Disney may have found a partner for ESPN. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the NFL and Disney are in advanced talks for the National Football League to take a stake in ESPN. If the deal were to go through, it would give Disney control over the NFL Network and other NFL media properties.
If the deal were to go through, Disney would take a stake in the NFL Network, NFL.com, and also RedZone. This would be mutually beneficial for both NFL and Disney as it would give NFL access to ESPN productions and it would give Disney access to NFL money. It is possible that NFL+ would be a part of this deal as well.
At this time, Disney owns 80% of ESPN so has room to sell part of it off. Bob Iger said last summer that Disney was open to selling parts of ESPN. It was also reported last summer that Disney was in talks with NFL, NBA, and MLB about selling off parts of ESPN. Hearst owns 20% of ESPN as well. As ESPN looks to build a streaming service, a deal with NFL could infuse money into this project. It could also lead to exclusive content for ESPN subscribers in the future.
At this point, no deal has been officially been announced by ESPN or NFL. As Disney looks for partners to help ESPN foray into the world of streaming with a stronger presence, the NFL would be a good way to do so. What do you think of the NFL and Disney making a deal for a stake in ESPN moving forward? Would it be good for ESPN? Would it be good for the NFL? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
