Megadeal between ESPN and NFL is done, so what will change for fans?

The mega deal between broadcast titan ESPN and the NFL is now official. The agreement announced

Wednesday has many moving parts and is estimated to be worth in the neighborhood of $3 billion

As SIN reported July 24th, the NFL, one of the most successful sports leagues in the world

will acquire close to 10 percent of Disney-owned ESPN. In return, ESPN will take full ownership of

the NFL Network and the NFL Red Zone Channel, among other assets. The two entities have been

in talks for more than four years. As part of the deal, ESPN will also air three of the NFL Network's

seven games on its platforms, said CEO Bob Iger during Walt Disney Company's earnings call

Wednesday. Basically, there will be 28 windows for NFL games, which is an increase over what

we've had before. Previously, there were 22. That obviously is of major significance in terms of

both ESPN, but also in terms of the audience. We're basically giving ESPN, we're giving NFL

fans more opportunities to watch NFL games than they've ever had before. The deal comes two weeks

before ESPN is set to launch its new streaming service. As part of the earnings call, Disney

announced an August 21st launch date for the new platform, coinciding with the launch of a new streaming service from Fox called Fox One ESPN service will be available for per month and the addition of more NFL content will likely increase interest in that platform

Fans have voiced their displeasure with the deal online, believing the NFL Network and Red Zone will change with the addition of ESPN's talent

and the style the worldwide leader in sports is known for. Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt addressed that idea on the show Wednesday morning

There's not going to be immediate radical changes to this show or to anything with NFL media

but changes will come and they will evolve. The unknown, my friends, is exactly what those changes are going to be

but the excitement is what they could be. Another concern for fans and other NFL media partners

will ESPN continue to cover the league in an unbiased fashion, with the league now part owners of their news operation

The NFL has been very good at protecting the Shield from scandal over the years

and it may now be easier with 10% of ESPN in their portfolio

Iger told reporters Wednesday nothing in this deal in any way changes ESPN's approach when it comes to journalism

The deal still needs regulatory approval, and that is not a formality given the power of both companies

many ysts see a fall 2026 close as a best-case scenario. It also needs approval from the majority of NFL owners

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis