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Analysis:ESPN-NFL Deal Faces Regulatory Hurdles
UNITED STATES, AUG 7 – ESPN’s acquisition gives the NFL a 10% equity stake and aims to boost ESPN’s streaming service amid a DOJ antitrust review that could last up to 12 months.
- Announced late Tuesday, Disney’s ESPN acquired NFL Network and media assets in exchange for a 10% stake for the NFL.
- Amid its streaming push, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app aims to launch on August 21 at $29.99 per month, supporting its upcoming streaming service.
- The U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division requires further information from the companies, and a review could take up to 12 months, Reuters reported.
- Beyond ownership, the agreement gives ESPN rights to NFL Fantasy, NFL RedZone, and control of NFL Network’s seven annual games.
- Amid cost concerns, the NFL has engaged 30 congressional offices and held a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in May on rising streaming costs for fans.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Tom Mayenknecht: Tennis finds new star in Canadian Victoria Mboko; NFL also has big week
It was a bullish week for both the National Football League and ESPN, with the NFL gaining a 10 per cent stake in the American cable giant and the Disney-owned sports network taking on the rights to and operations of NFL Network and Red Zone TV. It’s a game-changing deal for the way leagues and their media rights holders relate to one another, on and off the field, so to speak. Watch for it to lead to many similar arrangements involving other le…
Disney faces regulatory hurdles
The National Football League's deal with Walt Disney in which it will gain an equity stake in ESPN in return for prime media assets is expected to face scrutiny from the US Department of Justice, according to legal experts and industry sources. The agreement, announced this week, involves Disney's ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and other media properties in exchange for the league receiving a 10% stake in the sports network. Andre P. Barlow, a p…
Regulators Could Flag ESPN-NFL Deal Over Concerns About Control, Cost & Competition
The NFL and ESPN may be teaming up in a big way, but their newly announced partnership isn't set in stone yet. Legal experts say the deal is likely to face a serious review by the U.S. Department of Justice, and the approval process could take up to a year.Under the deal, ESPN will acquire NFL Network, the league’s RedZone channel and other media assets. In return, the NFL gets a 10% stake in ESPN — a piece estimated to be worth $2.5 to $3 billi…
ESPN’s blockbuster deal with the NFL will face huge hurdles from concerned regulators
The National Football League's deal with Walt Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab in which it will gain an equity stake in ESPN in return for prime media assets is expected to face scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to legal experts and industry sources.
DOJ expected to review ESPN-NFL media deal over potential competition concerns: report
The ESPN-NFL deal reportedly faces a major roadblock from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).The sides agreed to a deal, formally announced Tuesday, in which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and other media assets, including NFL RedZone, from the National Football League in exchange for the league taking a 10% equity stake in the all-sports network as part of a landmark agreement.However, the DOJ is expected to conduct a substantive revi…
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