It’s a seismic partnership between the two entertainment industry giants and borders on a murky gray area.
ESPN and the NFL are getting in bed with one another, but this time, there are major financial strings attached.
ESPN is acquiring the NFL Network and other National Football League media assets, most notably the popular RedZone channel and NFL Fantasy, in a deal that will give the NFL a 10 percent equity stake in the media giant.
The stake is reportedly worth $2-3 billion.
While many are celebrating the historic deal, led by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, there are just as many who are holding reservations about how seamlessly the fit and transition is going to be.
Most notably, the fans, aka the consumers.
Longtime fantasy football guru and former-ESPN employee, now with NBC, Matthew Berry directed his praise towards the fantasy football operations and layout of the entire deal.
“Massive deal, obviously, but most interesting to me is the merger of ESPN Fantasy and NFL Fantasy. As someone who knows many people on each side of that fence, it’s a big win for both sides. Congrats to all involved,” Berry posted on X.
However that was met with a little bit of unrest.
“But an L for the fans,” one fan replied.
“It means that ESPN is eliminating the competition at NFL Network. Hardly a win for both sides, lot of people gonna lose their jobs and it’s an L for the fans that use NFL Fantasy,” another added.
“Bigger is almost never better for the customers,” one more chimed in.
The cause for panic and concern is valid, but Goodell and Pitaro have tried to ease such concerns.
“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” Goodell said in a statement.
“Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered.
“The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”
Pitaro shared the same sentiment.
“By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans,” Pitaro said in a statement.
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“Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game — anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”
It remains to be seen how things will all shake out when the dust settles, but if the two sides were smart, they shouldn’t be changing too much.
Most notably Scott Hanson’s job as host of the RedZone Channel, and their fantasy football platform.