Talks between ESPN and the NFL regarding the acquisition of NFL media by the Worldwide Leader in Sports have intensified since last month, as reported by Awful Announcing. In his podcast Marchand Sports Media, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand highlighted the magnitude of this potential acquisition, suggesting it could be valued at up to $2 billion, with the possibility of the NFL gaining an ownership stake in the network.
“When we look back in 10, 15 years if this deal goes down, this could be a very significant point for ESPN’s growth when you’re adding it all up, and we’re really in a full streaming world,” Marchand stated. He emphasized its importance, saying, “I think it’s pretty significant whether it happens in the next few months or not.” With the upcoming release of its direct-to-consumer app this fall, ESPN has added incentive to finalize this deal now. Marchand further noted, “When you look at Netflix and Amazon, they don’t necessarily need the NFL; those businesses aren’t based off the NFL.” By deepening its long-term relationship with the NFL, he concluded, “I think it makes some sense, and it could be a game-changer.” It will be intriguing to see what the final numbers are if a deal comes to fruition.
