NFL owners are being informed to prepare for a potential vote next month on selling media assets to Disney, its parent company. For four years, the league has considered selling in-house properties like the NFL Network and RedZone. Disney is seen as the most engaged major network, while the NFL could also acquire an equity stake in ESPN.
A successful deal would boost Disney’s and ESPN’s offerings, especially since the NFL is likely to opt out of its domestic media-rights deals in 2029 and 2030. This move aligns with ESPN’s debut of a direct-to-consumer service, which could benefit from additional NFL content.
Sources indicate that there are external factors driving this move, but caution that nothing has been solidified yet. A special league meeting is not imminent, unlike last year when owners met in August 2024 to approve the league’s private equity entry.
Source: https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-owners-told-to-prep-for-potential-disney-media-deal-vote