can see their eyes pop up I got a whole new message. ... I'm going to give them everything I got.' For Faulk, being in Canton just reaffirmed his passion for football — and coaching. 'I literally sold popcorn in the Superdome because I couldn't afford a ticket to watch the sorriest team in the '80s — the Saints,' cracked Faulk, whose Buffaloes open the season Aug. 29 by hosting Georgia Tech. 'I just love football and to be around the guys (in Canton) who gave me the opportunity to play this game and left the game in my hands, there's nothing like it. 'But it was the first time I'd been there and wanted to be somewhere else.' Namely, working with his fleet of running backs. Sophomore Micah Welch was in the lunch room when he heard about the hiring of Faulk in February. Welch went home that night and pulled up some highlight footage. 'It was amazing,' Welch said. Faulk was dazzling on the field, a dual threat out of the backfield who spent his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. He rushed for 12,279 yards and 100 TDs, while also catching 767 passes for 6,875 yards and 36 scores. He's teaching his tailbacks the little things like footwork — 'I'm a stickler for footwork,' Faulk said — along with how they receive a handoff from their QB. 'After that, go be creative,' Faulk said. 'But we all start with the canvas and the paint brush the same way before we go make art.' For Faulk, it was an easy decision to join Sanders in Boulder. They've been longtime friends. 'Coming here not just to win games on the field, but to win the game off the field, which is to make sure that these young men in life become what they want to become,' the 52-year-old Faulk said. 'That's the important part.'
